NEW PUBLIC EDUCATION POSTERS FROM TRANSITIONS OPTICAL SEEK TO
HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF OCULAR ISSUES AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS
Encourage Dialogue With Eyecare Professionals On Steps to Preserve Vision
SEATTLE, June 27, 2008 – Transitions Optical, Inc. is now offering public education posters through its Transitions Partners in Education™ program aimed at increasing the alarmingly low awareness of the impact of diabetes on healthy sight. Recognizing that the growing disease can not only have devastating long-term effects on eye health and wellness, but also can impact the everyday quality of vision, Transitions Optical hopes the posters will spark an important dialogue between patients and their eyecare professionals on steps they can take to preserve and optimize their vision for today and the future.

“Most of today’s consumers are not only unaware of the critical role eye exams can play in early detection of diabetes, many do not understand the importance of regular vision care and proper eyewear to minimize the ocular effects of the disease,” said Denis Fisk, director of global clinical education, Transitions Optical. “We hope our new education materials will help prompt earlier discussion about diabetes, when interventions, such as wearing UV and glare protection, could address immediate quality of vision concerns, and play a preventive role to help minimize the long-term ocular effects of the disease.”
The two vertical 100 cm (39 in) by 70 cm (27.3 in) posters feature messages which intend to raise awareness about the eye health threats that diabetics face, and steps they need to take to protect and preserve vision. One of posters is targeted specifically toward parents, and elevates awareness of the importance of proper eye care and eyewear for children with diabetes. The other poster highlights the increased chance for diabetics to suffer from eye damage from the sun as a result of the disease. These materials can be utilized in-office by eyecare professionals or other medical professionals, such as general medical physicians and internists, endocrinologists, dermatologists and pediatricians. For copies of the posters, contact a local Transitions Optical representative, or call Customer Service at (800) 848-1506.

Additional Resources

These public education materials complement Transitions’ existing UV education posters and the recently released clinical paper, Healthy Sight Counseling: Diabetes and the Eye, which provides insights into the link between diabetes and several eye diseases. The paper also notes that diabetes and related ocular complications, such as diabetic retinopathy and cataract, have been associated with reductions in contrast sensitivity and increased sensitivity to glare, leading to reduced visual quality. Using Healthy Sight Counseling, which emphasizes the importance of maintenance and preventive eyecare and increased professional and patient awareness, Healthy Sight Counseling: Diabetes and the Eye highlights the need for eyecare professionals to educate individuals with or at risk for diabetes to wear protective eyewear – such as UV-blocking photochromic or fixed tint lenses and anti-reflective coatings – to help protect against harmful UV radiation and vision-impairing glare.

The clinical paper is available for download at www.Transitions.com/diabetes.