RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, VSP^® Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits provider in the United States with 77 million members, released its Eye Health Index, featuring the top 10 eye-healthy cities in the United States. Reno, Nevada, tops the 2016 index as the nation's most eye-healthy city. New this year, VSP also unveiled the 10 U.S. cities where the importance of an annual eye exam is not always top of mind. According to the research, Cleveland, Ohio, ranked as the nation's least eye-healthy city.

The Eye Health Index, now in its fourth year, reviews tens of millions of VSP claims from more than 100 U.S. metropolitan areas to identify which cities are the most focused on maintaining their eye health by getting annual eye exams. The 2016 index rankings were determined by looking at the percentage of VSP members who received an eye exam in 2015 in cities with at least 100,000 VSP members. VSP provides vision benefits to 1 in 5 Americans.

"An annual eye exam should be a part of everyone's overall healthcare routine, not only to keep their vision healthy, but also to leverage its proven preventative health benefits," said VSP Vision Care President Kate Renwick-Espinosa. "Your eye doctor is often the first to spot signs of chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It's critical that you visit your eye doctor annually to ensure the health of your eyes as well as your wellness overall."

The top 10 eye-healthy cities in 2016 are:

1. Reno, Nevada
2. Boise, Idaho
3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4. Des Moines, Iowa
5. Raleigh, North Carolina
6. Redding, California
7. Colorado Springs, Colorado
8. Fayetteville, Arkansas
9. Denver, Colorado
10. Tulsa, Oklahoma

The 10 least eye-healthy cities in 2016 are:

1. Cleveland, Ohio
2. Bakersfield, California
3. Merced, California
4. Akron, Ohio
5. Albuquerque, New Mexico
6. Detroit, Michigan
7. Stockton, California
8. Santa Rosa, California
9. Bridgeport, Connecticut
10. Salinas, California

Other key findings from the 2016 Eye Health Index include:

• Youth eye health trending up in least eye-healthy cities. While Bakersfield, Merced, Stockton, Albuquerque and Salinas are some of the least eye-healthy overall, they rank among the cities where the highest percentage of residents under 17 are receiving eye exams.
• Gender eye health gap. In general, women are more diligent about their eye health than men. In all of the cities surveyed, more women visited their eye doctors annually than men. 58 percent of eye exams were received by women compared to 42 percent men.

About VSP Global
VSP Global® helps more than 82 million people see better by providing affordable, accessible, high-quality eye care and eyewear. Our complementary businesses combine superior eye care insurance, high-fashion frames, customized lenses, ophthalmic technology and retail solutions. VSP Global businesses, operating in 100 countries in the U.S., Australia, United Kingdom and Ireland, include VSP Vision Care, Marchon® Eyewear Inc., Eyefinity®, VSP Optics Group and VSP Omni-Channel Solutions. As a not-for-profit business, we are committed to bringing vision to those who can't come to us, and to reimagining how eye care and eyewear are delivered globally.

Media Contact:
Jace Duval
(916) 851-4531
jace.duval@vsp.com

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SOURCE VSP Vision Care