|
|
Diabetes Projects
Vision Health Initiative
Mission
The Vision Health Initiative (VHI) is designed to promote vision health
and quality of life for all populations, throughout all life stages, by
preventing and controlling eye disease, eye injury, and vision loss
resulting in disability.
 Partnership Base
Vision/eye health surveillance data indicates that vision complications
disproportionately affect specific groups of the population within the
United States. Therefore, the VHI will continue forming new partnerships to
identify and target populations at greatest risk of preventable vision loss.
Programs/Activities/Objectives
The CDC's Vision Health Initiative aim is to reduce the burden of vision
loss in the United States, through the following programs, activities, and
objectives:
- To assess and monitor the burden of vision impairment and blindness.
The VHI develops and refines vision surveillance at the state and national
level and helps states develop their capacity to implement effective
state-based surveillance systems. The VHI assists in providing baseline
data and tracking for vision objectives in Healthy People 2010.
- To provide technical assistance to national, state and community based
organizations orientated to preserving, protecting and enhancing vision.
- To offer a scientific basis for collaboration between provider groups,
funding systems, and policy makers. These efforts ensure that the health
care system responds effectively to vision/eye health as a major public
health concern.
- To aid in implementing translation programs, services and policies.
The VHI coordinates service activities with partners in the public,
private, and voluntary sectors.
- To address issues related to the cost of vision loss, visual
disability, eye diseases and their impact on quality of life. Furthermore,
the VHI is assessing the cost effectiveness of screening methods for
different eye diseases and interventions to prevent vision loss and
blindness.
Articles
A New Vision for the Aging Eyes of America
Gohdes DM, Balamurugan A, Larsen BA, Maylahn C.
Age-related eye diseases:
an emerging challenge for public health professionals. Prev Chronic
Disease Volume 2: No. 3, July 2005.
Contact Information
The Vision Health Initiative (VHI)
4770 Buford Highway
Mail Stop K-10
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724
1-800-CDC-INFO
FAX: (770) 488-1148
1-888-232-6348 TTY (232-3422)
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes
Page last reviewed: September 30, 2008
Page last modified: April 26, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation
|
Diabetes & Me
Learn more about vision loss and eye health...