Latest News Prevent Blindness Partners With CDC to Raise Awareness of Smoking’s Effects By Staff Monday, March 30, 2015 12:24 AM CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate the public on the negative effects that smoking may have on vision. The partnership is building on the CDC’s existing public awareness campaign, Tips From Former Smokers (Tips) to expand the public’s knowledge by including vision. For the first time, the updated 2015 campaign includes the story of Marlene, 68, from New York, who is currently losing her vision due to macular degeneration that is directly linked to her years of cigarette smoking.According to the 50th Anniversary Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health, smoking can cause serious eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of vision loss in those ages 65 and older as well as cataract, the leading cause of blindness in the world. Smokers with diabetes are also at higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.The goal of this partnership is to provide education, tools and resources that can allow smokers to get the help they need to quit, Prevent Blindness stated in its announcement. Prevent Blindness and the CDC are offering access to free information on a variety of eye health topics as well as tips on how leading a healthy lifestyle can help save sight. Customizable fact sheets and more resources can be downloaded for free at: www.preventblindness.org/smoking.