News

Sue Downes of MyEyeDr. to Receive 2018 Person of Vision Award

Award to be presented on March 15, 2018, at the Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Dinner at the Lotte New York Palace, New York City

Prevent Blindness has chosen Sue Downes, CEO at MyEyeDr., as the recipient of the 2018 Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award.  The award will be presented on March 15, 2018, at the Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Dinner at the Lotte New York Palace, New York City, in conjunction with Vision Expo East. All proceeds from the event will go to support the sight-saving programs from Prevent Blindness.

Portrait of Sue Downes

The Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award recognizes an individual or organization whose inspired outlook champions healthy vision and its importance for a healthy life.

Sue Downes co-founded MyEyeDr in 2001.  She has built MyEyeDr. into a network of more than 300 local optometry practices throughout the mid-Atlantic and southeast, and extended into Connecticut and Chicago. Each MyEyeDr. office offers comprehensive eye care services, a wide selection of designer and value prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, and standard and specialty prescription contact lenses. The full-service eye care management company is headquartered in Vienna, Va.

“In addition to being a strong leader in the vision industry, Mrs. Downes has served on a variety of Prevent Blindness committees over the years, helping to support our mission in bringing Americans to eye care,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.

In addition to her volunteer work with Prevent Blindness, she provides volunteer support to various organizations including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

The co-chairpersons of the 2018 Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Committee are Marge Axelrad, senior vice president, editorial director at Vision Monday/Jobson Optical Group, and Angela McCoy, vice president of business operations at MyEyeDr.

Richard Sanchez, managing partner at Visibility Management, LLC, and the Prevent Blindness board of directors chairman added, “Sue is highly regarded as one of the optical industry’s most influential leaders. We are thrilled she has accepted the honor of being our 2018 Person of Vision.”

For more information including Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award committee membership, sponsorship opportunities, and reservations, please contact Sue Corbett at (312) 363-6014 or [email protected] or visit www.preventblindness.org/personofvision.

Download a copy of the 2018 Person of Vision press release.