WASHINGTON—Vision will play a prominent role in Healthy People 2020, a new government plan for promoting health and preventing disease in the coming decade.

Launched on Dec. 2, new site HealthyPeople.gov is an expansive resource of health information both for doctors and patients on a wide range of medical topics, including a section dedicated to vision care. “The Healthy People 2020 Vision objectives focus on evidence-based interventions to preserve sight and prevent blindness,” the site states.

Projecting that in the next 10 years, 5.5 million people will be either blind or suffer from low vision in the U.S., Healthy People 2020 has posted eight vision objectives within the new site. These include screenings and comprehensive eye examinations for children and adults, injury prevention, use of vision rehabilitation services and early detection and timely treatment of eye diseases and conditions.

Additionally, the American Optometric Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, National Optometric Association, Prevent Blindness Ohio, Prevent Blindness America, Roman-Barnes Society of Ophthalmology, University of Houston College of Optometry and The Vision Council are listed among partners “committed to achieving Healthy People 2020 goals and objectives” in the site’s Consortium.

Healthy People 2020 is the result of a multiyear process that reflects input from a diverse group of individuals and organization. Its corresponding site houses health information from three decades of science-based research. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the data will be used to encourage collaborations across health sectors, guide individuals toward making informed health decisions and also measure the impact of prevention activities.

Though the HHS has made new health goals every 10 years since 1979, the present round of nearly 600 goals will “reflect assessments of major risks to health and wellness, changing public health priorities, and emerging issues related to our nation's health preparedness and prevention,” according to the organization.