Campaign Highlights the Role of Caregivers in Eye Health Awareness for Retinal Conditions
This fall, Prevent Blindness and Regeneron are expanding their eye health awareness initiative, 'The Gr8 Eye Movement,' to emphasize the crucial role caregivers play in the health of loved ones at risk for serious retinal conditions. Originally launched in 2022, the Gr8 Eye Movement campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of critical eye health issues, with a special focus on wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and diabetic retinopathy (DR). As National Family Caregivers Month approaches this November, the campaign has adapted to address the unique needs of caregivers, offering them resources and support to help protect the vision of those in their care.
Recent survey findings underscore a significant knowledge gap: almost 80% of caregivers believe vision loss is an unavoidable aspect of aging, while less than 30% are aware of treatable retinal conditions such as wet AMD, DME, and DR.
“The misperception that vision loss is an inevitable part of aging can lead caregivers to overlook signs of serious retinal diseases that may be treatable,” Jeff Todd, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness, said in a company news release. “That’s why it’s so important to educate the public, and for those at risk for retinal diseases and their caregivers, to prioritize eye health. By monitoring for eye health changes and being vigilant about getting our eyes and our vision checked regularly, caregivers can help protect their loved ones from preventable vision loss and help to maintain a high quality of life.”
The Gr8 Eye Movement aims to support caregivers with practical tools, reminders, and resources available on their website. As part of its awareness push, the campaign encourages people to use the “8th of every month” as a regular reminder to prioritize eye health checks.
With data showing that 75% of caregivers report challenges in managing the care of someone with significant vision loss, the Gr8 Eye Movement aims to lessen the impact of these conditions on families. Caregivers and those at risk are encouraged to visit www.Gr8EyeMovement.com to find essential information on eye exams, risk factors, and practical support for those affected by retinal diseases.
Survey details: Conducted by Wakefield Research, the study gathered responses from 667 adults aged 55+ at risk for retinal diseases and 333 caregivers aged 18-54. Findings were collected from May to June 2023.