National Eye Exam Month: Encouraging Lifelong Eye Care
How Optometrists Can Help Patients Understand the Value of Comprehensive Eye Examinations
August is National Eye Exam Month—an opportunity to remind the public that comprehensive eye examinations are an essential part of preventive healthcare throughout life.
For optometrists, the message is familiar: an eye examination does far more than determine whether a patient needs glasses or contact lenses. It can help detect eye disease, identify signs of systemic health conditions and give patients the information they need to protect their vision.
Yet many patients still seek care only when their vision becomes blurry or assume that seeing clearly means their eyes are healthy. National Eye Exam Month provides an opportunity to help change that perception.
Addressing Disparities in Hispanic and Latino Communities
This message is particularly important in Hispanic and Latino communities.
The National Eye Institute reports high rates of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma among Hispanic and Latino populations. Almost eight out of 10 Hispanic and Latino individuals with glaucoma do not know they have the disease.
Diabetes presents an additional concern. Research from the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study found that nearly half of Hispanic and Latino adults with diabetes had some form of diabetic retinopathy. Among participants found to have diabetes, one in five had not previously been diagnosed, and almost one-quarter of those individuals already showed signs of diabetic retinopathy.
The need for early care also extends to children. Myopia is increasing among children worldwide, and research examining myopia progression among a diverse U.S. pediatric population found that Latino children experienced faster progression than White children. Early identification gives optometrists an opportunity not only to correct vision, but also to discuss appropriate strategies for monitoring and managing progression.
These concerns reinforce why patients should not wait for noticeable vision changes before seeking care. Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other potentially sight-threatening conditions can progress with few or no early symptoms.
Moving Beyond “Get an Eye Exam”
A general recommendation to schedule an examination may not be enough. Cost, insurance coverage, transportation, language differences, limited awareness, trust and competing responsibilities can all affect whether patients receive care and return for follow-up.
Optometrists and their teams can strengthen the message by:
- Explaining why an examination matters even when vision seems clear
- Connecting eye health to diabetes, hypertension and overall health
- Providing information in the patient’s preferred language
- Clearly explaining follow-up recommendations and the risks of delaying care
- Helping patients identify available resources when access is a concern
Culturally responsive care begins with asking questions and listening. Patients’ language preferences, health literacy, family influences and previous healthcare experiences may all shape how information is understood and whether recommendations are followed.
Making the Message Personally Relevant
Eye health messages are often more meaningful when they connect with what patients value.
For parents, that may mean supporting a child’s learning and development. For younger adults, it may mean driving safely, working comfortably or wearing contact lenses responsibly. For someone with diabetes, it may mean protecting vision before symptoms develop. For older adults, it may mean preserving independence and continuing to enjoy everyday activities.
Practices can use National Eye Exam Month to reinforce these connections through patient conversations, websites, social media, emails and community outreach. Bilingual and culturally relevant materials can help extend the message to more individuals and families.
At Latinos en Optometry, we encourage eye care professionals to use National Eye Exam Month to remind patients that an eye examination is not simply about seeing better today. It is an important step toward detecting disease earlier, protecting overall health and preserving vision throughout life.
By making that message understandable, culturally responsive and personally relevant, we can encourage more people to seek care before symptoms appear—and help reduce preventable vision loss in the communities we serve.