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News and Information--Stay informed by checking back often for updates! 

RESOURCES for individuals in need of assistance:  VSP Sight for Students and the Healthy Eyes Eyeglass Program:

SIGHT FOR STUDENTS is a program for children whose families earn up to 200% of the federal poverty level.  (Children who are below the poverty level usually qualify for Medicaid services).  ‘Sight for Students’ is not available for recipients of Medicaid.  Students are eligible to participate up to age 18, or until graduation from high school.  The student or parent must be a U.S. citizen or documented immigrant with a social security number.  A child may use the Sight for Students program once every 12 months.    Click here for VSP Sight for Students Application

HEALTHY EYES EYEGLASS PROGRAM is a program for individuals who have a recent eyeglass prescription, without the means to pay for glasses.  Qualifications include:

• are at 200% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines;
• do not have any other eyeglass benefits they can access;
• have a valid eyeglass prescription that is less than two years old;
• have participated in a Prevent Blindness screening program or have been referred by a Prevent Blindness partner agency; and
• have not previously participated in this program (unless there has been a change in their prescription or their eyeglasses have been damaged beyond repair).

Healthy Eyes Eyeglass Application            Healthy Eyes Eyeglass Program Fact Sheet

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 Learn about the good work being performed by Nebraska Lion's Clubs below:

Sunrise Lion's Club July- August 2009 newsletter

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               Prevent Blindness Nebraska In the News:

Prevent Blindness Nebraska is using the O! 

Omaha's O! campaign has caught fire in the city.  Prevent Blindness Nebraska is also participating, with a recently designed O! of its own.  This symbol was created in 2003 to be a tool Omahans could use to become more actively involved in promoting this vibrant, dynamic city.  It's hard to miss what many refer to as the, "O!plosion" taking place around town with countless examples of creative O! usage and marketing campaigns.

Justin Schillerberg from Justin's Art- Illustrations and Design www.justins-art.com is the designer of Prevent Blindness Nebraska's O!

Patricia Hunter from Transcendental Web Services and founder of Social Fusion www.tws-webservices.com and www.socialfusion.info coordinator for Prevent Blindness Nebraska's O!

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Executive Director Kathy Byrnes and Advocate Nancy Todd participate in

Eyes on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. March 2 - 4, 2009

The annual Eyes on Capitol Hill event provides vision advocates an opportunity to meet with Congressional leaders and policymakers who are often unaware of how much can be done for the many Americans who have, or are at risk for, vision loss. Half of all blindness is preventable, and increased resources for research and prevention can improve the vision health of our population. Greater federal investment is needed to increase the impact of the National Eye Institute and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Prevent Blindness Nebraska Executive Director, Kathy Byrnes with Congressman Lee Terry and Nebraska Delegate, Nancy Peck

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Prevent Blindness Nebraska and KidVision, Inc. merge operations!

January 1, 2009 the merger between Prevent Blindness Nebraska and KidVision, Inc. became official.  The merger allows for greater efficiencies in providing vision screening services to children and families in the community.  Instead of competing for scarce funding resources, the organizations went beyond collaboration to becoming one organization.  "Both organizations have great successes to celebrate", said Kathy Byrnes, Executive Director of Prevent Blindness Nebraska, "Together, we will build on those successes and the winners will be those children and families touched by our services.  This is a very exciting time for our community as the organization continues to prevent blindness and preserve sight."

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Check out the latest eye health and safety news and press releases from Prevent Blindness America:

Eye Health & Safety News

Learn more about vision related issues to help prevent blindness and preserve sight by clicking this Prevent Blindness America link:  The Vision Learning Center

Vision Fact Sheets    Click here for helpful vision fact sheets from Prevent Blindness America

"Did you Know?" Facts     Vision Facts and Resources