Mission

The Blind Services Foundation of Florida, Inc. was established as a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization in 2004. Its mission is to support the Florida Division of Blind Services by raising funds and public awareness for outreach programs and educational opportunities serving the blind and visually impaired citizens of Florida.

Vision

To raise sufficient funds to support current programs and create an endowment for the Florida Division of Blind Services.

Values

Accountability - Our corporate governance ensures fiscal responsibility and public trust.

Integrity - We manage our operations, fundraising and finances honestly and ethically.

Florida Must Keep Sight of its Future

More than a quarter million Florida residents are diagnosed blind or visually impaired. Nationwide, the figure exceeds 3 million.

Florida residents represent 3.42of the nation's residents with visual impairment or blindness - the fourth highest-ranking state in the U.S. More than 261,000 Floridians have some form of visual impairment. Of those, nearly 80,000 are diagnosed as legally blind.

Leading Causes of Visual Impairment

Refractive Error is the most frequent eye problem in the U.S. and is an optical defect that results in light not being properly focused on the eye's retina. It is estimated that more than 150 million Americans use corrective eyewear to compensate for their refractive error.

Macular Degeneration is a condition that primarily affects the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. Total U.S. cases of this condition top more than 1.6 million. Nearly 129,000 Florida residents suffer from Macular Degeneration.

Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's naturally clear lens. Most cataracts appear with advancing age, but they can occur at any age as a result of other causes such as eye injury, exposure to toxic substances or radiation, or as a result of other conditions such as diabetes. The World Health Organization ranks cataracts as the leading cause of blindness in the world. The number of reported cataract cases in Florida is currently more than 1.5 million.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication resulting from diabetes and affects the tiny blood vessels of the eye's retina. It is estimated that Diabetic Retinopathy affects more than 363,000 Floridians age 18 and older.

Glaucoma causes a gradual degeneration and death of cells that make up the optic nerve which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma affects more than 160,000 Floridians.

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