2009 August | VSP Blog

Archive for August, 2009

Your Child's First Eye Exam: Six Easy Steps to Prepare for the Eye Doctor

Posted on August 31st, 2009 by Jessica G.

We welcome Dr. David Kisling back to the VSP Blog. Dr. Kisling is a VSP network doctor and guest blogger. Today’s post helps parents take the anxiety out of a child’s pre-school eye examination.

Dr. Kisling is a VSP network optometrist practicing in Ft. Collins, CO.

Is your preschooler or kindergartner ready for their first eye exam? There are critical times to have eye check ups, and this is when you as a parent typically start to have concerns that your child can see his or her best. The onset of the school year brings in many young children to the eye doctor’s office for the first time. Some of them are very anxious because their experience with doctors has normally been associated with sickness and pain.

You can help alleviate your child’s anxiety about going to see the optometrist with six easy steps:

Explain this is a fun type of doctor’s office without shots. Advise them they will need to answer a few questions as best as they can and there are no right or wrong answers. Assure them if they do need glasses they will get to help pick out colors and shapes they like. If they need vision correction, give them some ownership of the process. If it is determined they need glasses, make positive statements of how much they will enjoy seeing the leaves on the trees and their favorite movies.
Prepare them for eye drops. You can refer to them as tickle drops that make their eyes tickle for a few seconds. Yes, they do sting briefly, but when I tell children they will probably tickle a few seconds that is what usually happens. Right after drops are put in the eye I start asking children questions to distract them for the first minute or so. If they are thinking about something and answering questions they don’t feel the drops. You can do the same thing by barraging them with questions that have happy answers. Read more »

File under: Frames & Lenses, eye health | Tagged: back to school, children, eye exams, eye health, eyecare, InfantSEE, kids' glasses, private practice eye doctors, Sight for Students
3 Comments »

BlissTree – Coach Sunglasses Giveaway

Posted on August 31st, 2009 by Liz B.

Parker, from the Coach Eyewear Collection

Popular lifestyle blog BlissTree is conducting a giveway contest featuring the latest Coach sunglasses! Six winners will be selected and entry is simple. Visit the BlissTree VSP Vision Care Coach Giveaway for all the details.

File under: Frames & Lenses, Fun | Tagged: Coach, contest, frame, lenses, see much more, sunglasses, sunwear, UV protection, vsp blog
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From the Road – Galveston Visit – Part 1

Posted on August 28th, 2009 by Niki M.

Niki M. is a VSP Mobile Clinic Operations Manager.

With just a few weeks short of the one year anniversary to our nation’s 3rd most destructive hurricane, I had the honor to return to Galveston, TX this week. Hurricane Ike is estimated to have caused $24 billion in damage and devastated a majority of the city and all of our Galveston VSP doctor’s offices.

Last year, SeeZar, our first mobile clinic, responded within one week when Ike touched down on September 13 as a category 2 hurricane. We sent a great group of VSP mobile response team members to staff the mobile clinic for a little over 6 weeks of disaster relief. I was one of those staff members and spent over 4 weeks there. There were many amazing, heartbreaking, emotional stories we heard from people in the community of how they lost their homes, pets, and even sometimes family members. I had never been a part of a natural disaster, so not only was it an experience that I will never forget, but it also gave me a whole new appreciation for life and those I love.

A VSP doctor's office devastated from Hurricane Ike.

We made many good friends during that period of time, including our VSP doctors in the area, all of whom our hearts still go out to. There were 4 VSP doctor’s offices that were either flooded (some with 6 feet of water!) or had trees fall into their buildings, caved-in roofs, or other major damage that left them unable to work until repaired. Most offices had to be completely gutted and rebuilt from scratch. One of the great things that VSP does with our community outreach program is pay the doctors to work on the mobile clinics during disasters, so they are able to make money while the work to get back to business as usual.

During natural disasters, it is important to VSP, not only give out free exams and glasses, but also help our doctors in need.

Niki with Drs. Matocha and Ullman and staff.

We had the honor of working side by side with many of these great doctors in Galveston. Dr. Ngala, Dr. Juarez, Dr. Matocha, Dr. Ullman, and Dr. Zein-Eldin were a few of the doctors that we were able to work with. Naturally, working with these doctors 6 days a week, for 8 – 12 hours a day, seeing up to 65 patients per day, we created a bond.

File under: Disaster Relief | Tagged: charitable eyecare, disaster, eyecare, hurricane, Hurricane Ike, private practice eye doctors, Texas, VSP Mobile Eyes
1 Comment »

EyeWriter helps the disabled by enabling them to draw/write with eye movement only.

