Kentucky Optometric Association

11/07/2025

November is National Diabetes Month. Diabetic eye disease, a leading cause of blindness, often has no early warning signs. That’s why it’s so important for people with diabetes to get regular eye exams with your local doctor of optometry to catch problems early — and get timely treatment and the right follow-up care.
Learn more about how people with diabetes can protect their vision: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/outreach-resources/diabetic-eye-disease-resources

10/31/2025

More than 30 million people living in the United States have diabetes. Having diabetes increases the risk for vision loss and blindness from diabetic eye diseases. The most common diabetic eye disease is diabetic retinopathy, but people with diabetes are also at higher risk for diabetic macular edema, cataract and glaucoma.
The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk of developing diabetic eye disease. But the good news is that early detection and treatment can lower the risk of blindness by 95%. And managing diabetes — with diet, exercise, and medication — is the best way for people with diabetes to lower the risk of vision loss.

https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/outreach-resources/diabetic-eye-disease-resources

10/24/2025

Staying safe this Halloween includes protecting your eyes:

• Ensure that masks or hoods do not block your vision or restrict your peripheral field, which can increase the risk of trips and falls.
• Avoid sharp props. Choose accessories made from soft, flexible materials and avoid sharp-edged items like swords or wands that could cause eye injuries.
• Use for high-quality, FDA-approved makeup and face paint, and test it on a small skin patch first.
• Use costume eyepatches only when standing still for photos. They can affect depth perception.
• Don’t wear decorative contact lenses without a prescription. Even if they don't change your vision, contact lenses are medical devices and require a prescription and fitting by an eye doctor so you don’t have serious complications such as corneal abrasions, infections and blindness.

10/17/2025

🏡 October is Home Eye Safety Month! 🏡

According to PreventBlindness.org, accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year. Ninety percent of these eye injures can be prevented through understanding, safety practices and the use of proper eye protection.

You can reduce the risks of eye injuries for yourself and other family members by using this simple checklist for different areas of your home:
https://preventblindness.org/eye-safety-at-home/

10/10/2025

Question: How often do you rub your eyes during the day?
Answer: Too often.
According to the National Eye Institute, rubbing your eyes might feel good, but it can cause real problems—like scratching your cornea, introducing allergens and causing infections.
Learn more about how to protect your eyes:
https://brnw.ch/21wW83z

10/03/2025

According to a recent study, people with sleep apnea may be more likely to develop retinal vein occlusion, which is a serious condition that can cause sudden vision loss. That’s one more reason to call your doctor of optometry for a comprehensive annual eye exam!

09/26/2025

K**e Hernandez is a professional baseball player. In 2024, K**e was struggling to perform at the plate. After visiting a doctor of optometry from the suggestion of a teammate, he was diagnosed with an astigmatism, which was affecting his ability to see the ball clearly. He was also diagnosed with pterygiums, which prevents him from wearing contacts. As an athlete, his vision and eye health is critical to compete at the highest level. After getting glasses, his season turned around and he was able to help his team win.

Learn more about K**e's own personal journey and his belief that eye health is his most important tech on and off the field - as he champions that there is no substitution for in-person, comprehensive care from a doctor of optometry!

After struggling with his vision during the first half of the 2024 baseball season, K**e Hernandez turned to a doctor of optometry and discovered that comprehensive…

09/19/2025

🥕🥦🍊You are what you eat, so the saying goes. And that goes double for your eyes. The best vitamins and foods to eat for eye health come in a rainbow of bright colors -- from leafy greens to citrus and carrots.

Add these eats to your menu.

09/11/2025

Healthy Aging Month, observed every September, is a great time to remember to be proactive with your eye care to preserve vision as you age:
• Get annual comprehensive regular eye exams
• Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Exercise regularly
• Protect your eyes from the sun with sunglasses
• Manage health conditions like diabetes
• Avoiding smoking
• Take breaks from screen time

09/05/2025

Tens of thousands of people suffer eye injuries related to sports activities every year. Using the right kind of eye protection while playing sports can help prevent serious eye injuries and even blindness.
Prevent Blindness recommends that athletes wear eye guards when participating in sports. Prescription glasses, sunglasses and even occupational safety glasses do not provide adequate protection. Learn more about finding the right eye guards:

Tens of thousands of people suffer eye injuries related to sports activities in a common year. Using the right kind of eye protection while playing sports can

08/29/2025

Only 67 percent of children in Kentucky receive routine vision screening, behind the 72.4 percent figure in top-performing states, according to Vision Center.

With school starting, you may notice that your child is having difficulty reading.

Prioritizing comprehensive eye exams throughout a child’s academic years can help them see correctly to succeed in school, sports and life.

08/22/2025

August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month! Learn more from KOA Member, Dr. Samuel Calvert, about why eye examinations are so important for children - and how often they should get their eyes checked!

It is recommended that a second exam happen at pre-school age, with yearly routine screenings beginning at school age.