NEW YORK—Prevent Blindness honored Michael Block of the Block Business Group as the recipient of the 2016 Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award. The award was presented at the Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Dinner on April 14, here at the Lotte New York Palace. The Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award recognizes an individual or organization whose inspired outlook champions healthy vision and its importance for a healthy life.

Block is a prominent figure in the optical market. He began his career in New Jersey as an independent licensed optician in 1972 and in 1983 he started Block Buying Group to help independent eyecare professionals get better pricing on frames, lenses and contact lenses. Today, he is president of the Boca Raton, Florida based Block Business Group, a purchasing group and practice management organization for independent ECPs.