Prevent Blindness Offers New Resources as Part of November’s Diabetes Related Eye Disease Month

CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness, a nonprofit eye health organization, has announced it is offering new resources to the public as part of its Diabetes Related Eye Disease Month in November. According to the study titled Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the US in 2021, approximately one in four Americans ages 40 and older with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy. A higher percentage of Black (8.7 percent) and Hispanic (7.1 percent) individuals with diabetes are at risk for vision loss compared to their White (3.6 percent) counterparts. The study also revealed that there are significant variations by state and county, which reflect related factors such as access to eyecare and resources, the announcement noted.

Diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control, can lead to other serious vision problems, including diabetes-related macular edema, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Fortunately, the risk of vision loss and blindness from diabetes-related eye disease can be significantly lessened if it is detected and treated early, Prevent Blindness said, which is why the organization is offering free educational resources that include webpages, fact sheets, and social media graphics in English and Spanish, and a variety of educational videos.

New this year, Prevent Blindness is launching the Prevent Blindness Eye Health Audio Library offering free, 24/7 access to essential information on eye health related to diabetes, accessible via voice commands in both English and Spanish. Patients or care partners can call 1-833-998-5850 for medically vetted information on diabetes-related eye disease, eye exam preparation and scheduling, condition management strategies, and specialized guidance for pregnant patients and the newly diagnosed. Co-created with patients and providers and supported by funding from Regeneron and Genentech, this resource is designed to provide prevention information accessible to diverse audiences, the announcement noted.

For eyecare providers, Prevent Blindness will also soon be releasing a modular education program focused on patient-centered, bias-free diabetes and vision care. Working with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology’s ophthalmic allied health professionals Continuing Education (CE) program as well as the American Optometric Association’s paraoptometric CE program, this new effort works to identify gaps in care and patient experiences. This program is also made possible through funding support from Regeneron and Genentech.

As part of the Juvenile Diabetes and Vision Health resource, new “Diabetes + Your Eyes: Vision Health in Youth” fact sheets are available at Juvenile Diabetes and Vision Health: Help Prevent Vision Loss in Youth (available in English and Spanish) are available, including “Diabetes: Be Your Teen’s Vision Hero!” and “Diabetes: Your Vision, Your Life.” These resources are supported by funding from UnitedHealthcare.

The Prevent Blindness Diabetes-related Eye Disease video series includes a variety of educational videos designed for the public:

An upcoming new Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health podcast will host a special roundtable discussion about diabetes and eye health. Guests will include Rajeev S. Ramchandran, MD, MBA, associate professor of ophthalmology at University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute; Talana Townsend, president of Visually Impaired Advocates – Houston; and Nita Sinha, senior director of public health at Prevent Blindness.

Finally, Prevent Blindness said it recently assembled its new Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee, as reported by VM earlier this year.

The all-volunteer committee brings together leaders from eyecare and public health, patient advocates, diabetes-education professionals, and more. Among many of the group’s charges are improving diabetes and eye health programs and education, increasing access to quality eyecare and treatment, drafting and advancing federal and state policy, and promoting research and surveillance.

“By educating patients on how to prevent vision loss from diabetes and implementing systems and programs that increase access to eyecare across the United States, we will empower millions of patients with diabetes to avoid unnecessary vision loss and blindness,” said Dr. Ramchandran, a member of the Prevent Blindness Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee.

For general diabetes-related eye disease information, click here. For more information on the Prevent Blindness Eye Health Audio Library, click here. For a free listing of organizations and services that provide financial assistance for vision care in English or Spanish, please go to