8 Sight-Saving Halloween Costume Tips

1. Stay away from non-prescription decorative contact lenses—these lenses use toxic dyes and cheap materials that could scratch your cornea, cause an allergic reaction or even cause blindness!

2. Don’t sleep in your makeup—it can cause skin irritation.

3. Don’t use non-FDA approved makeup—it could cause skin irritation but you can test it on your arm beforehand if you insist on using it.

 4. Don’t dye your eyebrows or eyelashes—this could cause an allergic reaction such as swelling around your eye, irritation or even blindness. Just stick with FDA-approved eyeliner, mascara and eye shadow instead.

 5. Apply false eyelashes carefully—follow the directions carefully. Also, make sure they were stored in a clean area to prevent bacteria from infecting your eyes.

6. Don’t wear costumes that are too long—falling and tripping is a common cause of eye injuries, so make sure your costumes fit well!

7. Avoid kids’ costumes with sharp, pointy objects—swords and knives may complete a pirate or ninja costume, but they could also hurt someone’s eye. If your kids insist, make sure the objects are made from soft, flexible materials.

 8. Avoid costumes with masks or hats that block your vision—if you have the perfect mask or hat that completes your costume, make sure to take it off while crossing the street or driving so that you can see without difficulty.

Have a happy and safe Halloween! 

References: http://www.seemuchmore.com/learn-about-eyes/ten-ways-to-protect-eyes-for-halloween

One Small Step for Sight

Prevent Blindness Texas’s three regions are gearing up for some family-friendly fun! Each region is hosting its very own walk for sight, at three very different venues, at three different times of day, but with one common goal—to raise money to help end preventable blindness.

The Southeast Region’s 2^nd Annual Eye Stroll for Vision is a noncompetitive walk held at the Houston Zoo on Saturday, November 10, 2012. The entire morning is filled with fun activities for people of all ages. The gates will open at 7 a.m. where strollers will be able to start their morning watching the animals wake up. As the animals begin eating breakfast and taking their baths, everyone can begin their leisurely stroll through the zoo. The Family Fun Center will also be open from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. where the strollers can enjoy refreshments, entertainment, face painting, costumed characters and sponsor booths. And since you’ll already be at the zoo, why not enjoy the rest of the day at the zoo for free! There will also be awesome prizes for everyone who raises money for the event! Be a part of it! To register, form a team, join an existing team, donate to a team, become a sponsor or to simply donate to the event, please visit www.preventblindness.net/eye-stroll or contact Irene Baird at 713-526-2559 X 105.

The North Region’s Inaugural Light the Night for Sight 5K Family Fun Walk will be on November 30, 2012 at the Texas Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Become a part of a new tradition! Get a group together, whether it’s family, friends, neighbors or coworkers and start raising pledges to save sight. To register, form, join or donate to a team, or to simply donate to the event, please visit www.preventblindness.net/metroplex or you may contact Stephanie Melson at smelson@preventblindnesstexas.org.

The Southwest Region’s Light the Night for Sight will be held at SeaWorld on December 7, 2012 in San Antonio. Light the Night for Sight has two route options—a 5K for participants who want to challenge themselves, and a 1-mile route for families and young kids. Runners will be chipped and timed, so either create or join a family, organization or corporate team today, or sign up as an individual! Runner online registration will close at noon on November 30^th, and all online registration will close at noon on December 3^rd, so sign up today! To register as or donate to an individual or a team, or to simply donate to the event, please visit http://preventblindness.net/sanantonio or contact Audra Atzger at aatzger@preventblindnesstexas.org.

These events are held all across the state of Texas so join the fun, come to an event and help us save the sight of thousands of Texans!

What a Sight Saver

In today’s day and age, technology is taking over and it’s affecting all of us in very unique ways. Some of us embrace it, standing in line for hours just to buy the newest iPhone, while some of us still have trouble finding the power button on the computer. But whether we love or hate technology, there are some advancements that we can all agree have a wonderful, positive impact on society.

A recent article by HealthTechZone highlights one of these advancements. Deborah Hirsch’s article, FDA Rules on Blindness-Prevention Eye Prosthesis, Cardiac Implants, discusses the FDA’s decision to approve the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, an eye prosthesis implant, that will help patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) regain partial vision.

The Argus II Implant on the Retina

Image source: http://www.blog.telecomfuturecentre.it/2010/04/29/

RP occurs when retinas deteriorate over time, causing the patient to slowly lose their vision. There is no therapy or cure for RP, making this new advancement a sight-saver.  

“Modest gains in vision can make a big difference to a person blinded by retinitis pigmentosa,” said Paul Sieving, MD, director of the National Eye Institute. “The Argus II retinal prosthesis allows users to reclaim their independence and improve their lives.” (as cited in Hirsch 2012). 

The decision-making panel consisted of 19 members with expertise in ophthalmology, retinal disease, low vision, electrophysiology and other specialties. 

