ASRS releases public service announcement that shines spotlight on retina specialist care
In English and Spanish TV and radio spots, the public is urged to protect their vision from preventable blindness and vision loss by seeking care from a retina specialist at the first sign of retinal disease.
(Image credit: AdobeStock/zhu difeng)
The American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) has released new national television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) to highlight the role of retina specialists in preventing blindness in millions of Americans who experience retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal conditions.
In English and Spanish TV and radio spots, retina specialists urge the public to protect their vision from preventable blindness and vision loss by promptly seeking care from a retina specialist at the first sign of retinal disease.
According to an ASRS news release, AMD, diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment are among the top causes of blindness and low vision in the United States. These conditions affect nearly 30 million Americans combined, and the resulting vision loss leads to a staggering $8 billion in lost productivity annually, underscoring their far-reaching impact.1
ASRS President Reginald J. Sanders, MD, FASRS, pointed out the program will highlight the importance of retina specialists in treating preventable blindness.
“When you have a heart problem, you consult a cardiologist because they are the physician with the most specialized education and training to treat heart conditions; similarly, Americans who experience retinal conditions should seek care from retina specialists who have by far the most extensive and specialized training in preventing blindness from retinal disease,” Sanders said in the news release. “Our goal is to encourage the public to prioritize their vision health, understand the symptoms of retinal disease, and seek out expert retina specialist care if needed to protect their most precious sense, their eyesight.”
According to the ASRS news release, the PSAs include 30-second and 60-second videos in English and Spanish and audio versions of the spots. In each TV and radio spot, friends come together for a celebration, mentioning the expert care they received from a retina specialist and encouraging each other to pay close attention to their vision and seek treatment from a retina specialist at the first sign or symptom of a retinal condition to protect healthy vision.
In the PSAs, viewers will be directed to www.FindYourRetinaSpecialist.org, which will direct them to a landing page within ASRS’s patient portal that provides detailed information about retina specialist education and training, the conditions they treat, the settings they practice in, and what to expect during an appointment.
The ASRS patient portal also offers resources for retina patients, their families, and caregivers, including English and Spanish patient guides, condition-specific fact sheets, patient stories, and more.
“By raising awareness of retinal disease and the need for early diagnosis and treatment, retina specialists hope to empower the public with the information they need to protect their vision and maintain active and independent lives,” ASRS Foundation President Judy E. Kim, MD, FASRS, said in the news release. “If your vision has been saved or improved because of expert retina specialist care, we encourage you to share information about retinal disease with friends and loved ones to ensure they know what steps to take for prompt diagnosis and treatment of retinal conditions so they can “see for a lifetime.’”
