Local Eye Site, the premier online community for eye care professionals, is partnering with Prevent Blindness America, the nation's oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, to help protect children's vision. Through its growing network of registered users of eye care professionals including ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians and registered nurses, Local Eye Site will provide its members with the tools and information from the Star Pupils program to offer to their patients and how they can encourage parents to participate.

Star Pupils is a trademark program of Prevent Blindness America that promotes children’s eye health and safety. It is designed to provide parents with the information they need to help their children succeed in the classroom through healthy vision as well as tips on proper eye protection and information on common eye problems. Donations to the Star Pupils program will help to provide access to vision care services for disadvantaged children. The goal of the program is to reach 5 million children through Star Pupils within in the next three years.

“Through my involvement with Prevent Blindness North Carolina, I have seen firsthand the impact that Prevent Blindness America programs have on children and their families. These screenings save sight, and change lives,” said Brad McCorkle, founder and President of Local Eye Site. “My hope is that we can engage the Local Eye Site community of eye care professionals to raise awareness about the Star Pupils program, and the opportunity the eye care community has to impact lives in such a rewarding way.”

For six years, McCorkle has served on the board of directors for Prevent Blindness North Carolina. “During my time there, I have served on committees, participated in vision screenings, and planned and attended fund raisers,” added McCorkle. “It’s been worthwhile because of the lives these programs enrich.”

“Thanks to this new joint effort, Prevent Blindness America and Local Eye Site will be able to work together to reach out to those eye care professionals who are on the front lines of providing much-needed vision care,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “We appreciate the dedication and commitment that Brad McCorkle and all of those at Local Eye Site have demonstrated over the years to promoting quality vision care and vision care services. We thank them for their continued support of our mission and Star Pupils.”

For more information on Star Pupils, please visit starpupils.org or call (800) 331-2020. Prevent Blindness America offers a variety of fact sheets and brochures on children’s vision issues including an at-home eye test and tips for eye protection at starpupils.org.

About Prevent Blindness America

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screenings, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, Prevent Blindness America is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020 or visit us on the Web at preventblindness.org.

About Local Eye Site

Local Eye Site is the premier online destination for professionals in the eye care industry. Founded in 2007 by Brad McCorkle, a former Senior Medical Sales Representative for a leading eye care company, Local Eye Site advances the quality of patient care by providing opportunities to foster professional development, further education and enhance communication among the eye care community. The site is committed to serving the industry from a personal and local perspective. Local Eye Site’s fresh and creative approach to the eye care industry distinguishes it from eye care associations and industry competitors. For more information, visit www.localeyesite.com.