Join Eye Deserve More

Eye Deserve More 2024

Technology has become a non-negotiable part of people’s daily lives. Many people prioritize upgrading their tech devices but fail to devote the same attention to their eye health, which why Eye Deserve More is educating Americans about the most advanced tech they already have – their eyes – and the benefit of in-person comprehensive eye exams to maintaining their eye and overall health.

Inspired by real anatomy and capabilities of the visual system, The Eye is a conceptual product that serves as a visually compelling educational tool to highlight the unmatched power of the human eye and the importance of in-person exams with AOA doctors.

Visit SeeTheEye.com to learn more about the components of The Eye, AOA’s new conceptual prototype.

Campaign resources

• *NEW* 2024 Eye Deserve More Toolkit: The Eye
  Using The Eye as an educational tool, we’re urging consumers to give their eye health the same attention they give their technology. Use this toolkit and customizable materials to add to your 2024 public relations and communications efforts, including newsletter content, a template press release, social media posts and more!
• Eye Deserve More Toolkit: The Impact of Excessive Screen Time Health Report Millions of Americans are exposed to excessive screen time, particularly those who work in office jobs, and are at higher risk of developing digital eye strain. AOA doctors want to help patients manage their eye health and prevent symptoms that can impact a person’s ability to work and wellbeing. This toolkit includes customizable, creative materials including newsletter content, template press release, social media posts and more.
  
  Learn more about AOA’s  recent report on the impact of unmanaged screen time.

• Monthly Social Media Calendar: Use the monthly social media calendar to easily plan and schedule content in advance. Every month, the AOA will update the calendar to include social posts, images and customizable content that coincides with AOA’s own activities. We ask all partners to organically post on their social channels each month.
• Patient recruitment guidelines: As part of the AOA’s Eye Deserve More campaign, we are looking for doctors and patients who would be interested in sharing their stories. Your how-to guide to collecting patient testimonials.

Read the stories that have already been shared.

Want to get involved? Get in touch!

Share your story in the form below or submit it via email to Yakesha Cooper, AOA’s public relations manager, at ycooper@aoa.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Eye Deserve More?    

Eye Deserve More isn’t just a moment. Since its launch in 2021, this national, consumer-focused initiative by the American Optometric Association (AOA) takes a stand that every American deserves in-person comprehensive care from an AOA doctor of optometry as part of their overall health ​and wellbeing. Every year, the AOA creates new, exciting ways to connect with patients and the public, activating them to take control of their own eye care and spread the word about its importance to others. 

What’s the point of the campaign?  

Eye Deserve More helps people understand the critical role doctors of optometry play as a primary healthcare provider to keep our eyes and whole body healthy. Even those with perfect vision should see a doctor of optometry in person annually.  

‘The Eye’ Campaign 

What is The Eye and its purpose? How is AOA using The Eye to educate the public about eye health and the importance of annual exams with a doctor of optometry?

The Eye is a conceptual product that serves as a visually compelling educational tool to highlight the immense power of human eyes and the importance of eye health. It’s meant to intrigue, and then challenge people to rethink the way they obsess over the latest and greatest smartphones, computers, and tablets, but often neglect the most advanced tech they already possess — their eyes. The Eye's physical components represent real capabilities of the human eye, representing a level of sophistication that current technology cannot physically replicate. This underscores the need to prioritize and care for the unparalleled technology we already have over the tech that can’t compare. 

Who designed The Eye? 

The Eye was designed by Sebastian Arrieta, a renowned industrial designer with extensive experience in developing consumer tech and eye-related devices, alongside AOA doctors of optometry who advised on the design.  

How does The Eye compare to the human eye?  

Although the product itself is conceptual, all capabilities discussed about The Eye are true to the human visual system. The design of The Eye is not representative of the location or scale of eye anatomy, since The Eye design aims to represent the power of two eyes and the brain into one small device.  

How can we interact with and/or learn more about The Eye? 

You can interact with the digital model of The Eye and learn more about the human eye by visiting SeeTheEye.com  

Workplace Wellness Campaign 

What is the purpose of this report?

Eye Deserve More is reaching a population that spends extended hours on screens and may feel too busy to seek the care they deserve: those in the workplace. The report highlights the impact of unmanaged screentime and how scheduling an in-person comprehensive eye exam with an AOA doctor can prevent further costs to an individual’s healthcare, productivity and well-being. 

What are the key findings from this report? 

The report found that over 100 million working age Americans spend more than seven hours of their day in front of screens, resulting in an estimated $73 billion in health system, productivity, and wellbeing costs in 2023. Regular visits to an optometrist could potentially deliver up to $61 billion in benefits to individuals, government, and society per year from improved productivity and wellbeing. 

Blink Land

What is Blink Land?  

Blink Land is a single-player mobile game teaches people about eye health as it relates to screen time. After rolling a dice, hero character “Blink” will lead players around a game board, stopping along the way to play minigames, master trivia and learn tips and tricks to adopt healthy habits while playing video games.   The game encourages players to use them while playing – all while being a fun and engaging way to learn about eye health.

Why did AOA create Blink Land?  

The American Optometric Association developed Blink Land to meet gamers where they are – within a game and educate them on healthy habits for their eyes. The game provides tangible actions to help people with their eye health and encourages in-person exams with an AOA doctor of optometry.

Where is Blink Land available?  

Blink Land is a free mobile app available for download in the Apple and Google Play app stores.