Eye Health Organizations

The following organizations provide eye health-related information to the public. You may find it useful to contact one or more of these organizations for request information. These organizations also may be able to refer you to resources in your area. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by VisionRx.com.

Directory of Visual Impairment Organizations

American Council of the Blind
1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
1-800-424-8666
(202) 467-5081
info@acb.org
http://www.acb.org
o Serves as a national clearinghouse on blindness issues for individuals, organizations, and institutions. Provides an information and referral service on federal legislation, administrative action, and rule-making on national and state levels. Offers group insurance plans, coordinates class-action litigation, and educates the public about blindness and the abilities of visually impaired people.

American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
1-800-232-5463
(212) 502-7600
afbinfo@afb.org
http://www.afb.org
Regional Offices:
Chicago, Ill. (312) 245-9961 Dallas, Tex. (214) 352-7222 Atlanta, Ga. (404) 525-2303 New York, N.Y. (212) 502-7657 San Francisco, Cal. (415) 392-4845 Washington, D.C. (202) 457-1487 o Provides consultation to schools, agencies and organizations. Gives technical assistance through the staff at regional service centers. Records and manufactures talking books. Publishes books, pamphlets and periodicals. Adapts and evaluates devices to help blind and visually impaired people live and work independently. Conducts social research on visual impairment and blindness.

Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and the Visually Impaired
206 N. Washington Street, Suite 320
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 823-9690
aernet@laser.net
o Includes educators, rehabilitators, administrators, parents and house-parents of blind children as well as agencies, schools, and others interested in the education, guidance, vocational rehabilitation, or occupational placement of the blind and partially sighted. Cooperates with colleges and universities in conferences and workshops. Presents awards, conducts certification programs, and maintains job exchange services and speakers bureau.

Lighthouse International
111 E. 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
1-800-829-0500
(212) 821-9200
(212) 821-9713 (TDD)
info@lighthouse.org
http://www.lighthouse.org
o Serves as a national clearinghouse for information on vision impairment across the life span and for services available nationwide. Offers a comprehensive selection of educational products, large- print materials, talking products, and related specialty items for people with visual impairments. Adaptive devices are available through catalog sales.

Lions Clubs International
300 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60521-8842
(630) 571-5466
lions@lionsclubs.org
http://www.lionsclubs.org
o Provides financial assistance for eyecare to individuals through local clubs. Coordinates sight conservation activities. Note: There are Lions Clubs in most localities, and services vary from club to club. Check your telephone book for the address and telephone number of your local club.

National Association for Visually Handicapped
22 W. 21st Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010
(212) 889-3141
http://www.navh.org
o Serves as a clearinghouse for information about all services available to the partially sighted from public and private sources. Conducts self-help groups. Provides information on large-print books, textbooks and educational tools.

National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314
1-800-638-7518 - Job Opportunities
http://www.nfb.org
o Represents the largest membership of blind people in the nation. Provides a wide variety of services to visually impaired people including job placement. Publishes the Braille Monitor and Future Reflections. Distributes a catalog of publications available in large print, Braille, or audiocassette, and a catalog of aids and appliances.

Ophthalmology: General Resources
OPTHAL Clinical Ophthalmology Web Site
http://www.ophthal.org/orj/general/

Prevent Blindness America
500 E. Remington Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
1-800-331-2020
(847) 843-2020
http://www.prevent-blindness.org
o Produces educational materials that address the special needs of senior citizens, agriculture and industrial workers, school teachers and children, nurses, and doctors. Offers guidance regarding currently available treatments, eyecare facilities and programs, and current eye research findings through the National Center for Sight. Administers a research program to provide small start-up grants to young scientists.

Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc.
645 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022-1010
1-800-621-0026
(212) 752-4333
o Provides research grants to scientists interested in eye disease and vision disorders. Conducts seminars to encourage communication among scientists, practicing ophthalmologists and the public.

Resources for Rehabilitation
33 Bedford Street, Suite 19A
Lexington, MA 02173
(781) 862-6455
o Provides training and information to professionals who serve individuals with vision loss and other disabilities. Publishes a variety of resource guides on coping with visual impairment.

Sight and Hearing Association
674 Transfer Road
St. Paul, MN 55114-1402
(800) 992-0424
http://www.sightandhearing.org
o Dedicated to preventing the needless loss of vision and hearing through effective screening, education, and research. This site provides public information about eye and ear topics as well as information regarding their products and services.