NEHEP resources help you maximize hope and independence for individuals with low vision MAY is Low Vision Month!
Low vision is defined as a visual impairment that is not correctable by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery and that interferes with the ability to perform everyday activities. A recent study funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) estimates that the number of Americans who are visually impaired, including those with low vision, is expected to double to more than 8 million by 2050. Most people with low vision are age 65 or older. Although vision that is lost usually cannot be restored, people can learn to make the most of the vision they have. MAY is Low Vision Month!
The National Eye Health Education Program’s (NEHEP) Low Vision Education Program offers English and Spanish resources that provide people living with low vision and their loved ones with information about the benefits of vision rehabilitation and the services and devices that can help them live independently and maintain their quality of life. Our Low Vision Resources At-a-Glance describes all of our low vision resources, which can be used year-round. The following are some that you may be especially interested in using during Low Vision Awareness Month this February:
Living With Low Vision: What you should know
Share this booklet [8.6 MB] and companion video with people who have vision loss and their families to help them better understand how to get help and live safely and independently. You can also link to the video from your website or share it on your social media outlets.
Living with Low Cision Education Module
Use this module to conduct educational sessions in your community about low vision. You can inform others about the signs of vision loss, the benefits of vision rehabilitation services, where to get more information, questions to ask a low vision specialist, ways to manage medications, and more. The module includes a PowerPoint presentation, speaker’s guide, participant handouts, and other useful tools.
Other resources
NEHEP offers a variety of resources to assist you in promoting vision rehabilitation through social networking. These include infographics and infocards that can be shared on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest or can be placed in newsletters, publications, and websites; articles that are ready-to-use in newsletters, magazines, newspapers, and blogs; and prewritten posts that can be shared on Facebook and Twitter.
For more resources and ideas, visit https://nei.nih.gov/nehep/lvam.