This implant has the possibility of changing lives everywhere! Technology never ceases to amaze me.  What do you think about the implant and the effect it will have on our society?

References:                                                                                                                                      

http://www.healthtechzone.com/

http://www.preventblindnesstexas.org/

http://www.blog.telecomfuturecentre.it/2010/04/29/

10 Years and Counting

Monica Saenz is the state program director at PBT and has been working here for 10 years. As a commemoration for passing her 10 year milestone, I thought it would be interesting to hear more about her experiences, challenges and triumphs at PBT. 


Helen Keller once said that “What I am looking for is not ‘out there’ it is in me.” In early 2002, I subscribed to receive emails about possible volunteer opportunities at Prevent Blindness Texas. After much curiosity and a spark of interest in PBT’s volunteer opportunities, I decided to visit the PBT office and find out more information about becoming a volunteer. To my surprise, I was instead notified that the “Kid Matters Program Coordinator” would soon be leaving PBT and instead, I was offered the opportunity to apply for the part-time position. What started off as a possible volunteer opportunity quickly turned into a wonderful and rewarding job experience.  
 

My name is Monica Saenz and I currently serve as the state program director for Prevent Blindness Texas. Since June 2006 I have been responsible for facilitating the planning, coordination and evaluation of programs for Prevent Blindness Texas and its branches and/or regional offices. My key responsibilities include developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with service organizations and community resources, as well as providing guidance and technical assistance to offices in program implementation. Over the past few years my job duties have expanded to include creating program delivery models to expand within the regions, actively seeking funding sources to support the continuation of our programs on a statewide level, and implementing social media programs, as well as our newly designed website to increase our visibility. Prior to assuming my current position in June 2006 I also served as the Kid Matters Program Coordinator, Client Services Coordinator, and Houston Program Director.  
 

I never thought my part-time job would turn into one of the most rewarding and fulfilling career experiences. Some of my proudest moments at PBT include working with new staff and learning from their previous work experiences and innovative ideas, hearing the wonderful news of our volunteers getting accepted into optometry school, BUT most importantly receiving success stories from grateful clients who have received assistance through our sight-saving programs and services. Throughout my 10 years at Prevent Blindness Texas I have realized that providing support to the PBT team and knowing that our programs and services have made and continue to make a difference in many lives has also made a difference in my life. Whether it’s the school nurse, teacher, parent, or adult who calls and says that an eye exam and/or eyeglasses has made a difference in their lives, this is one of the many reasons that reassures me that “it is in me” to continue my work at Prevent Blindness Texas and/or in the non-profit and health industry. 

I encourage everyone to find out more information about Prevent Blindness Texas by visiting us at our website or by following us on Facebook or Twitter. 

Celebrating Sight,
Monica

Pictured above (from left to right): State Program Director Monica Saenz, Southeast Texas Regional Director Irene Baird, President and CEO Debbie Goss, Southeast Texas Region Program Director Marisol Guzman at PBT's Eye Ball 2012 fundraiser

Monica, thank you for everything that you have done for Prevent Blindness Texas, its clients, its partners, and the nonprofit and health industry, in general.

The Beginning of an Eye Opening Conversation

Did you know that every 11 minutes someone goes blind in the United States? More importantly, did you know that HALF of all blindness is preventable?

When I told my family and friends that I had would be working at Prevent Blindness Texas (PBT), they all said the same thing: “how can you prevent blindness; it’s just something that happens to you.” But they were wrong.

HALF of all blindness is PREVENTABLE! And the best way to prevent blindness is to educate people about healthy eye vision. That’s where we come in.

PBT saves the sight of thousands of Texans from all walks of life each year. PBT certified vision screenings help preschoolers at risk of vision loss, preteens and teens who depend on good vision for learning, and adults threatened by glaucoma, cataracts and other serious vision problems. PBT provides eye health information to more than 100,000 Texans each year and provides those who qualify with free eye exams and glasses. PBT educates, trains, screens and advocates in order to save the sight and improve the visual quality of life for Texans.

Vision problems and eye disease are a prevalent problem throughout the country. In Texas alone, out of a population of 10,329,708 people over the age of 40 years old, 6,033,583 people have a vision problem. That’s 58 percent!

So why aren’t we talking about our sight? Why aren’t we educating ourselves about healthy vision? Why aren’t we going to the doctor for regular eye exams?

This blog will give us a way to start a conversation about healthy vision, ways to educate more people around Texas, and how you can get involved to help save sight. It will also give you an inside look at PBT, including interviews with its staff, its board members, and updates on our events.

We’re interested in your thoughts and ideas, so leave us a comment below! Let us know what you think about PBT’s efforts, the statistics mentioned in this post, leave us suggestions for future topics, or ask any questions you may have.

“Like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter as another way to leave comments and ask us questions.  You may also contact us at one of our offices, which are located across Texas in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth.

References:
http://www.preventblindnesstexas.org/
http://www.visionproblemsus.org/