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Archive for October, 2009
Happy Halloween from VSP
Posted on October 30th, 2009 by Liz B.Bionic eye takes up one step closer to helping the blind, one-eyed cyborgs cringe with fear.
Posted on October 26th, 2009 by Vernon D.
The device receives wireless data from the camera which it then translates into electronic signals that are sent to the brain, restoring sight. (photo and caption courtesy of NPR)
Technology. Love it or hate it – it continues to shape and change the world. Second Sight Medical Products - a company based in Sylmar CA, is in the process of harnessing technology to help those with macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa. On their workbench, a bionic eye.
How it works. The bionic eye was designed to be paired with a special set of frames – frames that contain a small video camera. These frames send visual data to the implanted bionic eye, which in turn activates the eye to create electrodes sent to the brain. The brain interprets these electrodes as visual queues, helping the patient interact with the environment.
Results thus far. Patients can find doors and follow the lines of the door. Most patients cannot read [normal size print], and of those who have the ability to read can only make out large letters. On an interesting side note – there are emotional benefits resulting from these tests, which are probably not on the lab sheets. Brian Mech (VP for Second Sight) notes, “There’s a lot of crying, a lot of smiling,” he says. “It’s a sensory input that they haven’t had in a very long time, and so they’re excited.”
Blogger’s take: Initially I was a bit underwhelmed by the results, but the methodology and implementation of the bionic eye was mind blowing! Albeit in the early stages, I’m sure they are going to have greater results with further testing and development. Now only if they could get the eye to shoot lasers…
Via NPR
An east coast transplant helps in her new community.
Posted on October 26th, 2009 by Jessica G.
Green Dot New York students, Lori, and Liz.
Liz C. is a mobile response team member and is an Account Manger working within the VSP Field Sales department in our New Jersey regional office. She shares her recent first experience working on board SeeZar at the Green Dot Bronx event in New York.
While I’ve been a part of the Mobile Response Team since it first started about two years ago, I just recently had the opportunity to attend my first event at the Green Dot Public School in NY this week. Having recently moved to the east coast about 8 months ago it was nice to participate in a local event! I was so excited that I couldn’t fall sleep until midnight the night before even though I had to wake up at 5am. I felt a kid waiting to go to Disneyland. After almost a year since I saw SeeZar last, I smiled big as I saw him drive up and we headed off to the GreenDot school located in the Bronx area.
Computer Spectacles Escape Distraught Owner!
Posted on October 21st, 2009 by Patti S
Patti S. is a member of VSP's Ophthalmic Services team.
My morning ritual was interrupted in such a way that the remainder of my day will suffer. I was thrilled to discover that all my meetings were canceled, which means that I can envelope myself in small project that must be completed in a couple of days. Settling into my chair, I reached for my work glasses glazed with a pair of Near Variable Focus [NVF] lenses, but much to my horror, they were gone, as if they had sprouted wee little legs and scampered off to the place all lost eyewear longs to be.
I love these specs because they provide crisp, clear vision when I work on my computer and they let me position my head comfortably when doing so. It’s not that I can’t see out of my progressives when working, it’s just that the NVF lenses are considerably more comfortable. They’ll never replace my regular eyeglasses because the lenses lack any distance correction; they only correct near and intermediate vision. Read more »
VSP Global CEO Rob Lynch on the CEO Show
Posted on October 21st, 2009 by Liz B.
VSP Global CEO Rob Lynch was featured this week on the CEO Show, a radio program which goes “in depth with business leaders who have reinvented industry by creating customer experience organizations.”
During Rob’s segment, he discusses VSP Vision Care’s not-for-profit business model and the importance of not-for-profits in healthcare. Listen now.
Giving back goes both ways
Posted on October 20th, 2009 by Jill N
Lorie U. (right) poses with a patient after helping her select glasses.
Lorie U. is a mobile response team member and works in VSP’s Provider Services department. This is her second trip with the mobile clinic and she recounts her experience during the recent York, PA event.
Saturday, we broke a record by seeing 91 patients. We saw mothers, fathers, kids, grandparents…a wide array of people all with their own story.
At one point during the day, four sisters came in, little girls ages 3-8. They were not so sure about the idea of having glasses, none had them previously. One of the sisters tried on the Disney “Snow White” frames . When I asked her if she felt like a princess in the glasses, her face lit up, she giggled & nodded. I hope she feels like that every time she wears them. Read more »
MizzChievous Makeup Tips for Ladies Who Wear Glasses
Posted on October 20th, 2009 by Sara JAre you a woman who wears glasses and needs some makeup tips? This great video blog explaining how to appropriately apply makeup when you wear glasses just came to my attention. Although I don’t wear glasses, I watched it and actually picked up a few tips for myself. Check it out, it’s a great video!
By the way…that cute pair of glasses she’s wearing in the video blog is the Revlon 569, one of the brand new Revlon frames! You can view the whole collection at www.altaireyewear.com.
Now ladies, use those makeup tips, get yourself a new pair of glasses, and get ready to conquer the world!
Record Breaking First Event in York, PA
Posted on October 19th, 2009 by Jill N
David Wakefield is a VSP Friends and Family driver and husband of VSP employee, Shelly Wakefield. He shares his experience during his first event with the Mobile Eyes team in York, PA.
I came into this event with a blend of curiosity and apprehension, not really sure what to expect. The team was fired up and putting together their game plan and I followed along hoping to be useful and not in the way. We were scheduled to see 102 people today which would be a new record for a one day event. I found that everyone, from the VSP team to the doctors and rotary volunteers, were all motivated to work together to overcome the unknowns to make this event a success.
We set up and were ready to begin right on schedule. The patients began to trickle in and we were blessed with a slow but steady warm up. We were wondering if the bad weather would be keeping the people away, but we soon found that the need to see outweighed the desire to stay dry and the long lines began to form. I was tasked with operating the auto-refractor and had the opportunity to experience the personalities of every patient who came in. The mix of emotions was astounding but everyone had one thing in common, they wanted to be able to see. Read more »
Specs for Success at Animo Justice and Animo Ralph Bunche
Posted on October 19th, 2009 by Jessica G.
The clinic outside of the Animo Ralph Bunche and Animo Justice campus.
Wednesday was my first day working as a tech on our mobile clinic, and it put me to the test! On our day of a series of events in partnership with Green Dot Public Schools, we visited Animo Ralph Bunche and Animo Justice. These schools share the same campus, so we were able to help students from both schools from one location.
These students were amazing! The results of the Green Dot program are apparent after talking to the kids that we saw. They’d just finished taking their PSAT test, and were articulate, polite, and eager to get their eyes examined. Looking back on myself at that age, I could have taken a cue or two from their manners and poise.
All of the students loved the selection of eyewear on the clinic, and were totally excited about the great brands available to them. Who wouldn’t be glad to wear glasses from Fendi, Coach, or Sean John?
Eye Ride with Kyle
Posted on October 17th, 2009 by Liz B.
Renee M. is a member of VSP's Corporate Marketing & Brand Management team.
Read about a VSP employee’s adventure riding across the Golden Gate Bridge with Kyle Rose, a member of the 2009 Team Type 1 Elite/RAAM cycling team. There is even a video from a helmet camera!
See much more