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People

Armenian People

Armenians are known for their great respect for family values, warmth and overall hospitality.

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Armenia Diaspora

Today, more Armenians live outside their country than in it. Three million live in Armenia; five million live elsewhere.

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Government

Armenia is a parliamentary democracy with a strong executive branch and a handful of leading political parties.

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Economy

Despite blockades from neighboring countries, Armenia’s struggling economy has seen some growth.

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Agriculture

Agriculture currently accounts for about 55 percent of employment in Armenia and 40 percent of the country’s GDP.

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Industries

Despite blockades from neighboring countries, Armenia’s struggling economy has seen some growth.

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Umud Hambardzumyan

Two years ago, Umud started to have problems with his eyes. It started with a cataract and then many other problems started to occur with his vision. As the complications mounted, the doctors had no choice but to remove his corneas. “It has been seven months since I was able to see at all. After doctors removed my corneas, my only hope for being able to see again was to wait for the corneal transplants. It is very hard to lose your sight all of a sudden. I have already started to forget the faces of my dear ones in my memory,” said Umud.

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1.6 million Americans aged 50 years and older have age related macular degeneration.

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Myth: If you wear glasses, not wearing them will cause your vision to deteriorate faster.

Fact: The immediate side effect of not wearing glasses if you need them is the equivalent of going to an art gallery tour without bothering to get a ticket.

Myth: Using a nightlight in your child's room will contribute to nearsightedness.

Fact: There is not enough evidence to support this claim. Keeping a nightlight on in your baby's room may actually help them learn to focus and develop important eye coordination skills when they are awake.

Myth: Reading fine print for too long will wear out or damage your eyes.

Fact: This is one of the most widely held myths about vision. Some people are concerned that they should not read too much because it will wear out their eyes. Although extensive or prolonged reading of fine print can cause eye strain, there is no evidence to suggest that it will damage or wear out your eyes.

Armenian Flora & Fauna

The wide variety of climates in Armenia accounts for the array of flora and fauna that can be seen at different times of the year throughout the country. Armenia contains twice as many soil types as European Russia, so the climate, soil, and vegetation vary greatly throughout the nation. Many of the world’s bulbs originate in the Armenian Highland, and there is a great assortment of wild bulbs in the country.

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An estimated 3.1% of deaths worldwide are directly or indirectly due to cataract, glaucoma, trachoma & onchocerciasis.

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Eye Professionals

Armenian Agriculture

Planned Giving FAQ

Ruzanna Harutyunyan, M.D.

“It gives me great happiness to be able to bring sight to a child,” Dr. Ruzanna Harutyunyan says, adding that correcting vision problems and treating eye disease is important at any age, but for children, it can be especially important. Harutyunyan, who’s a Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Chief of the Malayan Ophthalmologic Center Pediatric Clinic, talks more about her specialty.

“Children’s smiles. They are the very best thing about my job,” says Ruzanna Harutyunyan, Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Chief of the Malayan Ophthalmologic Center Pediatric Clinic.

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