The model call will be held at the Bolger Center, located at 9600 Newbridge Drive in Potomac, MD.  All participants are asked to bring a completed application, signed release and 
$30 modeling fee to the model call.

For more information about model requirements 
and to download an application, please visit POB’s American Girl Fashion Show webpage.

Don’t forget to save the date for the 5th Annual American Girl Fashion Show, which will be on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at the Bolger Center in Potomac, MD. The shows will be held at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets will go on sale online in September.

Tickets for adults and children will be $55 per person, or $65 per person if purchased after October 26. All models’ families are required to purchase tickets if they plan on watching the show. For more information, please email americangirlfashionshow@youreyes.org.

Vision changes as people get older, but vision loss is not a normal part of aging.

Common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) threaten millions of Americans, potentially robbing them of vision, mobility, and independence. New discoveries are yielding sight-saving treatments, but early diagnosis, timely treatment, and appropriate follow-up care are essential to preventing irreversible vision loss.

Early stages of common eye diseases typically have no symptoms and can only be detected through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Pupil dilation allows a doctor to closely examine the back of the eye for signs of eye disease.

Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve, which relays visual information from the retina to the brain. The retina is the light-sensing layer of tissue in the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy—a complication of diabetes—causes swelling, leakage, and blockage of the blood vessels that nourish the retina. AMD occurs when cells in the center part of the retina, called the macula, break down.

People at higher risk of glaucoma include African-Americans age 40 and older; everyone age 60 and older, especially Mexican Americans; people with a family history of the disease.

People at risk of diabetic retinopathy include people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. People over 50 years old, whites, smokers, and those with a family history of AMD are at greater risk of AMD.

As the largest vision research organization in the world, the NEI is making tremendous gains in the understanding of common and rare vision disorders. Through new tools for DNA analysis, the NEI is identifying gene variations that influence eye disease risk. Scientists can then study these genes to understand disease pathways and identify therapeutic targets.

Recent clinical trials sponsored by the NEI have provided doctors with crucial data regarding prevention and treatment of AMD. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study determined that taking high levels of antioxidants and zinc reduces the risk of developing AMD by about 25 percent. The NEI Comparison of AMD Treatments Trials found that the two most commonly used AMD drugs—one that was designed for use in the eye and a much cheaper drug that was developed to treat cancer—are equally effective in treating AMD.

The NEI is pioneering new treatments for rare eye diseases. Scientists have successfully treated people with a rare retinal disease called Leber congenital amaurosis using gene transfer therapy. Work in stem cell therapy is also making good progress. Preliminary work by NEI-funded scientists has demonstrated with lab experiments the possibility of generating transplantable retinal tissue from mature blood cells.

Healthy Vision Month is a national eye health observance established by the NEI in May 2003. During Healthy Vision Month, NEI is increasing awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and treatment through outreach efforts aimed at the general public.

Make healthy vision last a lifetime. During Healthy Vision Month, help elevate vision as a health priority.

For more information about keeping eyes healthy, visit http://www.nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes.

Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD, NEI Director

The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington (POB) and the Sibley Senior Association will host Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD, Director, of National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Eye Institute (NEI) on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Sibley Memorial Hospital Medical Building’s Conference Center for an update on the latest facts on NEI-supported projects concerning stem cell and genetic research seeking solutions to vision loss, including Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

AMD is the leading cause of vision loss for older adults. According to the 2010 Census, there are more than 38 million people over age 65. Vision loss is an increasing age-related public health issue as 70 million baby boomers turned 65 in 2011. By the year 2030, the number of Americans over age 65 will double to 71.5 million who are at risk for severe sight loss.

In addition to his work as NEI Director, Dr. Sieving is a leading researcher on treatments to delay the onset of AMD and other macular degenerations. During the event, Dr. Sieving will discuss this research, as well as other projects, focused on saving sight.

