Take a Family Glaucoma Snapshot: EyeCare America Asks Families to Share History of Glaucoma
National Campaign Works to Prevent Blindness by Connecting Those *Eligible with Free Glaucoma Eye Exams
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 13, 2007 -- Summer is the perfect time to see your family. EyeCare America asks that along with getting snapshots of great summertime memories get a snapshot of your family history of glaucoma. Having a family member that has glaucoma is a risk factor for getting the eye disease.
The Family Glaucoma Snapshot campaign is intended to raise awareness about the risk factors for glaucoma. EyeCare America also encourages people to call its Glaucoma EyeCare Program at 1-800-391-EYES (3937) to find out if they are eligible for a free glaucoma eye exam.
- Glaucoma often has no warning signs and the vision loss caused by the disease is irreversible.
- It is estimated that over 3 million Americans have glaucoma but only half of those know they have it.
- Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness among African-Americans and Hispanics.
- Other high-risk groups include: people over 60, family members of those already diagnosed, diabetics, and people who are severely nearsighted.
In the fight against blindness caused by glaucoma, EyeCare America asks people to get their Family Glaucoma Snapshot by following these three, simple steps:
Get Your Family Glaucoma Snapshot
1. ASK: “Does anyone in our family have glaucoma?”
2. CALL: 1-800-391-EYES (3937) to see if you qualify for a free exam.
3. TELL: Your family if you have glaucoma.
EyeCare America’s Glaucoma EyeCare Program promotes early detection and treatment of glaucoma. It raises awareness of glaucoma risk factors, provides free glaucoma educational materials and facilitates access to a glaucoma eye examination.
The Glaucoma EyeCare Program is designed for people who:
- Are U.S. citizens or legal residents
- Have not had an eye exam in 12 months or more
- Are at increased risk for glaucoma (as determined by risk factors that include family history, race, and age)
People may call the toll-free help line at 1-800-391-EYES (3937) for themselves and/or family members, to see if they qualify for a glaucoma eye exam or to request free eye care information. The EyeCare America help line operates all day, everyday, year-round.
*Those eligible for a referral through the glaucoma program receive a glaucoma eye exam and the initiation of treatment, if deemed necessary. Uninsured patients will receive the above care at no charge. Patients with insurance will be billed and are responsible for any co-payments and/or the cost of the eye examination.
To supplement its award-winning referral program, EyeCare America has recently created a new website specifically designed to assist online users in learning more about vision-limiting diseases such as glaucoma.
The site, eyecareamerica.org, contains up-to-date clinical information about eye diseases that are reviewed by certified ophthalmologists (Eye MDs) with links to current treatments and even an interactive tour of the eye’s anatomy. Visitors can share important health topics with family and friends through a convenient email forward function and order free pamphlets that give in-depth information on treatment, tests/diagnosis, causes and risks factors for a wide variety of common eye diseases.
Other easy to use functions include online tools such as a vision simulator, which allows users to see how vision would be affected from common eye diseases, and informative videos, created by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, that will provide visitors with a complete interactive experience.
The Glaucoma EyeCare Program is co-sponsored by Pfizer Ophthalmics.
About EyeCare America
Established in 1985, EyeCare America, the public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is committed to the preservation of sight, accomplishing its mission through public service and education. EyeCare America provides eye care services to the medically underserved and for those at increased risk for eye disease through its corps of 7,200 volunteer ophthalmologists dedicated to serving their communities. More than 90 percent of the care made available is provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the patients. EyeCare America includes programs for seniors, glaucoma, diabetes and children, and is the largest program of its kind in American medicine. Since its inception, EyeCare America has helped more than 860,000. EyeCare America is a non-profit program whose success is made possible through charitable contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations. More information can be found at: www.eyecareamerica.org
MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Neves, Communications Director – 415.561.8518
NOTE TO EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: High-resolution images and interviews with EyeCare America spokespeople, physicians and patients available upon req
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