Community Health Charities June 2012 Newsletter

This June, Community Health Charities is helping member agency Prevent Blindness America promote Cataract Awareness Month. There are approximately 22.3 million Americans age 40 and older with cataracts, and more than half of all Americans will have cataracts by age 80. Currently, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world.

To learn more about cataracts, including what causes them and what treatments are available, please visit www.preventblindness.org.

UV Safety

1. You can protect your eyes from ultraviolet (or UV) rays by:Knowing the dangers of UV rays.
2. Wearing proper eye protection and hats that block UV rays.

UV rays can come from many directions. They radiate directly from the sun, but they are also reflected from the ground, from water and from snow, sand and other bright surfaces.

A wide-brimmed hat or cap will block about half of UV rays. A wide-brimmed hat or cap can also limit UV rays that hit the eyes from above or around eyeglasses.

Eyewear that absorbs UV rays gives you the most protection. All types of eyewear – including prescription and non-prescription glasses, contact lenses and lens implants – should absorb both UV-A and UV-B rays. For UV protection in everyday eyewear, there are several options like UV-blocking lens materials, coatings and photochromic lenses. UV protection does not cost a lot of money, and it does not get in the way of seeing clearly.

UV and Our Nation's Vision: Prevent Blindness America's public awareness and advocacy campaign to help everyone understand how to protect their eyes from the sun.

Program Search Site: http://www.preventblindnessamerica.us/sunandvision/

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight.  Regional offices around the country offer a wide variety of vision screening, training and educational programs.  To learn more about the services available in your area, please visit http://www.preventblindness.org/prevent-blindness-your-state.

Source: Prevent Blindness America