The Eye on Diabetes campaign hits Austin, Texas tomorrow, August 27th. VSP Vision Care is partnering with the American Diabetes Association and the Texas Optometric Association to provide free eyecare, eyewear and diabetes screenings to underserved/underinsured Austin residents with or at-risk of diabetes.
VSP provider Dr. Laura Miller with Northwest Hills Eyecare spoke with FOX7 – KTBC to discuss the connection between eye exams and diabetes and to preview the Austin event.
VSP just launched a new, monthly e-newsletter called “EnVision.” Formerly known as “Eye on Health,” we redesigned it, made it more engaging and interactive, and added real-time information and tips on eye health and eyewear fashion – based on feedback received from readers earlier this year.
EnVision will allow VSP members to have easy access to view their benefits, find a doctor, as well as view the hottest trends in eyewear.
Just for fun!
Each monthly edition will highlight a prize to give away to one lucky reader. The prizes range from vacation destinations to the hottest electronic gadgets.
Check out the big reveal of the VSP Global Spark practice makeover, where Drs. Gary Yamada, Jill Yamada and Matthew Nishio get to see the final results of their redesigned office.
“I am overwhelmed,” said Dr. Jill Yamada. “Everything has exceeded our expectations.”
The entire makeover only took 72 hours to complete. The end result made a huge difference for the doctors, as well as their patients.
The VSP Global Spark program was launched recently, offering eye doctors makeover tips and tools to enhance the experience they provide to their patients while also helping to grow their business. Eyefinity/OfficeMate President Steve Baker hosts the series. You can watch him and the rest of the makeover crew in the entire series of webisodes at www.vspglobal.com/spark.
VSP is partnering with the Georgia Optometric Association and St. Mary’s Community Center this week to provide free eyecare and eyewear to children in need in Savannah, Georgia.
VSP’s brought its mobile eye clinic, SeeZar, to Savannah on Monday, and with the help of local optometrists, will continue this service to pre-selected children until Wednesday, August 11.
Here is a clip from WSAV-TV featuring a young patient seen on the clinic Monday, August 9.
Guest Blogger: Judy Malm, program manager for VSP’s Individual Plan.
Having access to vision insurance isn’t only through employers. VSP Vision Care offers individuals access to comprehensive vision coverage through it’s Individual Plan. Anyone in the U.S. can sign up to receive benefits that cover a comprehensive eye exam and glasses or contacts! Through the Individual Plan, you get to select from over 22,000 VSP doctors nationwide that’s right for you.
Don’t take our word for it, here’s what our Individual Plan members have to say:
“This plan is easy to use, convenient and quite affordable for my family,” said Dorothy Grubbs. “It’s the best eyecare plan we’ve ever had. My husband had VSP with a previous employer and we were so happy when it was available for individuals,” she added.
The plan was simple to use and a great reminder for my spouse and I to get an annual eye exam as part of our benefit, said Linda Farley. “It’s a great deal when we get the best care for our aging eyes, and we save money on the exam and new glasses every year,” she added.
With all the changes the economy has made to our lives, here is one thing we can hold on to. Go to www.vspforyou.com to find out more about the plan.
Guest Blogger: Nathan Bonilla-Warford, O.D. specializes in children’s vision, computer vision and orthokeratology. Dr. Warford practices in Tampa, FL at Bright Eyes Family Vision Care and is especially interested in the use of social media in eyecare.
Do you ever experience red or watery eyes, blurry vision or have difficulty focusing after an eight-hour day at work? Together these symptoms may result in computer-related eye problems, but someone can have them without working on a computer. The patients that come to my office often have physical and visual symptoms resulting from an office work environment. Here are some common symptoms and possible solutions to help your eye health during work.
Dry Eyes – Due to ventilation systems, dry air, dust or printer toner in the air, tears may not adequately coat and moisten the eye, leading to red, burning, or irritated eyes. When reading or using the computer, people tend to not blink as often, compounding the problem.
Solution: Blink more when reading or working at the computer. Your optometrist can evaluate and treat dry eyes if it’s a chronic problem.
Workstation Design Problems – If a person’s desk, chair, keyboard and computer monitor are not oriented properly, it can lead to rapid visual fatigue.
Solution: Place the screen 24 inches or more away from your face, and make sure it’s directly in front of and slightly lower than your eyes.
Visual Focusing Problems – The strain on your eyes when focusing on paper or a computer screen can become fatiguing over time. Some people have visual focusing and coordination problems that make reading or using a computer uncomfortable or cause headaches.
Solution: Take frequent breaks (20-20-20 rule: after 20 minutes of computer use, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds). You may also benefit from specific glasses prescribed for office work that help you focus at the correct distance.
If you experience symptoms such as red, irritated, burning eyes, headache or visual fatigue while at work, make an appointment with your VSP Vision Care provider. Effective treatment can include modifying your work area, using the proper prescription glasses, eye medications, or a program of therapeutic visual activities, referred to as vision therapy. One or all of these may be needed to keep your eyes and vision healthy and productive at work.
Download the complete Eye Health for the Workplace Guide written by Dr. Bonilla-Warford.
Computers have changed the way we see the world, but are they changing the way we see? In this video you’ll learn how eye strain, fatigue and headaches are common indicators that your digital devices — including computer monitors, smart phones and video games - might be causing you discomfort.
For more information about computer-related vision problems visit the “My Eyes” tab on VSP Vision Care’s Facebook page, and don’t forget to sign-up to win an iPad!
Check out the third webisode of the VSP Global Spark makeover, where Drs. Gary Yamada, Jill Yamada and Matthew Nishio get a practice makeover. Eyefinity/OfficeMate President Steve Baker hosts the series, and you can watch him and the entire makeover crew as they give a practice’s frame room an update in the latest installment.
The VSP Global Spark program was launched recently, offering eye doctors makeover tips and tools to enhance the experience they provide to their patients while also helping to grow their business.
Be sure to visit www.vspglobal.com/spark to catch the final episode and see how this makeover was achieved in just 72 hours!
Same Glasses Since '07
The votes are in and the winner of VSP’s Eyewear Makeover Contest is Angela Camacho! Angela received the most votes, out of over 200 Facebook fans. Go, Angela!
She will receive a free comprehensive eye exam from a vsp provider and prescription eyewear or sunwear from designer brands including Fendi, Coach, Calvin Klein and Tommy Bahama. Thank you to everyone who entered, there were some fabulous entries. Congratulations, Angela!
Continue to follow VSP on facebook and twitter for more contests.
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