Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and vice chair for clinical research at UAB, will conduct a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, part of the Focus on Eye Health National Summit, presented by Prevent Blindness America. She will present information to congressional staffers on adult vision impairment and age-related eye disease in America. The four major eye diseases for older persons, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma, have all increased between 19 and 25 percent among older Americans in recent years.
Owsley, chairwoman of the Prevent Blindness America scientific committee, is a facilitator of the summit, to be held June 20 at the Washington Marriot at Metro Center. The summit will also highlight updated findings on the impact of adult eye disorders, visual impairment and blindness on the U.S. economy. Attendees will include patient advocates, community-based organizations, national vision and eye health organizations, government agencies and policymakers.