When: May 1–31, 2004
Where: Nationwide
Institute: National Eye Institute (NEI)

Millions of people with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness. Early detection, timely treatment, and follow-up care can reduce the risk of vision loss by 95 percent. May is Healthy Vision Month 2004, with a focus on reducing visual impairment caused by diabetic retinopathy. Healthy Vision Month 2004, a national eye health campaign devoted to promoting the vision objectives in Healthy People 2010, is sponsored by NEI and the National Eye Health Education Program. Healthy People 2010 is a set of health objectives that the government would like the nation to achieve during the first decade of the century.

Each year's Healthy Vision Month observance encourages communities throughout the country to make vision a health priority and emphasizes one of the 10 vision objectives in Healthy People 2010. The objective this year, 28-5, is: "Reduce visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy." NEI created a toolkit and educational materials this year for community leaders to use in developing and implementing local activities.

Next Steps
For more information about observing Healthy Vision Month, please visit www.healthyvision2010.org/hvm/about.asp and www.nei.nih.gov.

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