Transitions Optical and Visionworks® Collaborate with the American Diabetes Association to Continue Eye Health Education Efforts

USA - English

• Latin America - español

PINELLAS PARK, Fla., May 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Transitions Optical, Inc., in partnership with Visionworks, continued to support the American Diabetes Association last week at the EXPO San Antonio event by educating and motivating consumers to visit an eye doctor regularly for comprehensive eye exams that help with the early detection and treatment of diabetes.  Outreach efforts focused on those who have diabetes and those who are at risk for developing the disease, including ethnic groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics. 

Over the past year, Transitions Optical participated in the Association's EXPO events in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and most recently San Antonio – providing nearly 1,000 free vision screenings, conducted by Visionworks, and educating more than 2,500 attendees about the importance of proper eye care. 

"We are thrilled that our collaboration with the American Diabetes Association and that participation at their EXPO events has allowed us to provide eye care services to those in need," said Manuel Solis, multicultural marketing manager, Transitions Optical.  "It's important to encourage consumers to establish proper eye healthy habits early in life, since vision plays such a critical role as part of overall health and wellness, particularly for people with diabetes."

"By offering EXPO attendees free vision screenings, we were able to help detect potential vision problems that could lead to the development of more serious conditions later in life," said Jim Eisen, president, Visionworks.  "Those attendees who failed the screenings were encouraged to visit their local eyecare professional to receive a comprehensive eye exam and find out more about eyewear options that best fit their lifestyle needs."

Over 90 percent of severe vision loss and blindness are caused by a serious vision condition called diabetic retinopathy.  This can be identified and addressed early on based on the changes that occur in the eye that are visible during a comprehensive eye exam from an eye doctor.  Diabetes can be caused by family history, age, ethnicity, obesity, and lifestyle habits.

A recent study commissioned by Transitions Optical found that both the incidence and prevalence of diabetes are higher in certain ethnic groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics, as compared to the general population.  Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is 70 percent higher in African Americans versus Caucasians and one in ten Hispanics has diabetes, which is three times the rate of the general population.

During this year's EXPO in New York City, Transitions Optical collaborated with the American Diabetes Association to produce an educational video about the importance of regular eye exams, particularly for African Americans.

"We look forward to continuing to expand upon our relationship with the Association in the future," added Solis. 

For more information about the connection between vision and diabetes, visit www.HealthySightForLife.org/results.aspx and to locate an eye doctor and find out which Transitions^® adaptive lenses^™ are right for you, visit www.Transitions.com.

About Transitions Optical, Inc.

Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor International.  The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic (or adaptive) lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of adaptive lenses to optical manufacturers worldwide.  Transitions Optical offers the most advanced adaptive technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names – setting a new standard of advanced performance, enhancing visual quality, and providing more visual comfort and eye protection than ever before.

The Transitions family of everyday adaptive eyewear includes Original Transitions^® adaptive lenses™, which remain clear indoors and automatically darken outdoors in changing light conditions; Transitions^® XTRActive^® lenses which maintain a comfortable hint of tint indoors and reach superior darkness outdoors; and the revolutionary Transitions^® Vantage™ lenses, the first and only adaptive eyeglass lenses to both darken and polarize outdoors, so that your vision is noticeably crisper with enhanced contrast and sharpness.

All products in the Transitions family of adaptive eyewear block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays – helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes – so you can see better in the future as well.

For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

About Visionworks of America, Inc.

Visionworks (formerly Eye Care Centers of America, Inc.) is a leading provider of eye care services with more than 590 optical retail stores in 40 states and the District of Columbia through 10 store names that are leaders in eye care service in each of their respective markets. Visionworks is committed to providing our customers with an excellent shopping experience and high quality products and service with the best value and selection in the industry. All of our stores offer designer and exclusive brand frames, lenses, sunglasses and accessories along with leading technology in vision correction. Our comprehensive service offerings include contact lens dispensing, in-store labs which provide one-hour service on many prescriptions at nearly all locations and doctors of optometry at or next to every store. Visionworks is a wholly owned subsidiary of HVHC, Inc.

For more information about Visionworks, visit www.visionworks.com.

SOURCE Transitions Optical, Inc.