February is Low Vision and Macular Degeneration Awareness Month

The month of February also is known as Low Vision Awareness Month, as noted in last week’s “Bulletin,” with resources from the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It also recognizes the importance of increasing public knowledge about age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of low vision in older adults. Vision loss from macular degeneration generally affects central vision, where the sharpest vision is experienced. This can result in difficulties reading (discerning print and other fine details), faces, and doing activities involving close work. For individuals who have been diagnosed recently with AMD, Prevent Blindness offers a free GuideMe app. The app asks users questions about themselves and their diagnosis and then sets up a “customized guide with helpful information, tips, resources and suggested steps to take to be proactive about protecting vision.” This resource works with a smart phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. Read more about this and other offerings for people with macular degeneration and low vision in the press release: Prevent Blindness Declares February as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month.