Editor:
Farm and Dairy has done a valuable service to all Americans by shedding light on the growing numbers of older Americans at risk of developing age-related eye disease (Vision loss, eye diseases rise with age, April 22, 2004).
The articles in Archives of Ophthalmology referred to in the article outline in further detail the data contained in Prevent Blindness America’s Vision Problems in the U.S. report published in 2002.
The report was published in partnership with the National Eye Institute and was launched in Washington with a symposium that was attended by hundreds of eye care professionals from throughout the U.S.
The report is available in every major library in the U.S. and has been distributed to thousands of other professional and lay persons.
Prevent Blindness Ohio has developed Vision Problems in Ohio, the only comprehensive resource detailing the prevalence of the four leading causes of vision loss in Ohio.
Eye care advocates can learn how to get a copy by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-301-2020.
More Ohioans than ever are facing the threat of blindness from age-related eye disease.
The number of Ohio seniors affected by these diseases is expected to double over the next 30 years as the baby boomer generation ages, largely resulting from the eye diseases of diabetic retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
More than 25 million Ohioans will be affected. Ohioans age 40 and older should be aware of eye health risk factors and see an eye care professional on a regular basis.
For those who have diabetes or an eye disease, please follow the advice of your eye care professional. Early detection is crucial, as many cases of cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration can be controlled through medication or surgery.
Sherill Williams
Columbus, Ohio
(The author is president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio, an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America.)
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