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The rise in healthcare costs, the tough economy and the uncertainty of healthcare programs in the future has caused many Cumming residents to postpone or even forego visits to the doctor until they have a serious health problem, that they can no longer ignore.

In the case of eye health, waiting can result in permanent damage. Still, people are looking for ways to downsize their spending on everything, including medical exams. One Atlanta company has come up with a solution for eyesight screening that’s a quick and accurate assessment of near and distant vision. And the price is right. It’s free.

SoloHealth (www.solo-health.com), maker of EyeSite™ self-service vision testing and self-directed healthcare kiosks, has teamed with metro Atlanta Kroger stores to promote eye health awareness and to encourage regular eye exams. EyeSite™ kiosks are located in ten Kroger locations across the metro area including Cumming. In addition to a thorough assessment of near and distant vision, EyeSite™ kiosks also assess risk, provide relevant eye health information and encourage users to schedule comprehensive exams with an eye care professional from a list of local providers.

The interactive kiosks ask users to answer a series of lifestyle questions on a touch screen and are presented with various sized letters to determine near and distance acuity. They then receive a customized report of their results, which they can share directly with an eye doctor.

“Eyes deteriorate so slowly that people often don’t realize their vision is changing,” said Bart Foster, CEO and Founder of SoloHealth. “The EyeSite kiosks are a great way for people to check their vision and get related eye health information. Our goal is to get people to think about their eyes as part of their overall health, and to take the appropriate steps to minimize eye health risks."

Of the 210,000 people tested using the EyeSite kiosks during trials in the past year, nearly 25 percent had never had an eye exam. In many cases, this was despite having risk factors such as a family history of eye disease. According to Prevent Blindness Georgia, a non-profit organization, half of all blindness is preventable if eye problems are detected and treated early. For adults, data shows that the number of Americans with age-related eye disease, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease, is expected to double by the year 2030. User-friendly, practical tools like the EyeSite™ kiosk hope to reverse this trend through a self-directed, proactive focus on eye health.

By partnering with Kroger stores, SoloHealth hopes to encourage consumers to take an active role in their eye health in convenient, familiar surroundings. A listing and map of Kroger locations where EyeSite™ kiosks are located can be found by visiting www.solo-health.com/locations.

About SoloHealth

Based in Atlanta, SoloHealth (www.solo-health.com) is an award-winning healthcare technology company developed in response to the growing consumer preference for self-directed healthcare services. The company’s inaugural product, EyeSite™, is an interactive kiosk that provides vision health information, customized vision reports, and also directs consumers to a local eye care professional. SoloHealth was among the top five businesses recognized by Forbes.com’s 2008 “Boost Your Business” entrepreneurial contest, and it has won three Awards of Excellence, including "Best in Show" at the Kiosk.Com Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas. The company was also selected as one of the 2008 "Top 40" Innovative Technology companies in Georgia by the Technology Association of Georgia.