Prevent Blindness America and VisionDirect.com Launch Online Campaign to Raise Funds for Back-to-School Vision Screenings

CHICAGO and BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- It's back-to-school time again. This means it's time to make sure children have healthy vision for success in the classroom and in activities. Today, Prevent Blindness America and VisionDirect.com, a leading online retailer of contact lenses and eye health accessories launched an online fundraising program to support free vision screenings and better access to vision care for school-aged children. Star Pupils Healthy Eyes for Healthy Futures, is a Prevent Blindness America program that focuses on finding the one-in-four school-age children with vision impairments that in many cases go unnoticed and untreated, leading to possible learning issues.

"The Star Pupils program makes a positive impact in communities today and for future generations by improving and even saving the eyesight of children through millions of vision screenings each year," said Stan Pavlovsky, vice president, Vision Direct. "VisionDirect.com, which is dedicated to improving vision health through access to affordable eye care, is sharing Star Pupils success stories on our website as we launch the online donation match program with our customers."

Beginning today and running through October 1, VisionDirect.com will host an online fundraising program at http://www.visiondirect.com/starpupils that encourages people to click to donate. The company will match contributions up to $10,000. In addition, at Star Pupils vision screenings, special discount cards will be distributed to make vision care products more affordable.

"We are thrilled about this partnership with VisionDirect.com," said Hugh R. Parry, Prevent Blindness America president and CEO. "Healthy vision is imperative for our children to help them succeed in the classroom and with the support of VisionDirect.com, we can work together to help all children to become Star Pupils."

Funds raised for Star Pupils will go towards children's eye health and safety programs, which includes vision screenings, vision and eye health education, and Star Pupils K-2 classroom curriculum. Star Pupils, a national vision and eye health education program, gives parents the tools they need to help make eye health a priority through classroom and online education and resources.

Donations will also be used to help fund the training of volunteer certified vision screeners.  Last year alone, Prevent Blindness America provided vision screenings for more than 2.8 million children.

For more information visit StarPupils.org and to make a donation, visit VisionDirect.com/StarPupils.

About Vision Direct, Inc.

Vision Direct, Inc. is a leading online retailer dedicated to supporting healthy vision by providing a cost effective and convenient way to purchase contact lenses and eye care essentials. On www.VisionDirect.com customers may choose from an extensive line of contact lens products from leading manufacturers to custom lenses, all backed by a low price guarantee. Visit us on Facebook for healthy vision tips and special offers http://www.facebook.com/visiondirect.com. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of drugstore.com, inc. (Nasdaq: DSCM), a trusted leader for health and beauty products since 1999 and one of the nation's 50 largest online retailers.

About Prevent Blindness America

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight.  Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research.  These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public.  Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, Prevent Blindness America is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America.  For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020. Or, visit us on the Web at preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness.

SOURCE Vision Direct, Inc.