About Our Organization
Our Mission - Prevent Blindness and Preserve Sight
Prevent Blindness Florida, an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, is a
non-profit organization offering over 50 years of vision education and services. Our focus is promoting a lifetime of healthy vision care through advocacy, education, screening and research. You can help Prevent Blindness Florida by donation when you renew your vehicle registration and driver license.
Our Vision - Florida’s Leader in Preserving Sight
Advocacy - we work with government officials at the local, state and national levels to make eye health and safety a local as well as national priority. We advocate for sound public policy and adequate funding for initiatives that prevent blindness and save sight.
Education - we create awareness about the importance of vision care for all ages through seminars, vision screening, special events, public service announcements, brochures and our website. Our message is simple…have a regular eye exam.
Screening - we check the eyes of thousands of children and adults each year. Our vision screenings help preschoolers at risk of vision loss from lazy eye, school children who depend on good vision for learning, and adults threatened by glaucoma and other serious vision problems.
Research - we support the work of scientists who will find tomorrow's cures for the eye diseases that threaten Americans with vision loss and blindness. We recently funded a vision study being conducted at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, in collaboration with Scripps Florida, led by Stephen G. Schwartz, MD.
Contact Us
Prevent Blindness Florida
1112 East Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33602
Phone: (800) 817-3595 ext. 112
Fax: (813) 226-3745
E-mail: jtobin@preventblindnessfl.org
Testimonials
"My daughter was screened by Prevent Blindness Florida. I had no idea she was experiencing vision difficulties. She was referred to an eye care professional who diagnosed her with astigmatism and near-sightedness. I would never have caught McKenna's vision problem without your help. Thanks you Prevent Blindness Florida!"
Jennifer Shoberg - North Port, Florida
"Words could not describe enough how much we appreciate this wonderful gift of glasses for my son. My child’s vision is so important."
Serena Paiz - St. Petersburg, Florida
During a vision screening at the FTCA Fall conference in Tampa a few years ago, I was informed by Prevent Blindness staff about the side effects of elevated blood glucose levels on people’s vision. I didn’t give it too much thought at the time because I was told that I had perfect 20/20 vision. However, early last year as I was struggling to focus on a power point presentation, I remembered what I learned in Tampa. I immediately went to see the doctor for testing and was told that I had developed type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, through early detection, medication, diet and exercise, my blood glucose levels are currently under control. I am eternally grateful to the fine folks at Prevent Blindness for giving me the information that I needed in order to catch this terrible disease in its early stages. I know that we have many charities vying for our attention at this time, but I am living proof that the work being done by Prevent Blindness makes a difference in people’s lives. As we are about to begin the 2007 Sight Saver campaign, I ask you to please support this wonderful organization.
Fernando Casamayor, Tax Collector
Miami-Dade County Finance Department