Sean Curry joins Marissa to discuss the current state of access to vision care in the United States, particularly in the DC metro area, and the importance of eye exams. Tune in to learn more about how public transportation, income, and other social determinants of health impact vision loss (and what you can do about it!).
Sean Curry is the Associate Director of Programs for the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington who has a Masters in Public Health from The George Washington University. He oversees low vision community and health education events in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties of Maryland.
“A lot of eye conditions do not have early symptoms. You may not realize you are losing your vision because it is progressing very slowly. You often hear the phrase ‘ignorance is bliss’, but when it comes to your eye health, that is not the case”
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Key Points:
1:25 - What is the Prevention of Blindness Society and what services do they provide in the DC Metro area?
4:25 - Why is preventative care so important in eye health?
7:50 - How often should people receive eye exams?
9:30 - What is the current state of access to vision care in the United States, especially in the DMV area?
13:20 - What are social determinants of health?
17:25 - Are there certain communities disproportionately impacted by vision loss?
19:20 - How has COVID-19 impacted vision care and Prevention of Blindness Society’s initiatives?
24:15 - How can people learn more about and support the Prevention of Blindness Society?
25:38 - How do you recommend spreading awareness and talking with family members about vision care?
28:18 - How does Prevention of Blindness Society ensure blind people are central in their advocacy efforts?
Resources & Transcript - https://www.blondeblind.com/post/17-understanding-vision-loss-and-preventative-care
