Jane Balek, Executive Director, Vision Health Alliance
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Vision Health Alliance, The Vision Council’s new consumer education initiative that champions eye health as an important part of overall health and eye health exams as essential components of health care, has announced that its website and social media channels are now live. The website can be accessed at VisionHealthAlliance.org. Resources available on the website include: educational information on eye health, eye conditions and vision correction options and treatment; interactive activities, including quizzes that test vision health knowledge; and specially designed educational activities for kids.

"Over the past 15 months, consumer health care attitudes and behaviors have shifted in meaningful ways. We knew this was the right time to bring eyecare and eye health to the forefront of the healthcare conversation and are excited to launch an impactful consumer campaign later this month,” said Jane Balek, executive director of Vision Health Alliance. “What’s really exciting about Vision Health Alliance is that, in addition to supporting consumer-facing education and awareness campaigns, the initiative will also serve as a vehicle for strategic professional and industry partnerships that will further amplify these important messages to key audiences.”
 
Vision Health Alliance is proud to have the commitment of the following industry supporters: Alcon, Eschenbach, EssilorLuxottica, Eyemart Express, Healthy Eyes Advantage, Hilco, MyEyeDr. and Shopko Optical.
 
Ahead of Vision Health Alliance’s first consumer campaign launch in late August, the organization seeks to broaden support from the industry.  Companies interested in joining Vision Health Alliance as founding partners should contact Jane Balek at jbalek@thevisioncouncil.org.
 
“The pandemic elevated the importance of vision health as we all asked our eyes to work harder,” said Sue Downes, CEO of MyEyeDr. “All eyecare providers share a special responsibility to continue to amplify the message that vision care is a key component of healthcare and serves as an entry point for a lot of people into the healthcare system.  We are proud to support Vision Health Alliance and its mission to raise awareness about the importance of an annual eye health exam.”
 
“The Vision Health Alliance initiative is critical in helping educate patients on the importance of annual eye exams and the right eyewear. We are very pleased to be partnering with Vision Health Alliance on this initiative,” added Kirk Lauterback, COO at Shopko Optical. 
 
“We are proud to be a Visionary Supporter of Vision Health Alliance and its important mission,” said Rick Weisbarth, OD, vice president of professional affairs at Alcon. “For decades the eye care industry has talked about the need to create a campaign that would educate consumers about the role of yearly eye examinations. Vision Health Alliance takes this desire to the next level by emphasizing the importance of an annual comprehensive eye exam as a critical component of overall health and well-being.” 
 
Vision Health Alliance’s social media channels are also now live.  For the latest updates on The Vision Council’s new consumer education initiative, follow @visionhealthalliance on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn; and @VHAorg on Twitter. 

The Vision Council positions its members for success by promoting growth in the vision care industry through education, advocacy, research, consumer outreach, strategic relationship building and industry forums.  A program of the Better Vision Institute, the related educational foundation of The Vision Council,  Vision Health Alliance serves as a multi-faceted consumer education initiative, featuring a new consumer education campaign and supported by strategic professional and industry partnerships and a robust digital marketing effort.