Eye and Vision Health for Tomorrow: From Recommendations to Coordinated Action.

Abstract

In 2016, the report Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow was published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Conference presentations and key stakeholder discussions have continued the dialogue initiated by this report. In 2018, a stakeholder meeting assessed the feasibility of establishing a backbone organization, a national center that can provide technical and resource assistance regarding eye and vision health. This meeting also resulted in a consensus to translate the report recommendations into action through 7 core functions: (1) supporting ongoing surveillance efforts, (2) establishing and strengthening a national multisector network of partner organizations, (3) creating an online vision and population health toolkit, (4) integrating and expanding early-detection initiatives across diverse clinical and nonclinical settings, (5) expanding eye and vision health education, (6) identifying and disseminating evidence-based interventions, and (7) exploring the integration of eye and vision health interventions into broader chronic care models. The report's recommendations aim to improve vision and health equity in the United States and should be implemented through an ongoing centrally coordinated campaign.