With the gloomy economy, vision care has become a luxury for many Americans instead of a necessity. Prevent Blindness Indiana is trying to make eye care an important priority for citizens of Indiana. The organization works to prevent blindness and preserve eye sight. As people lose their jobs, Prevent Blindness Indiana gains more patients as it assists under insured and uninsured citizens with eye care and eyeglasses. Together with local partners - Eye Care Community Outreach, the Marion County Health Department, the Indiana State Health Department, and others and with the help from donors, doctors, and volunteers, Prevent Blindness Indiana has emerged as a leader in social change and is changing the way Hoosiers see the world around them.

The "Festivals of Free Eye Surgery" took place recently in the Ondo State of Nigeria. Over 7,000 people received free eye exams and another 650 people participated in the state's free eye surgery promotion. The festivals are part of a government initiative to promote healthy eye sight and improve vision for those living in the Ondo State. Doctors working with the governmental program checked the pressure of each patient's eyes to help determain if a patient will be at risk for diseases like glaucoma - an irreversable condition.