Fifty thousand people lose their sight needlessly every year. Eighty million Americans are at risk of getting eye diseases that can lead to low vision and even blindness. Vision loss robs people of their independence, mobility and quality of life, and costs taxpayers an estimated $4 billion annually.

Eye-Opening Facts

Vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school-age children. Untreated eye problems can worsen and lead to other serious problems as well as affect learning ability, personality and adjustment in school.

Currently, there is no treatment for most cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD); those suffering with the disease watch their field of vision degrade to limited peripheral vision.

Young adults suffering from retinitis pigmentosa face a lifetime of visual impairment unless therapy can be developed to cure this untreatable genetic disease that destroys the retina.

While Americans spend approximately $38.4 billion in health care costs associated with eye and vision disorders, the United States' investment in research to find effective treatments is less than one percent of that total.

You have the power to support vision research by becoming an active participant in the legislative process.

If finding a cure for eye disorders is important to you, take a few minutes to send a letter to your congressional representatives urging support for eye and vision research.

Remember, while June is designated Vision Research Month, your support for funding of the NEI will continue to make a difference for the next several months: make your voice heard and help all Americans see into the future.

From "Prevent Blindness America":
http://www.preventblindness.org/

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