“This program’s goal is to offer individuals the opportunity to learn more about federally-funded research that may save their sight,” said Michele Hartlove, executive director of the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington. “Dr. Sieving will discuss these programs and more importantly, their potential to treat individuals experiencing vision loss.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from this internationally renowned vision expert. Join POB and Sibley Senior Association for this important health update. The lecture will be at the Sibley Memorial Hospital Medical Building’s Conference Center in Washington, DC. The program is free and complimentary parking will be available in the parking garage adjacent to the building. Space is limited. To register, please visit: http://www.sibley.org/community/events or call (202) 234-1010.

Age does increase the risks of developing numerous eye disorders like age-related macular
degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.  We are all unique and other factors like family history, race, environmental issues and nutrition can also impact our risks.

In the early stages, many of these conditions  do not have signs or  symptoms.  It is important for you to learn how you can help yourself and those you care about. Information is power, become part of the solution!

Join the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington ® (POB)  and Doctors Community Hospital (DCH) for a free educational seminar titled “The Aging Eye” presented by Michael Summerfield, MD, a physician with the Washington Eye Institute and  Division Chief of Ophthalmology at DCH.

The event will take place Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to
12:00  p.m. in the Professional Office Building at Doctors Community
Hospital, 8116 Good Luck Road, Lanham, Maryland.

This is going to be a very exciting event, not only for the general public, but also for POB and DCH. This is the first event co-sponsored by these organizations with the shared goal of bringing vision care education and information to Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Space is limited. To register for the event, please call POB at (202) 234-1010

Dr. Alexis Malkin

Each month, Dr. Alexis Malkin from the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington’s ®  (POB) Low Vision Learning Center will answer common questions and share information on eye health in our “Ask the Doctor” column.  This month’s column focuses on the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the services they offer veterans with vision impairments.

“One of the most influential experiences in leading me to a career in low vision was working with blinded veterans at the West Haven VA Hospital’s Blind Rehabilitation Center. I watched as veterans recovered from car accidents and returned to work as financial advisors and as 95-year-olds with macular degeneration developed the computer skills needed to keep in touch with family and friends.

I worked with veterans who commuted weekly from New York, NY to West Haven, CT to develop independent living skills and with those who could come only as outpatients because they were the primary caregivers for their ailing spouses.

Before this experience, I never imagined the rehabilitation potential for blind and visually impaired individuals. After just three short months, I decided to dedicate my career to low vision rehabilitation.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is instrumental in the training programs for many optometrists. I was fortunate to spend nearly two years in various training programs within the VA system, including my time at the Blind Rehabilitation Center as well as in outpatient low vision clinics. Through these experiences, I learned about the extensive low vision services that are provided to veterans. That is what I would like to share with you this month.

The VA low vision services consist of three levels of care:

1.    Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation Programs (VISOR)
2.    Visual Impairment Center of Optimize Remaining Sight (VICTORS)
3.    Blind Rehabilitation Centers (BRC)

The VA also provides home based services using Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists.

The VA works on a continuum of care which provides the most access to veterans and minimizes travel time and cost, both to veterans and to taxpayers.

In most cases, veterans with visual impairments can qualify for VA low vision services, even if the vision impairment is not related to his or her service. The VA works with these veterans to maximize independence, provide visual rehabilitation training and can provide extensive rehabilitation.

Some of these services include:

• Orientation and mobility training
• Computer accessibility training
• Braille education classes
• Living skills courses
• Diabetic management courses.

All of the VA low vision centers have low vision specialists on staff, including optometrists, ophthalmologists, vision rehabilitation specialists and orientation and mobility specialists. In most cases, the care is provided to the veteran at low or no cost.

Recent research published in Archives of Ophthalmology describes the Low Vision Intervention trial, which evaluated success of rehabilitation at VA outpatient clinics. This study has served as a model for many private and hospital-based low vision rehabilitation centers because of its success in improving reading ability for veterans with macular degeneration.

Veterans who think that they may benefit from a low vision evaluation and rehabilitation should contact their local VA. They will then be contacted by the Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) coordinator who can help with enrollment in the VA Low Vision Service.”

A few of the Hagen-Renaker ceramic horses in the collection.

The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington’s ® (POB) Look Again® resale shop on Kensington, MD’s “Antique Row” is always a great place to find unique, and sometimes antique, treasures.

