VSP Launches Diabetes Campaign for Consumers and Doctors in Five States

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- VSP® Vision Care announced today the launch of VSP Eye on Diabetes, a campaign in five states focused on increasing awareness and understanding of the connection between eyecare and a person's general health. The campaign will also highlight the important role eye doctors play in the detection and treatment of diabetes.

The campaign launches May 21 in Little Rock, AR continuing to Topeka, KS; Austin, TX; Denver, CO and Indianapolis, IN.

The campaign includes an online video with Emmy award winner Bill Nye the Science Guy and certified diabetes educator, Roger Phelps, OD, exploring the link between comprehensive eye exams and serious diseases including diabetes to be released this summer at www.facebook.com/VSPVisionCare.

Additionally, VSP has partnered with the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) to create a wealth of diabetes information which is available on the VSP Diabetes Discovery Center (www.vsp.com/discovery) and the "Ask the Eye Doctor" section on the ADA web site, where consumers can post questions to Dr. Phelps related to eye health and diabetes.

A free continuing education course, approved by the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE), will be offered in each city for all licensed optometrists. Leading the courses are nationally-recognized speakers in the areas of diabetes, ocular disease and systemic disease, Jeffry Gerson, OD, and A. Paul Chous, OD.

"The first of its kind, the VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign is designed to increase consumer awareness around the importance of comprehensive eyecare in detecting and managing diabetes, as well as support our doctors with continuing education in providing this essential care," stated Cheryl Johnson, VSP's Vice President of Provider Services. "We know that through annual comprehensive eye exams, optometrists play a critical role for patients with diabetes, both through early detection opportunities and on-going management of the disease."

In addition to the COPE-approved course, the VSP Mobile Eyes® program, in partnership with the ADA, the respective state optometric associations and local VSP network doctors, will provide free comprehensive eye exams, eyewear and diabetes screenings to low income, uninsured and underinsured families during a scheduled day of outreach in each of the cities.

"The most important message to convey to patients and other healthcare providers is that we understand diabetes and are a key member of your diabetes-care team," noted Dr. Chous. "Diabetes doesn't cause health-related complications - poorly controlled diabetes causes those complications."

About VSP Global

VSP Global(SM) includes VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 55 million members; Marchon® Eyewear Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers, designers and distributors of quality fashion and technologically-advanced eyewear and sunwear; Eyefinity®/Officemate® which offer innovative solutions and the premier management software and technology to improve overall practice management and patient experience; VSP Optics Group, industry leaders in new technologies, production processes, service and logistics.

Since 1997, VSP has provided more than 557,309 low-income, uninsured children with free eyecare. Through relationships including those with the American Diabetes Association and Prevent Blindness America, VSP promotes the importance of annual eye exams for maintaining eye health and overall wellness.

SOURCE VSP Vision Care