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For more information:
Dori Jennings
Prevent Blindness Ohio
614.270.0746
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Prevent Blindness Ohio Declares April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month, Providing Free Educational Resources to the Public and Professionals
-Nonprofit Group Prevent Blindness Ohio Offers a Variety of Free Educational Resources to Help Educate the Public and Raise Awareness of Women’s Vision and Eye Health Issues-
Columbus, OH (April 1, 2025) – Prevent Blindness Ohio has declared April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Prevent Blindness Ohio is offering free resources, including fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, educational videos and web pages, on a range of eye health issues that predominantly affect women.
Eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataract, dry eye, glaucoma, and thyroid eye disease, occur more frequently in women than men. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), on average women live longer and many eye problems are age-related. Social and economic factors affect women’s access to eye care, especially in developing countries.
Women also have a higher incidence of refractive error. Women may also experience vision changes during pregnancy and/or menopause.
Prevent Blindness Ohio advises that women can help protect their vision and eye health by:
- following a healthy diet,
- exercising regularly,
- not smoking,
- learning about any family history of eye diseases as some may increase their risk of disease, and discussing it with their eye care provider,
- seeking treatment early for any conditions that can lead to vision impairment and receive follow-up care.
As part of the number of free educational resources that Prevent Blindness offers on women’s vision issues, a new Focus on Eye Health Expert Series episode is available, “Healthy Vision and Eye Safety Tips for Women.” Prevent Blindness Vice President of Public Health and Policy, Kira Baldonado interviews Maria Sampalis, OD, owner of Sampalis Eye Care, discussing the importance of women accessing regular eyecare as well as obstacles some encounter, different vision conditions that affect women, and other health conditions that may be detected through an eye exam. Dr. Sampalis was the recipient of the 2024 Theia Award of Excellence for Industry Influence from Women in Optometry, and is a volunteer member of the Prevent Blindness Development Committee.
This discussion will also be featured in the new Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Podcast later in April.
“As eye care professionals, it’s crucial to recognize the unique eye care needs based on gender,” said Dr. Sampalis. “Patients often present with wide range of concern, and we must be at forefront of addressing these needs to ensure the best possible care.”
Additionally, the Focus on Eye Health Expert Series episode Women’s Eye Health and Safety features Janine Austin Clayton, MD, FARVO, Director, Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Clayton also wrote the “Women and Eye Health” essay for Prevent Blindness.
“Throughout their lifespan, women will likely undergo changes to their vision,” said Amy Pulles, President & CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio. “Prevent Blindness Ohio continues to work to educate all on the importance of access to quality eye care and affordable treatment, especially women, who are at higher risk of vision impairment and blindness.”
EyeCare America from the AAO offers individuals aged 65 and over an eye exam at no out-of-pocket cost, to those who qualify. (On April 7, the minimum age for this program will be lowered to 18). More information may be found at: aao.org/eyecare-america/patients. Prevent Blindness Ohio also offers a free listing of financial assistance services in English and Spanish at: preventblindness.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information.
For more information on women’s eye health topics, please visit PreventBlindness.org. Or contact Prevent Blindness Ohio at (800) 301-2020 or pbohio.org.
About Prevent Blindness Ohio
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness serves all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to 1,000,000 Ohioans annually and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. For more information or to contribute, call 800-301-2020 or donate here. Visit us at pbohio.org.
Follow us: facebook.com/pbohio/; x.com/PB_Ohio
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