Archive for September, 2009

VSP and Crocker Art Museum: Taking it to the streets!

Posted on September 30th, 2009 by Jessica G.

We know that VSP has an affinity for outreach programs. So, when we learned of the Crocker Museum’s Art Ark program, we knew it was a perfect fit!

VSP embarked on a one-year sponsorship of the Art Ark program, a mobile art museum that travels to schools in the Sacramento region, giving students access to art that they may not otherwise have. Art is so often a visual representation, sharing a close tie with healthy eyesight.

Bev Thorn is a Crocker Art Museum docent and a VSP employee.

Bev Thorn is a Crocker Art Museum docent and a VSP employee.

The Art Ark sponsorship isn’t VSP’s only support of the Crocker. VSP employees, such as Bev Thorn, are also active with the Crocker Art Museum. Bev, a 20-year veteran of volunteering at the Crocker, shares:

“I think it’s so awesome that VSP is sponsoring the Crocker’s Art Ark! Programs like art and music always seem to be among the first casualties of the budget ax, meaning fewer school kids get to visit the Crocker in person during these tough economic times.

The Art Ark is a perfect fit for VSP. Its traveling nature echoes the Mobile Clinics that support our eyecare outreach. And, it’s a perfect pairing with our ongoing commitment to kids through the Sight for Students® program.

I’ve been volunteering at the Crocker for years now. After 20 years of helping visitors engage with art in my role as a docent, I suppose I’m biased. But, the museum truly is an incredible asset to our region. And it’s going to get even bigger and better next year with the opening of major expansion.”

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Cheaters: Their Name and Their Nature

Posted on September 30th, 2009 by Patti S
Patti S. is a member of VSP's Ophthalmic Services team.

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

It’s difficult to wander down the aisles of almost any store without encountering racks of “high-fashion” frames bearing the answer to your presbyopic woes. Those drug-store readers beckon to many an unwary baby-boomer with promises of visual youth regained behind suave, yet sprightly, frames bejeweled with little glittery things all over. They may alleviate the frustration of small print and short arms, but do you really know what you’re not getting when you opt for this quickie fix to a problem that you’ll have to contend with for many years?

You don’t need a doctor’s prescription because you can just experiment until you find a pair that suits your elegant tastes and helps you see better. This might be OK when you’ve forgotten your prescription glasses at home and need something to get by with on vacation. If you’re foregoing regular eye exams, though, you’re cheating yourself out of something that has the potential to identify diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma, brain tumors, and high cholesterol, to name a few. Read more »

File under: Frames & Lenses, eye health | Tagged: , , , , ,
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Seeing the Future: Retinal Implants to Provide Vision for the Blind

Posted on September 25th, 2009 by Jessica G.
Models of the implant. Photo courtesy of wired.com

Model of the implant. Photo courtesy of wired.com

Yesterday, I came across a Wired article about a microchip in development at MIT that can be implanted in the eye, giving some vision to the blind.

 
What a truly beautiful use of technology. Using the hard tools of titanium and electrodes, science will be able to give the visually-impaired a chance to experience what most of us take for granted—being able to see enough to navigate in an unfamiliar room.
 
It made me stop and consider how technology has become an equalizer in so many ways. Check out the article to learn more.

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VSP Celebrates Diversity Through Music & Dance

Posted on September 24th, 2009 by Jill N

Did you know that the color, texture, and patterns of your eyes’ irises are as unique as your fingerprint? No two are alike! However, this fun fact isn’t the only reason why VSP is committed to inclusion and diversity. Diversity is a collection of the perspectives and characteristics of people, processes and functions. VSP believes it’s imperative that we understand and represent the diversity in all of the geographies, regions, cultures, and economic situations we serve as a global company. It only seems fitting that our headquarters are located in the Sacramento region, an area that has been recognized as one of the most diverse regions in the United States.

This weekend, VSP will be supporting the Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival. It is an opportunity to open more of those beautiful and unique eyes of the community to the cultural diversity of the Sacramento region through the presentation of an ethnic dance festival for all ages.

VSP employees had the privilege to receive a sneak peak of a few of the dances that will be showcased during the free festival on Sunday, September 27th in the Global Village area. Dancers from Spotlight Dance & Fitness performed a number of dances including the Samba Rumba, Cha-Cha and Salsa.

Video Warning: You may experience a little toe tapping…

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If you are in the Sacramento area, we encourage you to come to the free Global Village festival located in Old Sacramento which will feature interactive music, dance workshops, a tea garden with teas of the world, a children’s game and craft area and dance demos. The Global Village will also offer youth and adults hands on learning activities relating to the art, clothing, writing, and traditions of a rainbow of cultures. Look for the VSP booth which will be filled with fun activities so be sure to come by and show us how unique your irises are!

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Self-adjustable liquid glasses help those in need

Posted on September 23rd, 2009 by Vernon D.
Vernon D. is a member of VSP's Provider Services team.

