Donate $1.00 or more to Prevent Blindness Florida when you renew your vehicle registration! 

During the month of March, Prevent Blindness Florida will be conducting its annual “Sight-Saver Contest” to promote it’s voluntary check-off on both vehicle registration and driver’s license renewals.  Since the campaign started, over $500,000 has been raised. 

Prevent Blindness Florida was founded in 1957 by Mildred Baynard of St. Petersburg who understood that 50% of blindness is preventable and she decided to do something about it.  Its mission is to prevent blindness and preserve sight.  

 They accomplish their mission by providing:

·        Vision Screening for young children – 1 in 20 pre-school children has a vision problem that can lead to permanent vision loss and that number grows to 1 in 4 for school-age children.  Vouchers for free exams and glasses are provided for families that don’t have insurance coverage or the financial mean to afford them.

·        Glaucoma screening for at-risk adults – Glaucoma is known as the sneak thief of sight.  It is a blinding eye disease that often has no symptoms before it’s too late. 2 to 3 million Americans have Glaucoma, and half don’t know it.  African-Americans and Asian Americans are at much higher risk for Glaucoma than the general population.

·        Public Education Initiatives on eye health and safety 

On a national level, Prevent Blindness America conducts research into the causes of and cures for eye diseases.  Through Prevent Blindness America there is a toll free information line: 1-800-331-2020 and a website: www.preventblindness.org 

Every 11 minutes, an American goes blind!

And blindness costs Florida taxpayers, on average, $80,000,000.00 annually. 

Remember when renewing your vehicle or driver's license, to "check the box" and make a donation to Prevent Blindness.