Sample News Release

This news release can be sent to local newspapers and television and radio stations to encourage them to cover your activity and develop a story about the importance of annual dilated eye exams for people who have diabetic retinopathy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [YOUR SPOKESPERSON]
[ORGANIZATION]
Telephone: [xxx-xxx-xxxx]
E-mail: [E-MAIL ADDRESS]
[WEBSITE]

[ORGANIZATION] Urges Annual Dilated Eye Exams for People With Diabetes

[CITY, STATE], [DATE]-[ORGANIZATION] is sponsoring [PROVIDE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF YOUR ACTIVITIES OR OUTREACH EFFORT] on [DATE] to urge all people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year to reduce the risk of visual impairment from diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss among working age adults. It cannot be cured, but early detection, timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care can reduce the risk of blindness by 90 percent, even for people with advanced diabetic retinopathy.

"People with diabetes need to know that keeping track of their health can help them stay healthy and may also help to reduce the complications from diabetes," said [SPOKESPERSON]. The National Eye Institute (NEI) and [ORGANIZATION] encourage people with diabetes to get an annual dilated eye exam and keep their health on TRACK:

• Take your medications.
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Add physical activity to your daily routine.
• Control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
• Kick the smoking habit.

"This [ACTIVITY] exemplifies the practices that people with diabetes must observe to protect their vision as well as the benefits of staying healthy to reduce the risk of vision loss and other complications that can result from diabetes," said [SPOKESPERSON].

The [ACTIVITY] will take place on [DATE] from [TIME(S)] at [LOCATION]. For more information, contact [NAME and PHONE NUMBER] or learn more at [WEBSITE ADDRESS].

This activity is part of Healthy Vision Month 2004, sponsored by the NEI. The NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.