From social media, to signage, to email blasts, it can be difficult to find exciting new marketing ideas no matter what area of business you’re in. Add on marketing restrictions for optometrists and it’s easy to see how your marketing can become a little stale.

That said, there are still ways to get your patients interested in their eye health, every month of the year. Here are some holidays you’ll want to make a note of in your 2021 calendar.

January

Of course, January brings in the new year, but it’s also Glaucoma Awareness Month. Start a conversation with your patients about risk factors of glaucoma and the importance of eye exams.

  • Glaucoma Awareness Month
  • January 1: New Year’s Day
  • January 4: World Braille Day

February

February is time to show some eye love with Valentine’s Day on the 14th. It’s also a chance to build awareness for AMD and low vision.

  • AMD Awareness Month
  • Low Vision Month
  • February 4: World Cancer Day
  • February 14: Valentine’s Day
  • February 15: Family Day/Islander Day/Louis Riel Day/Heritage Day
  • February 28: Rare Disease Day

March

There are a lot of holidays in March and a lot of opportunities to educate your patients. From ocular nutrition to glaucoma, March is the time to get your patients talking about eye health. On International Women’s Day, celebrate influential women in eye care.

  • Nutrition Month
  • March 8: International Women’s Day
  • March 7-13: World Glaucoma Week
  • March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
  • March 23: World Optometry Day

April

There are a few holidays in April around Easter that might mean your practice is closed. April is also Rosacea Awareness Month, so you might want to talk about the link between rosacea and dry eye.

  • Rosacea Awareness Month
  • April 1: April Fools Day
  • April 2: Good Friday
  • April 4: Easter Sunday

May 

May is Vision Health Month, giving you plenty of opportunities to educate patients and share resources from other eye health authorities.

  • Vision Health Month
  • Brain Tumour Awareness Month
  • May 9: Mother’s Day 
  • May 24: Victoria Day

June

June is cataract awareness month, which is a great time to educate patients about the importance of sunglasses, especially as the weather gets warmer.

  • Cataract Awareness Month
  • June 20: Father’s Day

July

Don’t forget to notify patients of any closures on or around Canada Day. Following that, National Injury Prevention Day is a chance for you to tell patients about the importance of safety eyewear.

  • July 1: Canada Day
  • July 6: National Injury Prevention Day

August

August is back to school month, which is a great time for kids to get eye exams. Remind parents that school-aged children should have an exam once per year.

  • Back to School
  • August 2: Civic Holiday

September

The first day of school in your area is another opportunity to tell parents about children’s eye exams and the links between vision and learning. On World First Aid Day, share some emergency eye care information.

  • National Guide Dog Month
  • September 6: Labour Day
  • First Day of School
  • September 11: World First Aid Day

October

With Children’s Vision Month and Halloween both happening, October is a great time to engage your younger patients and see what you can do to make your practice more kid-friendly. 

  • Children’s Vision Month
  • October 11: Thanksgiving
  • October 12: World Arthritis Day
  • October 14: World Sight Day
  • October 31: Halloween

November 

November has a few holidays that are great opportunities to educate your patients, especially during Digital Health Week if you offer teleoptometry. And don’t forget, Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in many provinces.

  • Diabetes Awareness Month (World Diabetes Day November 14)
  • November 11: Remembrance Day
  • November 15-21: Digital Health Week
  • November 20: National Child Day
  • November 28: First Day of Hanukkah

December

While there are a lot of holidays in December, Christmas Day is the only official statutory holiday (with the exception of Boxing Day in Ontario). If your practice is closed on any of these other holidays, make sure to tell your patients!

  • December 3: Giving Tuesday
  • December 6: Last Day of Hanukkah
  • December 24: Christmas Eve
  • December 25: Christmas Day
  • December 26: Boxing Day
  • December 31: New Year’s Eve

By Brynn Low
Marketing4ECPs

As a Content & SEO Specialist at Marketing4ECPs, Brynn spends her days creating content that ranks for eye care practices all over North America. You can reach Brynn at marketing4ecps.com.