Check it Out
OLA labs team up to promote the Check Yearly. See Clearly. program
By Alex Yoho, ABOM

Spreading the word on the importance of eye exams is critical. That's where Vision Council of America comes in with the Check Yearly. See Clearly. program to make the public aware of the importance of regular eye exams for the whole family.

The Optical Laboratories Association has embraced the program and is taking advantage of its position as a natural outlet for the campaign. Participating OLA labs will be sending case enclosure cards with every pair of eyewear they send.

"To get the message out, it's important that these cards are given to patients by their eyecare providers," says OLA executive director Bob Dziuban.

To prevent or slow vision loss, most eyecare professionals agree that regular eye exams are key. According to www.checkyearly.com, even when the patient's vision is clear, exams can uncover changes in the eye caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, eye tumors, retinal disorders, and glaucoma. Some of these have no symptoms in the early stages.

EARLY PREVENTION

With vision problems affecting 25 percent of our nation's children, we must begin with them. OLA board member Claude Brunet, with Ocean Optical, Ltd., in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, says, "Good vision is essential in the early stages of learning. But children do not always have the ability to determine a visual deficiency—you cannot see what you cannot see. An eye exam should be made before the first year of school."

If you have any doubts that children are not getting good eyecare, just ask seven-year-old Kennedy Biederman of Appleton, Wis., national Youth Amblyopia spokes-person for Check Yearly. See Clearly.

Even after exams by her pediatrician and school screenings, no one noticed that Kennedy couldn't see out of her left eye. This underscores the need to make sure this and other problems are diagnosed by an eyecare professional.

Check Yearly. See Clearly. advocates that women be extra cautious since they are at a higher risk than men for vision problems, especially when pregnant or postmenopausal. Many medications that are unique to women, such as birth control pills, can cause ocular problems when eyes are exposed to sunlight.

With an ECP's regular consultation and recommendation of protective sunwear, these problems can be averted.

Sunwear may also help alleviate dry eye problems.

BOOM TIME

Numbering 119 million, baby boomers are at increasing risk of developing age-related eye diseases, such as glaucoma and AMD. It is estimated that the number of visually impaired or blind Americans will double in the next 20 years.

While those who experience vision loss will rely on others for care and transportation, early detection and treatment can extend or improve their ability to function independently.

SCREEN TIME

The American Optometric Association's studies show that nearly three out of four people using computers in the workplace encounter eye and vision difficulties.

Computer Vision Syndrome can manifest as sore or tired eyes, blurry vision, and neck and shoulder pain. Even when there is not a computer at home, children may spend up to three hours per day on a school computer.

Regular eye exams can help computer users prevent these difficulties from becoming problematic.

SECURITY MEASURES

Experts say that 90 percent of the 38,000 eye injuries reported each year in the U.S. could be prevented.

Regular eye exams allow an opportunity for the doctor to recommend protective eyewear for sports and other safety uses.

Additionally, while 89 percent of those surveyed by the VCA respond that children should wear protective eyewear when playing sports, just slightly more than one in three (36 percent) report actually doing so.

Regular eye exams will provide opportunities for ECPs to share the importance of protective eyewear.

SENIOR CARE

With the average U.S. life span at 77.6 years and climbing, staying independent is crucial to seniors and their loved ones. It is estimated that older drivers with vision impairment are 200 percent more likely to be involved in an auto accident.

After age 80, more than half of all Americans will develop cataracts, yet many won't even realize it. They may experience color changes, double vision, halos around lights, or impaired vision at night, especially while driving, caused by effects of bright light.

Anyone over 61 is at increased risk for cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other sight-threatening or visually limiting eye conditions, making regular eyecare of utmost importance.

	Check Yearly. See Clearly. insert cards will be included with eyewear sent out by participating OLA laboratories

LOW VISION AIDS

Routine eye exams can help people be on the lookout for low vision warning signs. Symptoms of the consition include hazy or blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, difficulty recognizing familiar faces, color confusion, light sensitivity, problems reading street signs, and trouble reading, cooking, or doing close-up tasks.

With regular eye exams, problems can be detected early and proper treatments can help delay or prevent further vision loss.

As an ECP, your help is crucial. When your OLA lab sends a case enclosure card with your patient's new eyewear, you need only put it in the case so they will see it.

Not only will your patients be reminded of the need for vision-preserving exams, but it might just have an added benefit of improving your bottom line.

For more information, contact your OLA lab or visit www.ola-labs.org. You can also sign up as a participating ECP at www.checkyearly.com by clicking on "Join Doctor Locator" under the "Supporters" heading.

Spreading the Word

Encourage patients to visit the Check Yearly Website (www.checkyearly.com) for easy-to-understand information on eye health and vision related problems. Or, put them on the look out for the Vision Council of America's Check Yearly. See Clearly. public service announcement (PSA) that will air on TV, radio, and the Internet, and in newspapers, magazines. The PSA will educate more Americans about the importance of regular eye exams. The Website isn't just for consumers. At www.checkyearly.com, you can order the Check Yearly Family Recruit-ment Kit, as well as other great items to promote exams for the whole family. You can also request free PSA-related materials, such as posters, table cards, and more as part of the new campaign.