Sixth Annual Inflammatory Eye Disease Week Runs Oct. 19-25; Such Diseases Account for 10-15% of Legal Blindness in the U.S.
Prevent Blindness, a national patient advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and preserving eye health, has declared its sixth annual Inflammatory Eye Disease (IED) Week for October 19-25, 2026, the organization announced via PR Newswire.
Citing a recent study published in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the organization said inflammatory eye diseases account for 10 percent to 15 percent of legal blindness in the United States, and that the working-age population is disproportionately affected, leading to more years of visual disability and an outsized economic impact compared with other causes of blindness. Types of IED include conjunctivitis, keratitis, thyroid eye disease and uveitis.
Acute inflammation is a normal, protective response of a healthy immune system, with common symptoms including eye redness, swelling and sometimes pain; in rare cases, however, chronic inflammation can damage vision, the organization said. For IED Week, Prevent Blindness offers a dedicated webpage with expert-approved educational resources, shareable social media graphics, downloadable fact sheets in English and Spanish, and expert and patient testimonial videos. The week is supported by Gold sponsor Keenova Therapeutics.
"Inflammatory eye diseases can be complex and, when left untreated, may lead to serious and potentially irreversible vision loss. That's why patient education, awareness and access to timely eyecare are so important," said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. "Early detection and treatment give patients the best opportunity to preserve their vision."
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 资料图：眼科医生为患者做裂隙灯眼部检查，摄于San Diego海军基地门诊部。美国海军摄，公共领域，Wikimedia Commons。
