by Jaime Rodriguez
Each year in May Healthy Vision Month is celebrated by the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The theme for 2022, “Healthy Vision: A Family Focus,” seeks to help inspire people to team up with their families to protect their vision, together. The campaign emphasizes the importance of equitable access to vision services and recognizes the barriers that some people face in accessing proper eye care. For those who are unable to access affordable eye care and would like to be connected to free or low-cost vision service providers across the nation, numerous resources are available for people of all ages, such as free vision screenings or help to cover costs associated with other eye care services. Many of these programs have income requirements or require applicants to be at an increased risk of certain eye diseases to be eligible, so make sure that your circumstances fit your local resource’s criteria. For information about free or low-cost eye exams for yourself, your family, or friends, please visit the NIH’s NEI webpage titled, “Get Free or Low-Cost Eye Care.” And to learn more about Healthy Vision Month, check out the National Institute of Health’s National Eye Institute webpage.
Healthy Vision Month Social Media and Online Program
by Jaime Rodriguez
If you are interested in adding your voice to those of healthy vision advocates, or to help inspire people to join with their families to protect or preserve their vision, NEI has created the “Healthy Vision Month Social Media Library,” with free, ready-to-use graphics and social media scripts to share online. You may also consider attending the free “Healthy Vision: A Family Focus” Facebook Live event on May 27, 2022, at 12 pm Eastern Time (ET). The online event provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to communicate with doctors about the eye health of their families and to ask questions about keeping their eyes healthy. To attend, click here to register for the “Healthy Vision: A Family Focus” event.
