The American Optometric Association (AOA) has tapped professional baseball player Kike Hernández as the face of its new “Eye Deserve More” campaign, underscoring how in-person eye exams can be a game-changer both on and off the field.
Hernández’s story is personal. Last season, when his batting average began to slip, he assumed it was a slump. After finally seeing an optometrist in person, he was diagnosed with astigmatism — a common but often overlooked condition caused by an irregular cornea. Corrective treatment sharpened his vision and helped him turn his performance around, fueling a second-half surge that contributed to his team’s winning record.
“From the quality of our bats to the software we use to analyze swings, athletes rely on the best tools to perform,” said Hernández. “I learned the hard way that the most advanced equipment I own are my eyes. After working with my optometrist, I was able to turn my season around and help my team win.” Watch below:
AOA doctor Emily Benson, O.D., notes that even elite athletes can miss the signs of vision issues. “Your eyes are your most powerful technology,” she explained. “Whether you’re stepping up to the plate in a major league game or just driving to work, performance starts with a comprehensive, in-person eye exam.”
The campaign leans into that message with a conceptual product called The Eye, designed to highlight the “specs” of human vision and remind Americans that nothing rivals the complexity of our own visual system. The AOA hopes it will resonate in a world where people are more likely to update their phones than schedule an eye exam.
Doctors of optometry conduct more than two-thirds of primary eye care in the U.S. and can detect over 270 systemic health conditions — including diabetes, hypertension, and even brain tumors — often before symptoms appear. The “Eye Deserve More” campaign reminds families that screenings or online vision tests don’t provide the same level of insight.
For Hernández, now a father, the partnership carries extra weight. “With a daughter and a new baby on the way, it’s even more important that we take care of our eyes,” he said. “When I see others struggling, I tell them to see an optometrist. A teammate I encouraged to go was also diagnosed with astigmatism — and he’s playing better now too.”
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