VSP Launches 3rd Annual Diabetes Campaign

VSP Vision Care is launching its third annual VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign, which provides low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents across America with free health services, including comprehensive eye exams and health risk assessments for diabetes and high blood pressure. The campaign’s first stop is February 13 in Biloxi, Miss., the second highest state in the U.S. for overall diabetes prevalence, according to VSP. Read more

Technology and Philanthropy Unite to Cure Glaucoma

Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) will be inaugurating a groundbreaking series of events, Feb. 2 to 4, 2011 known as “Glaucoma 360.” All of the events will benefit Glaucoma Research Foundation, which is dedicated to innovative research to find better ways to care for people with glaucoma, and ultimately find a cure. Read more

January Is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

Eyecare groups are calling attention to the second leading cause of blindness in the world during National Glaucoma Awareness Month in January. Prevent Blindness America (PBA) and other leading eye health organizations, including the American Optometric Association, the National Eye Institute and the Glaucoma Research Foundation, are encouraging people to educate themselves about this disease and get a comprehensive eye exam. Read more

Erik Wahl Inspires TVF

After attending a few conferences where Erik Wahl delivered his trademark artistic vision / message, we approached him and asked that he participate in Tomorrow’s Vision during the planning stages of this organization. Without hesitation, Mr. Wahl provided us with creative guidance and assisted in the development of our image and philanthropic vision. We have been inspired. Read more

PBA Launches ‘Healthy Eyes Educational Series’ to Promote Vision Health

As part of its ongoing goal to protect vision and save the gift of sight, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has launched the “Healthy Eyes Educational Series,” a free program designed to build public awareness of eye and vision basics, common adult vision disorders, eye safety precautions and proactive behaviors that ensures a lifetime of healthy vision. Read more

Optical Industry Supports November’s Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

The latest American Eye-Q consumer survey from the American Optometric Association (AOA) found that 55 percent of people are unaware that diabetic eye disease often has no visual signs or symptoms. Additionally, 44 percent of Americans don’t know that a person with diabetes should have a comprehensive eye exam once a year. That’s why this year, professionals throughout the optical industry are placing added focus on November as Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. Read more

Baby Boomers Worry About Eye Health But Skip Exams

The National Eye Institute estimates that over the next 30 years, the number of Americans that experience eye health issues will double because of aging baby boomers. Still, although boomers worry about vision loss almost as much as heart disease and cancer, that anxiety does not translate into regular eye exams. In addition, very few are aware that there are some important nutrients that help maintain eye health. Read more

AOA Report Examines ‘3-D in the Classroom’

The American Optometric Association (AOA), in partnership with the 3D@Home Consortium, has published a comprehensive report for administrators and teachers that describes and explains the optimal uses of 3D in the classroom, including how 3D approaches to learning can enhance teaching and improve assurance of student school readiness. Read more

October Is Home Eye Safety Awareness Month

Vision Monday is reporting that Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has declared October as Home Eye Safety Awareness Month in an effort to urge the public to take extra care in protecting their eyes in order to avoid painful and potentially blinding eye accidents.

The “Seventh Annual Eye Injury Snapshot” by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT) indicates that the most common place of injury was the yard or garden. Additionally, PBA stated that more than half of the 2.5 million eye injuries that occur every year (everything from painful corneal abrasions, to chemical splashes or punctures to the eye that can cause permanent vision loss) happen within or around the home. An interesting fact …  one in four eye injuries that occurred in the home was due to home repair or use of power tools.

“When doing everyday chores around the house or repair work in the garage, we can become complacent about remembering to use the proper eye protection,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of PBA. “But, we must remember that an eye injury that can occur in a split second can have lifelong impact on vision.”

PBA offers the following recommendations to protect the eyes at home:

• Provide effective lights and handrails to improve safety on stairs and reduce the risk of falls.
• Never mix cleaning agents. Read and follow all manufacturer instructions and warning labels.
• Wear safety glasses with side protection or dust goggles to protect against flying particles, and chemical goggles to guard against exposure to fertilizers and pesticides.
• If you wear prescription glasses, many safety glasses or goggles will fit over your regular glasses. Regular eyeglasses do not always provide enough protection, and may even cause further injury upon impact.
• Inspect and remove debris from lawns before mowing. Make sure others in the yard are wearing eye protection as well as bystanders can be hit by flying debris.
• Keep paints, pesticides, fertilizers, and similar products properly stored in a secure area. Read and follow all product instructions.
• Keep tools in good condition; damaged tools should be repaired or replaced.
• Welding or brazing requires special safety goggles or helmets. Consult your equipment instruction or supplier for the proper protection.
• Wear eyewear approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and stamped with the “Z-87” logo stamped on the frames.

For more information, visit preventblindness.org.

TVC Funds Think About Your Eyes

The Foundation for Eye Health Awareness announced that The Vision Council has joined to support the Think About Your Eyes campaign with a $2 million annual commitment for a period of two years and up to $4 million dollars for a national launch. The Think About Your Eyes initiative has resulted in a 6 percent improvement in the number of eye exams in the campaign markets over the last year, a significant improvement Read more