Coalition promotes links between eye, overall health

Eye Health Life Health Coalition has recently launched to bring together health, social service, community business leaders, primary care providers, optometrists and ophthalmologists to spread awareness of the association between eye health and overall health, according to a press release.

The Chicago-based coalition, which is housed and coordinated by the Illinois Eye Institute, is disseminating information about how comprehensive eye exams can detect chronic health conditions and serve as a preventive measure against permanent vision loss.

“Eye health is connected to a number of serious chronic issues, including diabetes, glaucoma, high cholesterol and hypertension,” Leonard Messner, OD, FAAO, executive director of the Illinois Eye Institute, said in the release. “Our mission to educate the community about the importance of keeping eyes healthy is not simply a matter of vision. It’s truly an issue that affects the health as a whole.”