Lighthouse International is a leading resource worldwide on vision impairment and vision rehabilitation. Our mission is that "Lighthouse International is dedicated to fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment."

The vision loss epidemic is a pressing public health problem:

•
There are 61 million Americans at high risk of serious vision loss, due to the aging of our
population and diseases like diabetes and macular degeneration, which are rising rapidly
•
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of legal blindness among people from 20–74
•
An estimated 9 million Americans have some form of age-related macular degeneration —
the leading cause of vision impairment in people age 65+
•
More than 4 million Americans have glaucoma; half of whom are unaware they have it.

Description and/or History:
Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization that helps people of all
ages who are at risk for, or are experiencing, vision loss. We provide services, research and education,
and advocate to help people with low vision and blindness live safe, independent and productive lives.

The World Health Organization estimates that 161 million people worldwide have a vision impairment:
37 million are blind and 124 million have partial sight. Without intervention, the number of people who
are visually impaired could almost double by 2020.

More services will be needed as the baby boomer generation ages, people live longer and conditions that
cause vision loss such as diabetes affect even the very young. In the future, it's very likely that you or
someone you love may face vision loss due to macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes-related eye
disease or cataracts.

The Lighthouse recommends that people see an eye care specialist first, but when vision loss interferes
with a person's ability to function, we can help.

Lighthouse International offers vision rehabilitation services that help people cope with vision loss,
travel safely, take care of their homes, meet career objectives and enjoy leisure activities. Services
include orientation and mobility training (helping people travel safely), vision rehabilitation teaching,
counseling, low vision exams, youth and career services, a pre-school and community music school, and
adaptive computer training.

Lighthouse International is the pioneer in the treatment of people with low vision. In 1953, we
established the largest low vision service in the US, and our model for diagnosing and treating people
with low vision remains the international prototype today.

We provide continuing education programs for eye and healthcare professionals, and conduct extensive
public awareness campaigns about the prevention and treatment of eye diseases. Our Research Institute
studies the effects of vision loss on people's lives, and seeks new ways to identify vision problems early.
Advocacy efforts promote equal access to health care, jobs and mainstream society for people with
impaired vision.

In the next 100 years, Lighthouse International will redouble our efforts to save people's sight and teach
people how to live better with vision loss. We will act as a catalyst to advance the prevention of eye
diseases, and advocate for treatments and cures.

Support for the Lighthouse comes from individual donors, foundations and corporations. In addition, we
receive government grants from organizations such as the National Eye Institute, the National Institute
on Aging and the National Institute of Mental Health, among others.

For more information about eye diseases, resources and locating low vision professionals near you,
call Lighthouse International's toll-free number at 1-800-829-0500 or visit www.visionconnection.org.
For information about the Lighthouse, visit www.lighthouse.org.

Lighthouse International was founded in 1905 by Winifred and Edith Holt - 2 sisters who were wealthy and looking to do some good. By chance they happened upon a group of visually impaired young men attending a concert and went to speak with them and that started their introduction into helping people with vision impairments. We are the only vision rehabilitation agency that runs a Research Institute devoted to vision research in the U.S.

Contact people:

Rowena Saunders, Vice President, Volunteer Dept., 212/821-9688, (email) Cheryl Pemberton, Program Director, (212) 821-9544, (email)

Address:

111 E. 59th Street New York, NY 10022 (See a map)

Directions:

R, N, 4, 5, 6, Q train to Lexington Ave. (and 59th St.) F train to Lexington Ave.(and 63rd St.) E, V trains to Lexington Ave.(and 53rd St.0   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: R, N, Q, 4, 5, 6,   Walk distance (in minutes): 1