Archived PR Tools

Bring Patients into Your Practice by Promoting School Vision Evaluations

As parents prepare for the return to school, encourage them to bring their kindergartners in for the required vision evaluation. It’s also a good time to remind parents to schedule vision checkups for their older children. The NOA and AOA have compiled some tools and tips for you to use in your school vision evaluation promotion.

Promote UV Eye Protection in Your Office

As the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to remind your patients about the importance of UV protection for their eyes. Most people stock up on sunscreen when the sun starts to shine, but too many don't think about the damage UV rays can also do to their eyes.

According to the AOA's 2008 American Eye-Q® survey, which identified Americans' attitudes and behaviors regarding eye care and related issues, only 49 percent of Americans said UV protection was the most important factor when purchasing sunglasses. Respondents said that the price and style of sunglasses were among the most important factors to them.

To encourage appropriate UV eye protection, NOA sent a press release to targeted publications in Nebraska. The AOA also distributed this press release to larger media outlets nationwide.

An article on UV protection for kids was also included in the recent NFCV newsletter, The Carrot.

In addition, there are several things you can do in your practice:

Offer a coupon for a discount on sunglasses to all patients during the month of June.
Remind patients with children about the importance of appropriate sunglasses for their kids.
Download and customize this press release and submit it to your local newspaper.
Print this sunglass shopping guide and distribute to your patients.

Bring Patients into Your Practice by Promoting Kindergarten Vision Evaluations

Kindergarten Roundups are in full swing around the state. Keep in mind that many parents may still not be aware that a vision exam is required in addition to a physical exam. Use this time as an opportunity to remind your patients with children and grandchildren about getting their soon-to-be kindergartners in for eye exams.

Customizable Ready for School Ad – customize and place this ad in your local newspaper, post it as a flyer in your office, or copy it and include it in your monthly statements to patients
Download and customize this letter to send to your local pediatrician or family practitioner or primary health care provider.
Ready-Made Radio ads - Use these radio ads as your "on-hold" message or place them on your local radio station followed by a tagline reminding people to schedule their school vision exams with your office (If this file does not play when you click on the text, right click and select "Save Target As" and save the file to your computer. Then play the .mp3 file with your computer's media player.)
Order the FREE Ready for School Kit from AOA – email publicrelations@aoa.org to request the kit
Contact Local Organizations and Offer to Make a Presentation on the importance of children’s vision – use this PowerPoint
Contact your local school nurse or administrator and offer to be a resource for vision issues
Download this poster and personalize it with your practice information. Distribute it to local daycares, to your patients, etc. This and other children's vision posters are also available to order as gallery prints through AOA: http://www.aoa.org/x11313.xml
Schedule a “Children’s Vision Day” in your practice – promote it via the radio, newspaper, internet and through communications with your patients. Make it a fun day of learning and vision evaluations. Schedule exams for children, but also offer prizes, set up stations to learn about the anatomy of the eye, include games that test vision, etc. Be creative!
Use the School Vision Evaluation Form in all of your school vision exams. Ask the parent to return the form to the school as proof that their child received the required school vision evaluation.
Talk to your local newspaper reporter about the importance of children’s vision in learning. Offer to provide information for an article on how good vision can increase the chances for success in school.