RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., June 19, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Annual eye exams provide more than assurance that an individual's eye glass prescription is up-to-date. Through a comprehensive eye exam, eye doctors check for underlying vision problems and eye diseases. Also, eye exams are used as one of the leading methods of detecting early signs of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension that currently affect more than 140 million Americans in the United States (according to the Center for Disease Control).
Because eye exams provide the only unobstructed view of a person's blood vessels, eye doctors can detect signs of chronic disease years before a patient displays symptoms and before they are identified by any other medical professional, according to a study by Human Capital Resource Management Services.
While rankings exist on the most health-conscious and physically fit cities in the United States, VSP® Vision Care (www.vsp.com), the nation's largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services provider, has identified the cities whose residents get their eyes examined most frequently, in the first ever "Eye Health City Index."
The 2012 Eye Health Index of the most eye healthy cities include:
- Providence, RI*
- Wichita, KS
- Raleigh, NC*
- Birmingham, AL*
- Denver, CO
- Columbus, OH
- Dayton, OH
- San Jose, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Sacramento, CA
"Eye exams are a critical wellness tool that not only checks the health of the eyes but also checks for signs of serious chronic diseases," said Susan Egbert, director of eye health strategies at VSP Vision Care. "We hear remarkable stories from doctors and patients who credit an eye exam for saving their lives. We commend the residents of each of the top ten cities for recognizing the importance of utilizing eye exams a part of their healthcare routines."
The data is based on the percentage of people who received an eye exam in 2011, who have VSP Vision Care vision benefits in markets where VSP covers 100,000 people or more.
*Indicates that city's surrounding area was included in tabulation.
About VSP Global
VSP Global® includes VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 57 million members; Marchon® Eyewear Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers, designers and distributors of quality fashion and technologically-advanced eyewear and sunwear; Eyefinity® which offers innovative solutions and the premier management software and technology to improve overall practice management and patient experience; VSP Optics Group, industry leaders in new technologies, production processes, service and logistics.
To date, through VSP community outreach programs such as VSP Mobile Eyes® and Sight for Students®, and through relationships including those with the American Red Cross and Prevent Blindness America, VSP has invested close to $146 million in free eyecare and eyewear for more than 765,000 adults and children in need throughout the United States.
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