VSP Blog

What we call a “rainbow” is the spectrum of light energy from the sun that we can see. At each end of this visible light are other forms of invisible energy— from radio waves to x-rays. Some of this energy is in the form of ultraviolet waves, or UV. UV is not normally visible, but you might have seen its purplish glow from a special “black light” bulb that makes things glow in the dark.

While we can’t see ultraviolet radiation, it can see—and harm—us if we are not careful. Even on an overcast day, UV light from the sun can cause sunburn of our

skin and the cornea of our eyes, which is called “photokeratitis.” Over a long time, it can increase your chance of cataracts (a clouding of the lens of the eye) and damage to your retina that might lead to total blindness.

Sunscreen protects your skin from overexposure to UV rays. Proper lenses can safely block UV radiation and protect your eyes.

Be Glare Aware!
Glare, or extreme brightness, can be distracting and even dangerous. The direct rays of the sun are the most powerful source of glare and UV radiation, but glare can also be reflected off roads, buildings, water, and snow. Special “polarized” lenses reduce or eliminate glare and reflections. They work by selectively absorbing the reflected glare while transmitting useful light from the scene.

Source: eyedidntknowthat.com

Good health starts with you! It’s about eating right, exercising, and having the courage to make changes in your life. VSP’s GetFIT Program is designed to help you do just that.

Are you ready for a change?

There’s strength in numbers. Studies have shown that to reach your personal wellness goals you need encouragement and the right resources. Whether it’s a friend, co-worker, spouse or personal trainer it’s best to start with a team of support.

VSP’s GetFIT Teams

VSP currently has 41 teams made up of 281 employees participating in a 16-week GetFIT session. It’s week 13, and they’re gearing up for a great finish. So far teams have logged more than 700,000 minutes of exercise and 12 million steps. Way to go!

Get Started!

Would you like to start your own GetFIT team? This program has been so successful internally, that we’ve made it available for you to participate, too. You can access the GetFIT program resources through our web site. Let us know how it works for you!

Fabio Calabria became the first rider with type 1 diabetes to finish the Tour of Missouri on September 13. Read how he managed his diabetes along the way on Team Type 1′s blog.

Photos by Casey B. Gibson

The sixth stage of the Tour of Missouri was one of the most picturesque. Beginning in the quaint town of Chillicothe, Mo., and traveling west to St. Joseph, Team Type 1 and the rest of the field averaged 29 mph for the 110 miles – a record for any stage of the Tour of Missouri.

Here’s a look, in photos, at what transpired Saturday:

Team Type 1 soigneur Sergey Davidenko (left) makes sure Moises Aldape has everything he needs before the race – including his Nike Max Optics sunglasses.

Every day that he has worn the Michelob Ultra King of the Mountains jersey, Aldape has started in the front row.

Michael Creed tucked his Nike Max Optics away in an unusual place for a few miles.

After a long day in the saddle, Aldape gets to showcase the team and his Nike Max Optics sunglasses on the podium.

Melissa Warren just came back from a trip to St. Louis representing VSP Vision Care and sharing the message about the importance of annual eye exams.

VSP was part of the Tour of Missouri’s Health EXPO which took place on Monday, September 7, at the first stage of the race in St. Louis. It was very exciting to be back in this city interacting with the community. We met lots of VSP members who were happy to see us. It was great to hear from people who loved their VSP benefit and planned to re-enroll in their plan. We gave out backpacks and eyecare information. We even met people who were wearing VSP backpacks they got from us last time we were in town.

Clarkson Eyecare joined us at the event and helped work the booth. They were great to work with and full of eyecare tips for people who stopped by with questions. Our booth was positioned right in between Team Type 1 and the American Diabetes Association. This was a great way for all of our organizations to team up and show our support for diabetes.

We look forward to making it back to St. Louis again in the future!

Team Type 1 Founder Phil Southerland is following the team as it competes in the Tour of Missouri. In this exclusive diary entry for VSP Vision Care, the second-year professional describes his experiences of the first four days of the race.

There are two completely different viewpoints in my two major tours in the United States this year. At the Amgen Tour of California, I was looking through my eyewear, with the wind blowing in my face at 30 miles an hour and the director of the team was telling me what to do through my earpiece.

This time, I’m one of those guys talking to them through the earpiece. It’s hard to know what the riders are going through when you’re sitting in the car. But Vassili Davidenko, Gord Fraser and I are trying to give them the best advice to achieve our mission for the day.

This tour has been great for Team Type 1. All eight of our riders are out there in their VSP glasses. Fabio Calabria and Matt Wilson just had their eyes examined and got new glasses a few weeks before the race. So they know they’re seeing the state with 20/20 vision. Between Moises Aldape taking the Most Aggressive Rider jersey the first day and then the King of the Mountain jersey and Matt also wearing the Most Aggressive Rider jersey – and being in the breakaway three of the past four days – this race has been a success for us.

We have also gotten a great reception from the fans and the media. We’re thrilled to tell our story. Not only are we different from every other team, we also have a unique message. And at this race, we’ve been one of the most competitive teams. So it’s been a tremendous opportunity to share our story.

Today is the time trial and we’ve got a couple cards to play in Darren Lill and Mike Creed. We hope to secure a couple top 10 positions, which will be tough with a field of this caliber. Saturday and Sunday it’s “game On” with our aggressive style of racing. We’ll be chasing time bonuses, King of the Mountain points (trying to hang onto that jersey) and securing our place as one of the most talented teams at this year’s Tour of Missouri.

As we roll up and down the hills we’re letting the world know what you can do with good control of your diabetes. Fabio has been a good example of that throughout the peaks and valleys of Missouri.