Prevent Blindness, the nation’s leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and preserving eye health, has launched a new national multimedia campaign titled “Best Eyes for Life.”
The campaign arrives as new research from Prevent Blindness highlights widespread misconceptions about eye health. A recent survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults found that nearly 75 percent of respondents believe they would notice symptoms if something were wrong with their vision or eye health. In reality, many serious conditions, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, often develop without noticeable symptoms in their early stages.
The first phase of the “Best Eyes for Life” campaign focuses on three areas critical to protecting sight: the role of nutrition in eye health, the importance of wearing proper eye protection during sports and in work or home environments, and the impact of healthy vision on a child’s success in school. Campaign content will roll out across streaming platforms and digital channels.
The initiative introduces two animated characters, Iris and Cornelius, designed to engage audiences in everyday eye-related situations while promoting simple steps to maintain healthy vision. Watch below:
“With this new initiative, we’re encouraging everyone to think of their eyes as their ‘besties’ and learn the simple steps we can take to care for them,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Our ‘Best Eyes for Life’ campaign delivers positive, empowering messages about the importance of proactively caring for our eyes today so we can live our best lives tomorrow.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System, more than 7 million Americans are currently living with vision loss or blindness. Experts say many cases of serious vision impairment could be prevented or delayed through regular eye exams and timely treatment. Prevent Blindness also notes that 90 percent of eye injuries, including those that occur at home, at work, or during sports, are preventable.
The survey also revealed several knowledge gaps about eye care. Nearly 24 percent of respondents said they rely on the internet or social media for eye health information. While 72 percent knew that a dilated eye exam can detect eye diseases, far fewer were aware it can also reveal other health conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, brain tumors, and heart disease. Only 2 percent of respondents correctly identified that a dilated exam can detect all five conditions.
Additional findings showed that 47 percent of respondents were unaware that swimming while wearing contact lenses can damage the eyes, and 25 percent said it had been at least 3 to 5 years since their last eye exam.
“Untreated childhood conditions such as amblyopia and myopia can impede learning, and eye diseases such as cataract, age related macular degeneration, diabetes related eye disease and glaucoma can lead to significant vision loss later in life,” said R.V. Paul Chan, MD, MSc, FACS, member of the Prevent Blindness Board of Directors and professor and chair of ophthalmology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. “It is important that every individual understands how eye and vision care today saves sight for tomorrow.”
Sarah R. Hecker, vice president of marketing at Prevent Blindness, said the campaign is designed to help people feel more connected to their eye health and understand how it affects overall well-being. “A focal point of the ‘Best Eyes for Life’ campaign is to help people feel connected to their eye health and understand how it relates to overall health and mental well-being, while also inviting individuals and families to explore the trusted resources and support Prevent Blindness offers,” she said.
ALSO READ:
Terminix hits high notes with musical ‘Ahhh’ campaign