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

A physics professor at the University of Oxford may have found a unique avenue to help those who don’t have access to eyeglasses in developing countries. Joshua Silver has developed frames with the unique ability to adjust to variable strengths, on-the-fly. One frame with the potential to serve millions without a visit to an optometrist?

Here’s a quick rundown on how those glasses work:

The secret of the self-refractive glasses is their lenses. They consist of clear membranes filled with silicon oil, protected by plastic discs. The wearer can adjust the amount of oil in the lenses using a dial fitted to a syringe on the arms of the glasses.

LiquidGlasses1
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File under: Disaster Relief, Frames & Lenses | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
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No access to vision coverage? See if VSP's Individual Plan is right for you.

Posted on September 22nd, 2009 by Liz B.
Liz B. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

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

Poking around on Twitter the last few days I’ve come across a few conversations from folks who don’t have vision insurance, but need eyecare and eyewear.

First I saw this …

heartniki My wombat needs glasses. No vision insurance. Bye bye money we don’t have. Uhg…

and then this …

DerekShaneLowe @baital I feel ya. My most recent pair of glasses cost me over $650…and that was with a 20% discount. I have no vision insurance either.

and finally …

surroundsoundud Chick got a man but wanna be on my health insurance, how does that work? Your teeth and vision are no longer my concern.

Picture 45

Make your own eyechart at http://seemuchmore.com

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Giving kids the gift of sight…and then some

Posted on September 21st, 2009 by Jill N
Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team - and a huge fan of NBA star Bobby Jackson.

Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team - and a huge fan of NBA star Bobby Jackson.

Yesterday VSP participated in an event that not only gave kids an opportunity to be successful in school by providing them with comprehensive eye exams, eyewear and school supplies, but also gave them another reason to smile – a chance to meet and play basketball with Bobby Jackson from the Sacramento Kings!

We spent the day with 40 Herman Leimbach elementary students, their families and school staff along with parents and students from two other elementary schools who conducted their own school supply fund raising effort for these students through a program called “Kids Helping Kids.”

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Bobby Jackson arrived to the absolute delight of the kids (and the parents!). They toured SeeLia, our mobile clinic, and helped a few of the students pick out their new frames from the dispensary located on the clinic.

Bobby Jackson and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson pose with VSP Drs. April Omoto and Stephanie Kirshbaum.

Bobby Jackson and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson pose with VSP Drs. April Omoto and Stephanie Kirschbaum.

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Burning, itching & watery eyes? You may have Computer Vision Syndrome.

Posted on September 21st, 2009 by Liz B.

Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.

Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.

Today we welcome VSP provider Joel Kestenbaum, O.D. from Long Island N.Y. His guest blog gives an overview of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and tips to resolve CVS symptoms.

Everyday patients complain of blurred vision and burning or itchy eyes. More often than not, these people are spending overwhelming amounts of time at the computer at work and at home.  They are developing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

Practicing healthy computer vision hygiene is just as important as brushing your teeth and taking a shower … and its results can dramatically improve your comfort and productivity at work.

Here are a few simple steps to keep your vision healthy starting with the “20/20/20 Rule.” What’s with all the 20′s?  It goes a little something like this.

  • 20 minutes using the computer- in which you focus intently upon the screen.
  • 20 second break – take a 20 second break after you have focused on the screen for 20 minutes
  • 20 feet away – focus your eyes upon something roughly 20 feet away for this 20-second break.

What happens if you use the computer for long periods of time without a break?

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    Photo courtesy of Indiana University.

  1. Headaches
  2. Neck and upper back aches
  3. Blurry vision during and after computer use
  4. Eye strain, possibly causing changes in vision
  5. Burning, itching and watery eyes
  6. Overall loss of short-term focus until eyes adjust.

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Kyle Rose Shares How He Manages Diabetes

Posted on September 16th, 2009 by Karen A.

VSP held a 24-hour spinathon to raise awareness about diabetes and support the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure. Here’s a video of Team Type 1′s Kyle Rose at this event sharing the tools he uses to manage diabetes.

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My Mom and Diabetes – A VSP Employee's Personal Story

Posted on September 16th, 2009 by Lee Anne P
Jeannette Whiteman and her mom.

Jeannette Whiteman and her mom.

 

In support of the American Diabetes Association’s upcoming Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes, Jeanette Whiteman from VSP’s Provider Services team, shares her mother’s journey with diabetes.

What was your first experience with diabetes?
I didn’t personally know of anyone who had diabetes until my mom was diagnosed in her fifties with Type 2 diabetes.

How has it affected you and your family?
My mom did not get her eyes examined yearly, so by the time she noticed changes in her vision, diabetic retinopathy had already begun. She became legally blind and later had to go on dialysis. Her way of life had drastically changed, and our family rallied together to adjust. Even though my mom went through some tough times, she remained positive, and tried to be as active as she could. She even learned to play the piano after she became blind!

 

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File under: Uncategorized, VSP in the Community, diabetes, eye health, healthcare | Tagged: , , , , ,
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