News from the AOA's Blog

Optometry’s Charity™ – The AOA Foundation and Transitions Optical are joining forces to raise awareness, friends and funds for the VISION USA program. The AOA Foundation received a generous $10,000 sponsorship commitment from Transitions Optical to support The AOA Foundation’s VISION USA Virtual Golf Tournament, which will be held June 17-19 at Optometry’s Meeting®.

For a $5.00 cash or check donation, Optometry’s Meeting® attendees can test their golf skills in the virtual golf tournament, learn about VISION USA and be introduced to the work of the Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund.

Between 2008 and 2009, the demand for VISION USA services nearly doubled. During the same period, the number of eligible applicants unable to receive an eye exam nearly quadrupled because the AOA volunteer providers had reached their annual allotment of donated exams or there were not enough providers in the area.

For this reason, during the Virtual Golf Tournament and in the remainder of 2010, The AOA Foundation will conduct targeted provider recruitment in areas of need. There are currently 3,300 volunteer providers; an estimated 7,000 providers are needed to meet current and future demands of the program.

VISION USA and Transitions Optical share similar missions, which makes the Virtual Golf Tournament a collaborative effort to raise awareness about the need for VISION USA providers and Transitions Optical’s commitment to educating the public about the importance of a lifetime of good eye health habits.

The Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund was established to help people understand how to care for their sight. For the Fund to achieve its mission, financial and educational resources are provided to global and regional charitable organizations or efforts whose purpose is to help raise awareness of the need for eye exams, eye protection and the enhancement of visual quality, and who are striving to help eliminate preventable blindness.

“The Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund raises awareness about how to optimize vision for today and protect it for the future,” said Scott Henning, director ECP and professional development, Transitions Optical. “But, even if awareness exists, quality eye care and the right eyewear are necessary. Unfortunately, in cases where access to care is a problem, healthy eye habits can be difficult to maintain.”

“We’re pleased to have an opportunity to support VISION USA and the work it’s doing to offer vision care for those in need. The services this program provides for families will go a long way toward establishing the infrastructure needed to build a lifetime of healthy sight,” Henning said.

Since the launch of the Healthy Sight for Life Fund in 2008, Transitions has provided grants to support 19 organizations in the United States and Canada for programs centered on protecting and preserving eyesight. These efforts have included school vision screenings, public awareness campaigns, outreach through sports and recreation activities, low- or no-cost treatment for people with eye diseases, and domestic and international programs to provide comprehensive vision care and vision wear to those in need.

“The AOA Foundation is so appreciative of Transitions Optical’s generous support of the VISION USA Virtual Golf Tournament,” said Martha Rosemore Greenberg, O.D., president of The AOA Foundation. “We see the Virtual Golf Tournament as an opportunity to introduce VISION USA to AOA members who are not familiar with the program, and to raise friends and funds for this important public health program.”

Stop by the Optometry’s Meeting® exhibit hall booth #2028 to join the virtual golf tournament.

For more information on The AOA Foundation, visit www.optometryscharity.org. For more information on Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund visit www.healthysightforlife.org.