Posted on August 27th, 2009 by Vernon D.

Vernon D. is a member of VSP's Provider Services team.

Hot on the heels of some weird guy’s post, EyeWriter allows users to manipulate computer drawing programs with only their eye movements.

The EyeWriter project is on ongoing collaborative research effort to empower people, who are suffering from ALS, with creative technologies. The project began in Los Angeles, Caifornia in 2009, when members of the GRL, FAT, OF and TEG communities teamed-up with a legendary LA graffiti writer, publisher and activist, named Tony Quan, aka TEMPTONE. Tony was diagnosed with ALS in 2003. The disease has left him almost completely physically paralyzed… except for his eyes. But, the ALS hasn’t touched Tony’s sharp mind, creative energy or his desire to write graffiti. In August of 2009, artist from around the world: London, Hong Kong, Madrid, Amsterdam and New York City, converged for 10 days in southern California, converted Mick and Caskey Ebeling’s Venice Beach house into a laboratory and began to work with Tony on a low-cost, open source eye-tracking system that would allow ALS patients to draw using just their eyes. Read more.

Though still in the early developing stages, this looks great!

SE2 EP4 – Eyewriter Tempt LA from Evan Roth on Vimeo.

Via Jailbreak

File under: Frames & Lenses, Fun | Tagged: art, eyeglasses, eyewear, graffiti, innovation, TEMPTONE, vsp blog, VSP Labs
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Does The Frame Make The Man Or Woman?

Posted on August 27th, 2009 by Brian B.

Brian B. is a member of VSP's Customer Care team.

Well folks it’s that time of year… time for new glasses. If you are anything like me, picking the right pair of frames is crucial. I have to find the right balance between stylish and professional and something that I can afford. Every year I feel this pressure to pick my frames and place my order right away. I decided that this year it was going to be fun. I called a couple of friends and formulated a plan. We would go look at frames together and then go to lunch. No pressure just good times with good friends.

A couple of weekends ago we put our plan to the test. We went to five offices, wrote down some styles, took a couple of pictures and laughed. Over our lunch, the conversation changed from what we had seen to how the frame that you choose is a reflection of you and or your status.

I look for style and not brands, however in contras Karl t one of my friends will only wear a name-brand frame, this year he was predetermined to buy Karl Lagerfeld frames. When I inquired why, he explained that as an artist they project to the world that he is successful.

I am not sure how much growing up in a small Oregon town, where name brands weren’t an option has helped sculpt my personal style, however when I shop it’s more important that I like the product than who makes the product.

What do you think? Does the name on the frame make the man or woman?

I did pick out new frames… want to see? Well you will have to wait just a little while more.

File under: Frames & Lenses, Fun | Tagged: eyeglasses, eyewear, frame, Karl Lagerfeld, sunglasses, sunwear
1 Comment »

Eye Surgery … Good luck with that!

Posted on August 25th, 2009 by Liz B.

Connie V. is VSP's Industry Relations Manager within Provider Services.

Guest Blog: Connie V. VSP’s Industry Relations Manager, recounts her recent eye surgery.

I go to the eye doctor once a year for my comprehensive eye exam, glasses, and contact lenses. My eye doctor, Dr. Sheilah Titus suggests I see an ophthalmologist once a year because I have narrow angles. I think I heard her explain it to me as the angle between my iris and cornea is so small or narrow that the fluid has a hard time passing between the back and front of my eye. This can lead to glaucoma.
Between my ophthalmologist and optometrist it was decided at my last visit it was time for me to have a preventative surgery called laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) to make sure I don’t end up with glaucoma in my later years. My doctor said, “it’s no big deal, you show up with no eye make up, we laser a hole in the iris in both eyes, then you go home, no big deal.”

I didn’t really give it much thought, I told friends and family about it and the reaction was the same, “Eye surgery … good luck with that, yuk!” On Friday, the hospital nurse called to make sure she had all the correct information including the person who was driving me and would be responsible in case something went wrong. Just in case something went wrong?!

I thought this was no big deal! Now I’m nervous. I’m used to taking people for procedures – not having procedures. The night before the surgery I didn’t sleep. I thought about some kind of brace on my eye lids keeping my eyes open and from moving. Every time I shut my eyes that’s all I could think of.

File under: eye health | Tagged: contacts, eye exams, eye health, eye surgery, eyecare, laser peripheral iridotomy, laser surgery
1 Comment »

A Meandering Journey Through seemuchmore.com

Posted on August 24th, 2009 by Sara P

Sara P. is an account executive for Altair Eyewear.

