Write the Vision provides resources with a specific focus and theme that corresponds with the time of year. Use these resources in your community outreach to educate African Americans about the importance of comprehensive dilated eye exams.
Looking forward to the sights of summer?
Don’t get blindsided by diabetic eye disease.
Making plans for a summer holiday can be exciting, and ensuring your getaway goes smoothly is an important part. Equally important to enjoying that well-deserved retreat is not getting blindsided by diabetic eye disease.
People with diabetes are at risk for diabetic eye disease, which has no symptoms in its early stages. The only way to stay ahead of this disease is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year to diagnose and treat it early, before noticeable vision loss occurs. Early detection and treatment are key to saving sight.
Help your community enjoy a healthy summer vacation this year and for years to come. Share this important message by distributing the following materials:
Article
Use this article in any of your publications or newsletters to educate people about eye health. You can copy and paste the text into a new document or download and use the file as is.
- Don’t get caught off guard on your next adventure (PDF 316.75 KB)
Fact sheets
Find information and tips to help you communicate important eye health messages to African Americans.
- Focus on diabetic retinopathy (PDF 956.29 KB)
- Healthy eyes bulletin (PDF 2.51 MB)
Slides/flyers
Please share these slides/flyers with the people in your community. Include them in presentations and weekly congregational announcements, place in common areas, and post on your website and social media pages.
Featured resource
Check out our July eye health feature, the Don’t lose sight of diabetic eye disease fact sheet (PDF 494.64 KB).
Social media posts for July
Here are the Write the Vision social media posts for July. We hope you are as excited as we are to share them. Get the word out in the community by sharing these posts about healthy vision. Join the national conversation by using the hashtag #MyHealthyEyes.
Facebook posts
Diabetic eye disease is a group of diseases that includes cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. They often have no early symptoms. If you have diabetes, don’t wait until you notice problems to have an eye exam. Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year: https://nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/diabetic-retinopathy
African Americans are at higher risk for developing diabetes and eye health complications such as diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetes, keep your health on TRACK: Take your medication. Reach and maintain a healthy weight. Add physical activity to your daily routine. Control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Kick the smoking habit. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2fYzvrC
Twitter posts
African Americans are at higher risk for #diabetes & eye problems like #DiabeticEyeDisease: https://nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/diabetic-retinopathy
#DiabeticEyeDisease has no early symptoms. Don’t wait. Get a dilated eye exam at least once a year: http://bit.ly/2fYzvrC