Prevent Blindness has introduced its new “Best Eyes for Life” multimedia campaign, aimed at improving public understanding of eye health and encouraging proactive care across all stages of life. The initiative features animated characters “Iris and Cornelius,” designed to engage audiences through everyday scenarios that highlight best practices for maintaining healthy vision.
The initial phase of the campaign centers on three core areas: nutrition’s role in eye health, the importance of protective eyewear in sports, work, and daily activities, and the role of healthy vision on children’s classroom success. Content will be distributed across digital platforms, including streaming services and social media.
Key Survey Findings
The campaign launch follows a national survey revealing widespread misconceptions about eye health. Nearly 75% of respondents said they would expect symptoms if something were wrong with their vision, despite conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy often developing without early warning signs.
Survey findings also highlight gaps in awareness and behavior. While 72% of respondents knew that dilated eye exams can detect eye disease, far fewer recognized their ability to identify broader health conditions such as diabetes (27%), high cholesterol (15%), brain tumors (11%), and heart disease (10%). Only 2% were aware that such exams can detect all of these conditions.
Additional findings include:
- 47% were unaware that swimming in contact lenses can damage the eyes.
- 25% reported not having an eye exam in at least three to five years.
- 24% rely on the internet or social media as their primary source of eye health information.
Emphasizing Prevention and Access
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System, more than 7 million Americans live with vision loss or blindness, much of which can be prevented or delayed with early detection and treatment. Additionally, 90% of eye injuries are considered preventable.
“With this new initiative, we’re encouraging everyone to think of their eyes as their ‘besties’ and learn the simple steps we can take to care for them,” says Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Our ‘Best Eyes for Life’ campaign delivers positive, empowering messages about the importance of proactively caring for our eyes today so we can live our best lives tomorrow.”