See the eye like never before! NYC’s giant tech-inspired exhibit blends science and art, reminding us to prioritize eye health in a digital world.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) has recently launched an awareness campaign reimagining the eye as a high-tech device with focus on eye health. The eye health awareness campaign is aimed at younger people and technology first-adopters who may prioritize technology over their eyes — a demographic the AOA calls “vision neglectors”.
To help get their message across, AOA worked alongside industrial designer Sebastian Arietta to develop conceptual imagery likening the human eye to a high-tech smart device.
For three days in, back in August, AOA hosted a pop-up event at a New York City storefront where visitors can see “The Eye”. A large, exploded-view visualization of the human eye, designed to imply that our eyeballs are more sophisticated and complicated than any latest smartphone or tablet.
“The Eye” campaign is part of a broader AOA project called “Eye Deserve More” meant to promote eye health awareness among the public.
In 2023, the AOA released a mobile video game called Blink Land, offering health tips to users and directing them to a page where they can search for an eye doctor. Players can also test their eye health knowledge through mini games, trivia, and fun facts. Compared to this digitized initiative, “The Eye” exhibit in NYC takes a more conceptual approach and is a thought exercise instead of an actual product.
The state of eye health
AOA’s “The Eye” campaign is timely considering the state of eye health in our increasingly digital world. According to data from the CDC, about 93 million American adults aged 18 years and older were at high risk for vision loss.
Unfortunately, among adults at high risk for vision loss, about 40% did not see an eye doctor or go for an eye exam in the previous year. To make matters worse, more than eight million adults who reported needing eyeglasses stated they couldn’t afford them.
Meanwhile, data from the National Health Interview Survey showed that adults at high risk for vision loss included those who were diagnosed with diabetes, had vision and eye problems, or were 65 years or older.
Aside from promoting eye health awareness to the public, it has also become increasingly important to make affordable eye care options, such as eyeglasses, more accessible to people. Similarly, preventive care practices like annual eye exams are also essential for early detection and treatment of other health conditions.
Eye health care practices
As mentioned above, wearing eyeglasses can help prevent eye or vision conditions from worsening. Eyeglasses are also essential for eye protection and, most commonly, vision correction.
Fortunately, you can easily buy and order eyeglasses in various designs and features via online retailers today. Eyewear brands like Ray-Ban make it easy to customize your eyeglass frames according to your preference. Whether the simple Round Metal Optics or the all-new Balorette Optics, with free shipping available on all orders for increased accessibility.
And, lucky us, we’ve got amazing Ray-Ban store around New York City!
Finally, aside from wearing corrective eyewear to help maintain your eye health, other eye care practices like going for regular eye checkups are crucial for monitoring any eye- or vision-related symptoms.
Additionally, eye health experts recommend wearing sunglasses daily, especially if you spend long periods outdoors. Protecting your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays can help prevent the development of eye conditions and diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration, as well as eye cancers.
When choosing sunglasses, eye doctors recommend looking for labels stating 100% protection against both UVA and UVB, or 100% protection against UV 400.
If you found this post helpful or interesting, you can check out our previous post sharing health and beauty hacks. Look and feel great while in New York City, from regular exercise to getting healthy sleep!
