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Hundreds of National Experts in Blindness, Low Vision to Gather in Kansas City At Vision Rehabilitation Envision Conference

50 Million Baby Boomers Face Vision Loss in Coming Years

WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 6, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The aging of the nation's 89 million baby boomers means vision impairments are increasing rapidly -- a jump of 60 percent is expected by 2020. That means more than 50 million Americans could struggle with vision impairments in just 13 years.

This week, hundreds of vision rehabilitation experts from varied fields will share current studies, research, and treatment for those who are blind or vision impaired at the second Envision Conference www.envisionconference.org)"> in Kansas City.

The August 9-12 Envision Conference brings together cross-specialty professionals and vision specialists with a common goal: addressing the growing crisis in vision loss. Envision Inc. www.envisionus.com)"> -- conference sponsor -- is a non-profit agency based in Wichita, Kan., dedicated to vision rehabilitation, public education, and employment for the blind and vision impaired.

 The conference's 61 education sessions include:
 * Aging and vision -- Aging successfully and "in place"
 * "Hi Tech, Low Tech, No Tech" solutions
 * Blindness and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
 * Adapting sports to low-vision participants

First baby boomers turning 60 this year

The vision rehabilitation field is growing to catch up to an alarming rise in vision impairment in the U.S., largely due to the aging of the baby boomer generation. The first members of this 89-million-member group turned 60 this year. According to an article published in the Archives of Ophthalmology in 2004, vision impairment is expected to increase 60 percent by the year 2020.

Conference speakers

 Speakers are from nationally recognized institutions, including:
 * Harvard University
 * National Eye Institute
 * Johns Hopkins University
 * Rochester University
 * Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation
 * Henry Ford Visual Rehabilitation and Research Center
 * Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center.

 Facts about blindness and low vision
 * The leading cause of blindness in the U.S. is diabetic retinopathy.
   Blindness from diabetic retinopathy is expected to grow from about
   4.1 million cases today to 7.2 million cases by 2020. Similar
   increases are expected for cases of glaucoma, macular degeneration
   and cataracts.
 * A study conducted by Prevent Blindness America released last spring
   found that the cost of blindness to the U.S. economy is $35.4
   billion a year. The cost to individuals and caregivers is $16
   billion a year. Total cost: $51.4 billion.
 * Recognizing the potential value of vision rehabilitation, 
   Medicare is undergoing a five-year low vision rehabilitation 
   demonstration project in six locations across the U.S. The results may 
   lead to national Medicare coverage for these services.

Envision in Wichita, Kan., is one of Medicare project sites. Others are located in New York (all 5 boroughs) and Atlanta, Ga.; and in these states: North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Washington.

About Envision the conference

The Envision Conference provides training and continuing education credits for ophthalmologists, optometrists, occupational therapists and vision rehabilitation professionals who teach Braille, assistive technology and other independent living skills. The conference will feature 61 sessions of educational programming in four concurrent tracks, and 15 research poster presentations.

CONTACT:  Envision Inc.
          David Kamerer, Director of Communications
          316.214.3466
          david.kamerer@envisionus.com

          Russell Public Relations
          Carolyn Russell
          316.393.0500
          news@russellpr.com