Everyone here is talking about the new VSP site seemuchmore.com. I’ve spent a great deal of time on there clicking every moving object, answering poll questions, and cruising around making sure I haven’t missed a single image, quote or fact. My favorite graphic is the hot air balloon with the money that drops down, because after all, who doesn’t want money dropping from the sky? I decided chronicling my journeys on the site would be a good way to highlight just a few of the things that caught my attention. And, maybe, inspire YOU to check it out too!

August 18, 2009: First look at seemuchmore.com. I was immediately intrigued by the color scheme, graphics and the concept behind the site. I watched the dad and son graphic for a few minutes, then clicked into the site. The plane image with the “See Eye Care Tips” banner was practically screaming to be clicked first, so I succumbed and my attention was immediately caught by the tip that popped up: “Wear sunglasses when exercising outdoors to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.”

File under: Frames & Lenses, Fun, Uncategorized | Tagged: eyecare, Harry Potter glasses, open enrollment, seemuchmore, sunwear, UV protection, vision benefit enrollment, vision benefits, VSP Vision Care
1 Comment »

"See Much More" with VSP

Posted on August 19th, 2009 by Liz B.

Liz B. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

Did you know that for every optometrist there are 23 hair stylists? Or that computer eyestrain is the number one workplace complaint? See Much More with VSP. VSP has launched a new interactive website today with fun facts, videos, tips and savings information!

Take a look, tell your friends, fan us on Facebook, and visit often for new applications videos. Most importantly – during open enrollment with your employer – choose VSP and our network of 26,000 eyecare providers for your vision care needs. Not offered vision benefits at work? VSP offers an individual plan.

File under: VSP Blog News | Tagged: eyecare, eyecare savings, eyecare tips, eyecare videos, see much more, vision benefits, VSP Facebook, VSP Vision Care
3 Comments »

The Perfect Pair-Part 2

Posted on August 18th, 2009 by Patti S

Patti S. is a member of VSP's Ophthalmic Services team.

I believe you should really consider the addition of an anti-reflective [AR] coating when filling your child’s lens prescription. A lot of people may cringe at this suggestion because we all know the little buggers can be hard on their lenses. Anyone who’s purchased a pair of glasses with an AR coating knows that they usually come with a special little cloth and cleaning instructions designed to encourage proper care and the preservation of your investment. The instructions should apply to any lens, regardless of material, and the little microfiber cloth, or similarly soft material, should be used to clean any lens—coated or not. Lenses are expensive and require appropriate care. If your kid wears spectacles, he or she needs to be taught what that care is, because if coated lenses can’t be treated with respect, then uncoated ones will suffer at least as badly. I say “at least” because the world of anti-reflective coatings has evolved. Read more »

File under: Frames & Lenses, Uncategorized, eye health | Tagged: AR coating, children, eyewear, kids' glasses, lenses
3 Comments »

Harry Potter Saves the Day-Kids Get Excited about their Eyewear During Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month!

Posted on August 17th, 2009 by Sara P

Sara P. is part of the Altair sales team.

Kids are always inspired to look and act like their heroes. I remember growing up, my hero was She-Ra (she was the twin sister of He-Man, Master of the Universe, for those of you not in the know). I had all the action figures, and I would put my hair in a high ponytail like She-Ra and reenact my favorite scenes from the show. Her clothing choices were a little questionable, so Mom didn’t allow me to actually dress like her, but my point in bringing this She-Ra up is that kids are always looking for heroes to emulate. Even if I couldn’t wear She-Ra’s weird clothing, I could wear her crazy ponytail and imitate her sword-wielding ways.

Nowadays, kids have different choices for heroes but they’re still looking for someone to look up to. Harry Potter is an international phenomenon-the bestselling book series spurred blockbuster movies. Everyone, whether they like him or not, knows who Harry Potter is and what his trademarks are-his scar and his round glasses. He’s “The Boy Who Lived” and he fights for good, although with a wand instead of a sword. At Halloween, the streets get taken over by swarms of kids wearing fake scars, waving their wands, and of course, the most key piece of the costume, the round glasses!

Now, call me a conspiracy theorist, but I do not find it a random coincidence that the latest Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” was released on July 15th, 2009, and shortly thereafter, Harry Potter-style glasses starting flying off the shelves. And, coincidentally, short on the heels of the movie’s release, August is also Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month. It’s a perfect time to get kids educated and excited about their eye health and wearing their glasses…thank you, Harry, for making wearing glasses so cool!