Kentucky Optometric Association

01/30/2026

When you see a bag of carrots at the grocery store, does your mind go to potatoes and parsnips or buffalo wings and celery?

That depends on whether you’re making a hearty winter stew or getting ready to watch the Super Bowl.

A new NEI-funded study found that what we expect to see can influence how our brain interprets what our eyes are actually looking at.

This discovery gives us a better understanding of how the brain and eyes work together—and could lead to new insights into vision and brain health.
https://bit.ly/4p3JEF7

01/22/2026

❄️ 👀 Snow. Icy roads. Blasting furnaces. All are signs of winter, and all can have impacts on your eyes. 👀❄️

Here are some of the ways that winter can affect your eye health, and tips for prevention from Lookafteryoureyes.org:

Winter sun
• Sunglasses aren’t just for summer. Snow and ice are reflective, so the sun’s rays can reach your eyes from below as well as above. The low sun in winter can be dazzling, so wear sunglasses on sunny winter days, particularly when driving.
• If you wear glasses, ask about having anti-reflection coating on the lenses to reduce the effects of sun glare while driving.

Dry eyes
Central heating can make dry eyes feel worse. There are some simple steps you can take to feel more comfortable:
• Lower the temperature in rooms when possible.
• Open windows, even for a few minutes.
• Use a humidifier.
• You can get moisturizing eye drops over the counter from your optometrist or pharmacist.

Winter lighting
Many people will be working from home this winter, and lighting is very important. You will see better in bright light than in dim light, so you might find that you need to wear your glasses more when the lighting is poor. If you have problems seeing in low light, we recommend:
• Sitting close to a window during the day if you need to see something clearly, like the text in a book or magazine.
• Having good lighting close to you at home when you need it, including a light source like a desk light.
• Spending time outside. There is evidence that encouraging children to spend time outdoors could reduce the onset of myopia, so do try and make sure they have some time outside each day.

01/16/2026

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month!

According to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States. But as many as half of people with glaucoma don’t know they have it.

Glaucoma has no early symptoms. The only way to check for it is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

For more information on risk factors and resources, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov/about/education-and-outreach/glaucoma-resources.

01/13/2026

Thank you Dr. Kimberly Arnett for your work highlighting the importance of comprehensive eye exams!

What do most people misunderstand about an eye exam? The eyes often reveal the earliest signs of conditions that affect

01/09/2026

Doctors of optometry have a longtime commitment to service to their community. And that service even starts when they are in school. Students at UPIKE’s Kentucky College of Optometry students are carrying on that tradition by volunteering with several Kentucky school districts.

Research shows that up to 80 percent of learning in a school is visual. More than 20 percent of students have a vision problem that can be identified by screening, and 80 percent to 90 percent of those issues can be corrected with glasses.

When Rowan County educators noticed that some students were trying really hard in the classroom and still struggling, they knew they had to do something. Someone in the district had a friend who worked at UPIKE and made the connection to Dr. Rachel Fitzgerald, who is an associate professor of optometry and director of community outreach.

In the first year of the partnership, UPIKE’s Kentucky College of Optometry students who are in their second year of studies provided vision screenings at Clearfield Elementary School for every second- and fourth-grade student who wanted the service. Last year, all of the district’s third-grade students were bused to a central location for the screenings. Of the 274 students served, 64 were referred for follow-up services.

“The eye is the window to the rest of the body,” Fitzgerald said. “If the optic nerve is swollen, it could indicate that something more serious is going on.”

And these screenings are even more important when you consider that about 30 of Kentucky’s 120 counties don’t have an optometrist. The 60 second-year Kentucky College of Optometry students see about 2,800 children during a school year in the more than 10 school districts they serve.

“That makes it difficult to take every child to an eye doctor, so we help bridge the gap,” Fitzgerald said. “Kids are required to have an eye exam before kindergarten, but they don’t go back regularly. Our students are eager to help. And, if I can teach them how easy it is to be involved in the community, then they likely will maintain that involvement once they have their own practice.”

12/31/2025

Make a resolution for better eye health in 2026!

More than 11 million Americans would improve their vision simply through corrective eyewear. And an early diagnosis and treatment plan can better ensure that your eyes remain healthy, even to the point of preventing vision loss if such problems persist.

Take action this year to protect and enhance your vision by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam and making it part of your annual health care routine. It’s not only important for your eye health but it also impacts your quality of life, overall health and safety.

https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/vision-and-your-quality-of-life

12/23/2025

Make sure to read this important article about how to relieve eye strain!

Eye strain prevention tips - an optometrist reveals how to protect your eyes with easy everyday habits

12/19/2025

The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized marketing of the first eyeglass lenses in the United States that not only correct nearsightedness in children, but they can also slow the progression of the condition.

Read this article for more info!

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/26/health/nearsightedness-children-eyeglass-lens-fda-wellness

12/12/2025

When you make your holiday shopping list, check it twice … for eye safety!

https://preventblindness.org/safe-toy-checklist/

12/05/2025

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new type of prescription eye drops for age-related blurry vision, which could last long enough to get some people through an entire workday without reading glasses. https://www.everydayhealth.com/eye-vision-health/new-fda-approved-eye-drops-could-replace-reading-glasses/

11/21/2025

Before you go grocery shopping for your upcoming Thanksgiving meal, don’t forget the veggies. They are important for best eye health. See which ones top the list:

These are the nutrients your eyes want to keep your vision healthy and strong.

11/07/2025

November is National Diabetes Month. Diabetic eye disease, a leading cause of blindness, often has no early warning signs. That’s why it’s so important for people with diabetes to get regular eye exams with your local doctor of optometry to catch problems early — and get timely treatment and the right follow-up care.
Learn more about how people with diabetes can protect their vision: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/outreach-resources/diabetic-eye-disease-resources