CHICAGO—The Health Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) has released its consensus study, “Making Eye Health a Populations Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow.”

To commemorate the release, Prevent Blindness, co-sponsor of the study, will be hosting a webinar featuring the Study Committee, through its Focus Initiative on Sept. 20 from 3 to 4:15 pm ET. The webinar will be moderated by M. Kathleen Murphy, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, and scheduled speakers include Steven Teutsch, MD, MPH; Lori Glover, OD, PhD; Peter Jacobson, JD, MPH; and Rohit Varma, MD, MPH.

“Prevent Blindness and our National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health commend NASEM and its study committee on the tremendous work they have done to fully capture the scope of the challenge before us," said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Together with our network of affiliates and partner organizations, we are eager to expand our own best practices and join with our colleagues in government, community and professional organizations, industry, and across all sectors to work collaboratively in advancing the impressive agenda NASEM sets before us.”

The American Optometric Association (AOA), another sponsor of the study, believes that NASEM has set a roadmap to improve the future of vision health and to make sure that everyone in the U.S. has access to eye and vision care.

“The National Academies’ report is an expression of the vision health improvements that family eye doctors and our community partners have worked tirelessly to achieve, and it shines a crucial spotlight on eye and vision health issues and the need to responsibly address them," says Andrea P. Thau, OD, president of the AOA. "With today’s technology and tools, along with the strongest-ever collection of doctors of optometry, we are already putting these recommendations to work to deliver quality, evidence-based care and ensure that everyone has access to in-person comprehensive eye examinations and needed clinical eyecare.”

Visit the Prevent Blindness website here.