CHICAGO (PRWEB)
June 03, 2020

Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, will host the 9th annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit, on July 15, 2020, from 12-3 p.m. ET (a virtual exhibit hall will be open from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. ET). The event will be held as an online virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s Summit will include a variety of presentations related to this year’s theme, “An Eye to the Future.”

Participants are invited to view presentations from leaders in science, public health, and vision research. Attendees may also visit the virtual exhibit hall and booths of event sponsors, participate in Q&A with presenters, and gather in the event “lounge” to network with other participants. All are invited to follow and share on Twitter at #eyesummit.

Peter Holland, chief executive of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Summit. Holland will present on the recent World Report on Vision from the World Health Organization.

Additional presentations at the Focus on Eye Health National Summit will include:

U.S. Population and Vision Health in 2020 and Beyond

• Anne L. Coleman, MD, PhD, Fran & Ray Stark Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology, UCLA Stein Eye Institute
• Shefa Gordon, PhD, Associate Director for Science Policy and Legislation, National Eye Institute, NIH

Future of Vision Treatment and Research

• Sayoko (Sy) E. Moroi, MD, PhD, Chair and Director of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
• L. Penny Rosenblum, PhD, Director of Research, American Foundation for the Blind

During the event, Prevent Blindness will formally present the 2020 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health to the Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) at West Virginia University, who will also provide a presentation on their work. The Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health recognizes an individual, team, or organization that has made significant contributions to the advancement of public health related to vision and eye health at the community, state, national, and/or international level. Additionally, the inaugural Rising Visionary Award will be presented to Araba Otoo, third-year optometry student, at The Ohio State University.

Horizon Therapeutics is serving as the Focus on Eye Health National Summit Platinum Sponsor. Current Gold sponsors include Alcon Vision, Center for Vision and Population Health at Prevent Blindness, the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, Genentech, International Retinal Research Foundation, Lighthouse Guild, and the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness.

Silver sponsors include Allergan, Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR), American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Bausch + Lomb, BrightFocus Foundation, CooperVision, Lions Clubs International, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Research to Prevent Blindness, and Vision 2020 USA. Summit sponsorship opportunities are still available.

“We know that this year has brought considerable challenges to patients and public health services,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “We encourage everyone to participate in this year’s Focus on Eye Health National Summit to continue to keep dialogue and education moving forward on important vision and eye health issues.”

To register or for more information about the 2020 Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit and sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://preventblindness.org/events/focus-on-eye-health-national-summit-2020/ or call (800) 331-2020.

About Prevent Blindness

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call (800) 331-2020. Or, visit us on the Web at preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness.

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