Good news regarding onchocerciasis, commonly known as "river blindness." (River blindness is the world's second leading cause of blindness due to infection, and is caused by a parasitic worm.) A regional initiative launched in the 1990s to eliminate the disease in the Americas has significantly reduced the prevalence of the disease in recent years.

The progress reflects the success of the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas (OEPA), which promotes health education and twice-yearly administration of a deworming drug to more than 85% of the eligible population of endemic communities in six countries.

_{Source: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. River Blindness (Onchocerciasis) Reduced By Nearly One Third In At Risk Populations In Six Countries. Medical News Today, 25 Nov 2009.}

Latisse is an FDA-approved prescription treatment used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker and darker. If you're considering trying Latisse, be aware of these side effects that may occur during use.

Join the AMD Alliance International in the Great American Smokeout on November 19. Smokers are urged to participate to save their eyes and protect their vision from the debilitating effects of macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease that causes the loss of central vision.

AMD is the leading cause of blindness among those older than 50. The disease is two to three times as frequent among tobacco smokers, and the more you smoke, the greater the risk and the faster the progression of the disease.

Suggested Reading:

• Macular Degeneration 101
• Top Risk Factors for Macular Degeneration
• Tips for Living With AMD

_{Photo © Mario Tamas / Getty Images}

Tuesday, November 17th is Premature Awareness Day. One in eight babies born in the US is premature. The rate of premature birth in America is higher than that of most other developed nations.

ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) is a condition that can blind premature babies. ROP is an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. ROP can lead to bleeding and scarring that can damage the eye's retina. This can result in vision loss.

_{Source: March of Dimes}

_{Image © National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health}