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The Gr8 Eye Movement, a disease awareness campaign from Prevent Blindness and Regeneron, is shining a light on the needs of caregivers of those at risk for developing retinal conditions this fall. The campaign launched last year to elevate the importance of prioritizing eye health with an emphasis on increasing awareness of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) and encourages checking eye health regularly with reminders on the 8th of each month. Ahead of National Family Caregivers Month this November, the Gr8 Eye Movement is broadening its focus to emphasize the crucial role of those caring for aging loved ones at risk for these diseases and offering resources to support them.
Findings from a national survey of at-risk adults and their loved ones* show a significant gap in caregivers’ understanding of retinal conditions. According to the data, almost 80% of caregivers mistakenly view vision loss as an inevitable part of aging, and fewer than 30% are aware of both wAMD and diabetic retinal diseases DME and DR.
“The misperception that vision loss is an inevitable part of aging can lead caregivers to overlook signs of serious retinal diseases that may be treatable,” said Jeff Todd, President and CEO, Prevent Blindness. “That’s why it’s so important to educate the public, and for those at risk for retinal diseases and their caregivers, to prioritize eye health. By monitoring for eye health changes and being vigilant about getting our eyes and our vision checked regularly, caregivers can help protect their loved ones from preventable vision loss and help to maintain a high quality of life.”
Data also show that 75% of surveyed caregivers say it would be challenging to care for someone with significant vision loss, underscoring the burden that retinal diseases can have on both patients and their caregivers.
“Consumer education programs like the Gr8 Eye Movement play an important role in addressing knowledge gaps and ensuring that people are not just informed but truly engaged in prioritizing their eye health,” said Kevin Clark, Vice President of the Ophthalmology Commercial Business Unit at Regeneron. “During National Family Caregivers Month and beyond, we hope to help empower caregivers with the knowledge they need to spot the early signs of serious retinal diseases and support them as they care for their loved ones’ vision.”
To learn more about supporting loved ones at risk of retinal disease, the importance of routine eye exams, and practical tips for caregivers, visit www.Gr8EyeMovement.com.
*This survey was conducted by Wakefield Research, which collected findings from 667 adults age 55+ who are at risk for retinal diseases and 333 of their loved ones, ages 18-54 years old, who are caregivers of those at risk for retinal diseases, from May-June, 2023.
Prevent Blindness is declaring February as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Month in an effort to provide education and various expert-approved resources to the public and professionals. This year’s AMD and Low Vision Month is generously supported by Gold Sponsor EyePoint, Inc.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, AMD is the most common cause of severe loss of eyesight among people 50 and older. And, about 4 million Americans live with low vision, which is defined as chronic visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or medical treatments.
AMD affects the central part of the retina called the “macula.” When AMD damages the macula, the center part of a person’s vision may become blurred or wavy, and a blind spot may develop. Early detection and treatment of AMD is key to helping to prevent significant vision loss.
Two types of AMD include:
“As our population ages, the number of individuals impacted by AMD continues to grow. Many will face difficulties doing the things we sometimes take for granted, such as reading, seeing faces, and driving,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Our robust collection of resources on AMD and low vision are intentionally created to help minimize vision loss and maintain independence for those impacted by AMD while providing effective tools to the public and providers on ways to save sight.”
As part of AMD and Low Vision Month, Prevent Blindness offers the free AMD GuideMe app. This resource provides a customized overview of AMD along with a tailored resource list and suggested steps to help save sight from the eye disease specific to the individual using the GuideMe app. Prevent Blindness offers additional educational resources including fact sheets and shareable social media graphics in English and Spanish, and dedicated webpages.
New this year, as part of the Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program Member Spotlight Series, graduate Laurie S., shares her experience with AMD, including her family history with the eye disease, how it impacts her daily activities including the ability to read music, and the importance of support groups “Age-related Macular Degeneration: Laurie’s Story.”
Videos in the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Series include:
The Prevent Blindness “Living Well With Low Vision” program provides useful information to those with low vision, their care partners and healthcare professionals. Content includes self-help guides, resources for vision loss and mental wellness, information on clinical trials, and much more. Living Well With Low Vision is supported by grants from Amgen and Genentech.
For more information on AMD, please visit PreventBlindness.org/amd. For information on geographic atrophy, please visit PreventBlindness.org/geographic-atrophy.
And, for more information on Living Well With Low Vision, or other general eye health information, please visit lowvision.PreventBlindness.org.
For a listing of organizations and services that provide financial assistance for vision care in English or Spanish, please visit https://preventblindness.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information.
