Budget Cuts Put Vision Health Progress at Risk, Warns Prevent Blindness
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By
February 9, 2026
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3 min
Prevent Blindness is expressing concern over Congress's funding cuts to the CDC's Vision and Eye Health program, reducing its budget from $6.5 million to $4.5 million for FY 2026. This $2 million cut is seen as significantly detrimental to the program's ability to prevent vision loss, particularly affecting underserved communities. The Vision Health Initiative, established in 2003, has integrated vision health into public health strategies and is crucial for tracking vision impairment rates. With vision loss as a leading disability cause, Prevent Blindness highlights the urgent need for sustained investment in eye health initiatives.
1. Congress cut CDC's Vision and Eye Health program funding from $6.5 million to $4.5 million.2. Prevent Blindness warns this will weaken efforts to prevent vision loss.3. Vision Health Initiative integrates vision health into public health strategies.4. VHI provides grants for glaucoma detection and operates surveillance systems.5. Approximately 7 million Americans have uncorrectable vision impairment.6. Vision loss is a leading cause of disability in the U.S.7. Without investment, vision impairment rates could double by 2050.
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