TRANSITIONS OPTICAL SUPPORTS FREE VISION SCREENINGS AT
AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION’S FERIA DE SALUD POR TU FAMILIA

Transitions Optical, VSP Vision Care and Two Los Angeles Optician Schools Join to Help Hispanic Families Improve Their Eye Health
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Nov. 17, 2008 – Transitions Optical, Inc., in partnership with VSP® Vision Care and two Central California optician schools raised awareness within the Los Angeles Hispanic community about healthy sight habits and the impact of diabetes on eye sight during the American Diabetes Association’s Feria de Salud por tu Familia™.

Student volunteers from the American Career College and Hacienda La Puente Adult Education conducted vision screenings at the Transitions booth during the family health fair held Sunday, Nov. 9, in Los Angeles. Transitions volunteers supported the effort by sharing educational materials and providing demonstrations highlighting the importance of proper eye care and sight-enhancing eyewear to help achieve healthy sight. Select booth visitors were referred to VSP’s Mobile Clinic, where they were eligible to receive a comprehensive eye exam and free eyeglasses.

“These efforts are especially important to the Hispanic population since they experience a higher incidence of diabetes, yet have low understanding that the disease can impact the eyes,” said Martha Rivera, multicultural marketing manager, Transitions. “Having such a strong presence with our partners at a diabetes-focused health fair helps elevate the importance of the proper vision care and vision wear for Hispanic consumers who have or are at risk for the disease.”

According to a recent survey by Transitions Optical, those afflicted with diabetes have low awareness that the disease and the medications taken to manage it can impact vision – leading to blurred sight, sensitivity to light and glare, and higher susceptibility to UV damage. According to the survey, only 50 percent of diabetic respondents identified vision problems as a side effect of the disease .

Rivera added that more than 600,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes in the Los Angeles area making it a logical geographic target for communicating to the Hispanic population how to enhance healthy sight through proper eye care and eyewear, such as Transitions® lenses, which block 100 percent of harmful UV rays and reduce discomforting glare to help improve contrast and enhance vision in all light conditions.

For more information about Transitions Optical’s healthy sight initiatives for the Hispanic population, visit the Industry Professionals section of Transitions.com.