Prevent Blindness Establishes Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee to Tackle Diabetes-Related Eye Diseases

Prevent Blindness has officially launched the Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee, a newly formed group designed to guide and strengthen the organization’s diabetes and eye health programs. The initiative aims to boost education, awareness, access to care, policy development, and research targeting diabetes-related eye conditions.

According to a statement by Jeff Todd, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness, “We are thrilled to welcome this impressive group of leaders to our new Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee. By bringing together different perspectives, expertise, and lived experiences, we are continuing our mission to bring an end to vision loss from diabetes.”

The committee consists entirely of volunteers who are recognized leaders in ophthalmology, optometry, public health, and the vision care industry. It also includes nonprofit leaders specializing in diabetes education, vision rehabilitation, and patient advocacy, as well as individuals living with diabetes and their allies.

Committee Members

The members of the advisory committee are as follows:

       • Karen Allison, MD, MBA, FACS – Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center; Chair, Prevent Blindness Scientific Committee; Member, Prevent Blindness Board of Directors

       • Meagan Baker, OD, FAAO – Cherry Health, Heart of the City Health Center

       • Premilla Banwait, OD, MPH, FAAO – UnitedHealthcare Vision

       • Geoffrey E. Bradford, MD, MS – West Virginia University Eye Institute

       • Jim Brocato – Ocular Therapeutix; Member, Prevent Blindness Board of Directors

       • M. Odette Brown – American Diabetes Association

       • Jacobi Cleaver, OD, FAAO – BlackEyeCare Perspective

       • Roberto Díaz-Rohena, MD – University of Texas Health Science Center–San Antonio; Audie Murphy VA Medical Center

       • Luke Ertle, MPH – Association of Clinicians for the Underserved

       • Matthew Garza – The diaTribe Foundation

       • Patricia Grant, PhD – The Chicago Lighthouse

       • Tareq Issam Nabhan, OD – University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Optometry

       • Nicole Pogue, OD, FAAO – New England College of Optometry

       • Rajeev S. Ramchandran, MD, MBA – Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center

       • Pat Segu, OD, FAAO, ABO – University of Houston, College of Optometry

       • Carolina Solis-Herrera, MD, DABOM, DMDNO – Center for Metabolic Health, University of Texas Health San Antonio

       • Serena Valentine – CORE Initiative

       • Mary Kate Walters, OD, FAAO – VIEW Optometry, University of Houston College of Optometry, Northside Eye Care

Additional members include patient advocates Tamara Joseph (a Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program graduate) and Jennifer Kim, along with representatives from Prevent Blindness affiliates in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.

New Initiatives to Reduce Diabetes-Related Eye Disease

The committee will oversee the implementation of three major initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of eye diseases caused by diabetes:

1. Improving Systems of Care in North Carolina

In collaboration with Prevent Blindness North Carolina and support from UnitedHealthcare, the committee will refine systems of care in Community Health Centers across the state. This initiative will:

       • Test new educational materials for parents of children with diabetes and young adults

       • Expand access to tele-retinal screenings for patients under 40

       • Improve care coordination within community health settings

2. Launch of Bilingual Eye Health Audio Library

A bilingual Prevent Blindness Eye Health Audio Library is in its final testing phase. This new resource will provide brief, voice-activated educational content and will be piloted in clinical settings in partnership with Prevent Blindness affiliates. The development of this tool is supported by Regeneron and Genentech.

3. Modular Education Program for Eye Care Providers

The committee is also developing a modular education program tailored for eye care providers and allied health professionals. The program will promote patient-centered, bias-free care and is informed by extensive community-based research, including key informant interviews and focus groups conducted in five states.

The program will be made available through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) Continuing Education Unit (CEU) program and the American Optometric Association (AOA) Paraoptometric CEU program. This initiative is also backed by Regeneron and Genentech.