May is Healthy Vision Month (HVM), a national eye health observance established by the National Eye Institute (NEI) in May 2003. NEI is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .

Millions of people living in the United States have undetected vision problems, eye diseases, and conditions. HVM is designed to elevate vision as a health priority for the Nation by promoting the importance of early detection and treatment, as well as the use of proper eye safety practices, in preventing vision loss and blindness.

One of the most important things people can do to protect their vision is to schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam. In this painless procedure, an eye care professional examines the eyes to look for common vision problems and eye diseases, many of which have no early warning signs. A comprehensive dilated eye exam can detect eye diseases and conditions in their early stages, before vision loss occurs. Early detection and treatment can help to save your sight.

NEI offers a variety of educational resources that can be tailored to meet the eye health needs of people in your community. Please join us in educating your community about eye health and safety and the importance of comprehensive dilated eye exams!