SAN DIEGO—Only 41 percent of adult eyeglass wearers with dependent children said they were very satisfied with the amount of education their eyecare professional provided to their child on the proper way to care for their eyeglasses, according to a recent online survey conducted for PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) by Lightspeed Research during March 2012. These results suggest that more than half of the 500 respondents felt their eyecare professionals could have done more. To discuss the topic of “Engaging with Today’s Parents to Promote Pediatric Vision,” PPG and Hoya Vision hosted a roundtable of optometrists on June 28 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel during the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

“We all know from raising and being around children that they need specific direction from authority figures,” said Barney Dougher, president of Hoya Vision Care, North America. “Parents can’t do it all alone, and it is no different when it comes to their children’s eye health and instructions on the benefits and care of their glasses.”

The roundtable addressed topics regarding parents’ influence over how often and whether children visit their eye doctor, how children should protect their eyes on a daily basis with 100 percent UV-protective eyewear, and how they should care for their eyewear to reduce damage and enhance vision. The roundtable conveyed the message that healthy habits start young, so proper education of parents, and therefore their children, can influence how well a child sees for a lifetime. Following the event, a paper will be developed to capture insights and provide helpful tips for the industry.