CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness will present a wide ranging program at its upcoming Focus on Eye Health National Summit on July 18, 2018, in Washington, D.C. The theme of the seventh annual Summit, "Research to Impact,” honors the National Eye Institute’s 50th Anniversary and its myriad contributions to vision and eye research. Expected attendees of this free event include patient advocates, community-based organizations, national vision and eye health organizations, government agencies, and policymakers. Those unable to attend in person will have an opportunity to watch a live video stream of the event presentations as well as follow the event on Twitter at #eyesummit.

Kicking off the Summit will be a keynote presentation by Lily Peng of Google AI Healthcare, titled “A Glimpse Into the Future: Artificial Intelligence & Eye Care.” Other program highlights will include sessions on Improving Access through Telemedicine, Innovative Screening Models and Their Impact on Global Eye Health, Promising Practices Emerging from NEI Partnerships; Advancing Eye Health in Native American Communities and Vision's Impact on Learning in Children.

During the event, Prevent Blindness will present the 2018 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health to the Johns Hopkins University School-Based Eye Care Team. Team members include Megan E. Collins, MD, MPH; David S. Friedman, MD, MPH, PhD; Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA; Robert E. Slavin, PhD; and Nancy A. Madden, PhD. In addition, a Recognition Award will be presented to Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD, on behalf of the National Eye Institute, honoring its 50th anniversary.

Prevent Blindness will also hold its annual Eyes on Capitol Hill event, providing volunteer patient advocates with the opportunity to meet with their government representatives on Tuesday, July 17. A reception for the Congressional Vision Caucus will be held the evening of this Capitol Hill event. A Congressional briefing will be held on Thursday, July 19.

Current Gold sponsors of the Summit are Allergan, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, Genentech, International Retinal Research Foundation, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Lighthouse Guild, National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health, NORC at the University of Chicago, Regeneron, Shire and Vision Impact Institute.

Silver sponsors include the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association, BrightFocus Foundation, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Lions Club International, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Seva Foundation, Thrombogenics and Vision 2020 USA.

To register or for more information about the 2018 Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.preventblindness.org/eyesummit or call (800) 331-2020.