CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness has formed a partnership with the new global organization See Now that is developing and taking a new campaign to end avoidable blindness in the U.S. to congressional leaders.

The partnership will attempt to “mobilize audiences to call for an increase in federal attention to the growing problem of eye health,” the organizations said in a statement this week. Details on the request for additional funding, are posted here.

“Prevent Blindness believes that vision problems have been a long-overlooked population health problem when you consider their prevalence and cost to this country,” chief operating officer Jeff Todd said. “It’s time for us to recognize that an increased investment in prevention and strong public health programs is the only way we can turn the tide on the continued growth of this significant national health care concern.”

According to the Prevent Blindness report, “Future of vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems,” vision problems cost the U.S. $145 billion annually. As Congress begins considering federal funding allocations, Prevent Blindness is urging them to “unlock eyecare for 15 million Americans by committing an additional $6.3 million to sight-saving eye health programs that will help both children and adults,” according to the statement.

As part of the initiative, the See Now campaign features video testimony from patient ambassadors from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, sharing their stories of how access to eyecare has changed their lives. Additionally, Prevent Blindness is urging the public to join the See Now campaign and commit to calling on Congress to increase funding by signing its petition.

“All Americans have a right to sight, but today, that right is threatened,” Prevent Blindness president and chief executive officer Hugh R. Parry said in the statement. “We are asking our nation’s leaders to address this public health issue by providing the resources we need to save sight.”

See Now is a new global initiative created by the nonprofit The Fred Hollows Foundation, which is based in Australia.