November Resources

Help African Americans protect their vision from diabetic eye disease.
National Diabetes Month is a good time to talk about eye health. Why? African Americans with diabetes are at higher risk for diabetic eye disease, but many don’t know it. In addition, diabetic eye disease, a silent disease that has no symptoms or warning signs, is the number one cause of blindness. The only way to detect diabetic eye disease is through a comprehensive dilated eye exam, but only half of people with diabetes get this sight-saving exam.

Encourage members of the community you serve to schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Use the following Write the Vision materials to help spread this important news:

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.

• Start a new tradition: Set your sights on healthy vision (PDF 411 KB)

Find information and tips to help you communicate important eye health messages to African Americans.

• Focus on diabetic retinopathy (PDF 956 KB)

Share these infographics with your networks, community leaders, and partner organizations. Print and place the infographics in common areas, post on your website and social media pages, and encourage others to do the same.

• African Americans and eye health: Diabetic retinopathy with healthy vision tips
• African Americans and eye health: Diabetic retinopathy

Please share this slide/flyer with the people in your community. Include it in presentations and weekly congregational announcements, place in common areas, and post on your website and social media pages.

• Make vision a health priority (animated slide)
• Life happens, but you can make healthy vision a priority (PDF 2.76 MB)

Be sure to check out this month’s eye health feature, the TRACK animation on diabetic eye disease. Watch and share the link with others.

Here are the Write the Vision social media posts for November. 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.