Right now, the store has a large collection of mid-century pottery for sale. From a set of Hagen-Renaker horses to vases and other figurines, these collectibles make beautiful gifts for you or someone you know who enjoys this kind of art. Other pottery companies featured in the collection include:

• Frankoma Pottery
• Haeger Potteries
• Hull Art Pottery
• Red Wing Pottery

Pieces from this collection range in price from $5 to $29 each.  POB encourages you to find some time to stop by the store and take a look at these beautiful pieces of art.

To qualify for this deduction, a letter must be obtained from your eye doctor certifying your legal blindness under either of the following two conditions:

1. An individual cannot see more than 20/200 in the better eye with glasses or contact lenses, or
2. An individual’s field of vision is no greater than 20 degrees in both eyes.

Taxpayers 65 and older or who are legally blind at the end of the year can receive an additional standard deduction amount. This amount will be added to the basic standard deduction already mandated by the federal government which is, for 2011, $1,150 if married and $1,450 if single. If an individual qualifies as both over age 65 and is legally blind, he or she will receive two (2) additional deductions.

For more information, contact the Internal Revenue Service or your tax preparer.

Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity.

Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. Many eye care providers sell protective eyewear, as do sporting goods stores. Safety goggles that can be worn over prescription glasses may be purchased for less than $10.

Talk to your eye care provider about protective eyewear for your child. Your eye care provider can provide protective eyewear that fits your child’s prescription. He or she can help you select a correct fit and style for any sport.

“Children should use protective eyewear during sporting activities to avoid unnecessary eye injuries that can possibly result in permanent vision loss,” said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Eye Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health.

At first, your child may resist wearing protective eyewear, saying that it isn’t cool. But this doesn’t have to be the case—protective eyewear now comes in a variety of styles and colors that can even match team uniforms. Don’t let your child step onto the field or court unless he or she is wearing the proper safety gear from head to toe, including protective eyewear.

Game Time

While the use of protective eyewear is important for all activities, some sports carry a greater risk than others. For example, baseball is the leading cause of sports-related eye injury in children 14 and under and is considered a high-risk sport. Football carries a moderate risk. Check the table below for the risk categories of eye injury for various sports.

For more information about protective eyewear for specific sports, visit the National Eye Institute website.

Protect your child’s eyes. Help them gear up for the game with protective eyewear.

This post is published courtesy of the National Eye Institute.

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it may be time to talk an eye care professional about your smartphone use. He or she may give you a new eyeglasses or contact lens prescription or change your old one to ensure your eyes stay safe while you stay up to date.

Here are a few other tips that may help keep your Blackberry from making your eyes blurry:
• Blink: Staring at a screen of any size can be hard on the eyes. Give them a quick second to rest.
• Use drops: If reading a screen makes your eyes dry, try using drops to refresh them.
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: This American Academy of Ophthalmology recommendation is simple to follow. Every 20 minutes, look up from your smartphone or computer screen and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Are you a smartphone user? How do you keep your eyes healthy and still get your technology fix?

This year, POB honored Dr. Suleiman Alibhai with this award at our Night of Vision Gala on March 24. Dr. Alibhai has spent the past 20 years providing low vision rehabilitation services to individuals with low vision in the greater Metropolitan Washington, DC area.

He began his career providing low vision services to patients at the Retina Group of Washington and also as a low vision consultant for patients under protocols at the National Institutes of Health’s National Eye Institute.

As a member of the Fairfax Hosts Lions Club, Dr. Alibhai played a pivotal role in connecting the Lions with POB to develop POB’s Low Vision Learning Center in Alexandria, VA. Since the center opened in October 2010, Dr. Alibhai and his associate, Dr. Alexis Malkin have seen more than 750 patients ranging in age from four years to 94 years old.

During the award presentation, POB showed the following video to highlight Dr. Alibhai’s accomplishments. It features interviews with Dr. Alibhai’s patients, colleagues and friends who discuss his hard work, knowledge, modesty and most important, commitment to helping individuals throughout the greater Washington, DC. POB encourages you to share your thoughts on Dr. Alibhai and his work in the “comments” section of this post.

Congratulations again, Dr. Alibhai!