Question: If you could ask Bill Nye about any eye care related topic, what would it be?
VSP is working with Bill Nye (yes, the Science Guy!) on a series of videos that look at eye health topics and myths. As we get ready to shoot the videos this week, we’d love to hear what eye-related myths you’d like Bill to explore. Just comment to this post with your eye-related question, and Bill Nye just might confirm or debunk yours.
Sara J. is an account executive for Altair Eyewear.
I had what I thought was a unique experience at an upscale restaurant recently. The sommelier was walking my group through the evening’s wine choices when his glasses caught my eye. It wasn’t the style (a very trendy, black Buddy-Holly type frame) that I noticed as much as the fact that the lenses looked…different. My dinner companions all happened to be fellow Altair Eyewear employees so I knew they noticed as well (we all seem to obsessively check out people’s frames) and eventually the most outspoken one in our bunch threw the question out there: “Excuse me, but if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me what kind of lenses you have in your glasses?” The sommelier’s response? “Um, these are the plastic lenses that they came with. I saw these and had to have them-I don’t even need to wear glasses!” We all had a good laugh about it with him, but it made me think-it seems like I see people wearing trendy glasses without an Rx everywhere now! As it turns out, my observation is correct, and, according to the NY Daily Times, men are wearing these “fakes” just as much as women are, and for the same reasons. Who knows-if this trend continues, maybe we’ll see glasses become just as popular an accessory for men as belts, watches and shoes?
Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.
We welcome back Dr. Kestenbaum with a post on allergies and how you can help ease the itchy, watery eyes that come with them.
Every year, I stock up on over-the-counter allergy eye drops and pre-write prescriptions for allergy medications in anticipation of the droves of patients reporting to me with eye allergy symptoms. These symptoms include itchy, red and watery eyes, a gritty feeling and reduced contact lens tolerance. These symptoms are caused by airborne allergens including pollen, mold, dust and pet dander.
The best way to treat allergies is to avoid the allergens that cause them. But, given the reality that life brings, we all know that this is nearly impossible. So we have to find alternative methods to treat the symptoms that allergies bring.
Sunglasses help to prevent pollen from blowing into your eyes especially on windy days. Staying indoors on bad allergy days is a choice for some. For others, contact lenses usually become difficult to wear during allergy season. But certain types of contact lenses approved by the FDA for people with allergies can also help to reduce symptoms. Read more »
New York Times' first mention of the contact lens.
Did you know that the first usable contact lens was made in 1888 from blown glass? It’s a fact.
You can find this, and other interesting historical anecdotes about contact lenses in a recently published New York Times article.
Take a look; it’ll give you a fresh perspective on something many of us take for granted.
As I toss my daily, UV-blocking, soft contact lenses in the trash, I give thanks for technological advances.
First Mention: Contact Lens, 1930
Content and image courtesy of the New York Times.
Appearing this morning on Good Morning America, a new study shows that nearsightedness is up 66 percent since the 1970s.
Will B. works in VSP’s Customer Service department, part of our fabulous team that achieved the prestigious Service Quality Measurement, Inc. (SQM) Award of “World Class Customer Satisfaction” for the seventh year in a row! He shares his experience as a first time Mobile Response Team (MRT) member with the VSP Mobile Eyes® program.
I was fortunate enough to be selected to go on the last Mobile Eyes trip for 2009 and am quickly experiencing first hand, the work is truly some of the most rewarding work I have done with VSP.
We are half way done with our trip to Central California, and so far everything is running smoothly. Before the trip, I had a general idea of what to expect. I was impressed that we have most everything onboard that you would find in a VSP doctor’s office. We can read the prescription off the patient’s current glasses, we can test for Glaucoma and even do an auto-refraction for the doctor. The VSP doctors who come on board and provide the exams have everything they need to complete a comprehensive exam. They even dilate patient’s eyes if they need to get a closer look.
Andy G. is a member of VSP's Sales team.
Do you have problems applying eye drops? Do you tend to miss your eye and waste several drops down your cheek?
Then, you need the funnel vision frames.
OK, these frames aren’t really available under your VSP vision care benefits. They are just one of many Chindogu creations by Japanese inventor Kenji Kawakami.
The Japanese literal translation of Chindogu is “unusual tools.” Read more »
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…
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this VideoPress video.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!
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 Kirschbaum.
Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
One of my first tasks when I came on board was to gather data to put together a 2008 recap for the VSP Mobile Eyes program. Through my research I also found numerous updates and testimonials from the disaster relief we provided. Now that we have embarked on another fire season in California I was curious to find out more about the specifics of how this sort of disaster relief is managed. Here is what I found:
VSP has a team of four employees who make up the Disaster Response Team. This team receives notifications of natural disasters across the United States through a variety of channels. This includes a range of not such hi-tech ways like self-observation, news stories on TV, online and radio or e-emails sent to the team from VSP employees, doctors, clients or members to more specific monitoring of disaster sites such as InciWeb. Once a notification is received, the team starts by researching the area and looking up VSP doctors who may be affected. Even it’s only one or two doctors, outreach support is immediately started.
The team attempts to contact our doctors in a number of ways. Depending on the amount of doctors in the affected area, initial phone calls are made and e-mails are sent out. The e-mails are sent not only to the doctors, but also to regional contacts who we ensure are aware of the disaster and are asked to forward any communication they receive from doctors who may be affected.
Once it is determined there is a doctor who has been affected, either by needing to close their office due to evacuation or if their office or equipment has been damaged, we work with them to provide whatever support they may need. For example, if a doctor has lost their office, we may able to offer our Mobile Clinic to them to use to service their patients or people in the community until their office is back up and running. If the clinic is not an option, we also have ten sets of portable ophthalmic equipment we can loan free of charge to set up in an area they can work for as long as they need it. Or if their office is not damaged but does not have electricity or access to the internet, we will work with them to ensure they are able to submit paper claims the same as they would online.
This year, we are also utilizing our new social media channels. These are used in a variety of ways, including as an extension for communication to our doctors and members, as well as to help monitor additional situations that may arise where our doctors need assistance. We had an example of this in July when a news report was reported on Twitter about an SUV driving through the wall of one our VSP doctor’s office. We were able to contact the doctor, ensure everyone was OK and offer assistance. Fortunately, the doctor was able to schedule repairs to the office fairly quickly enabling them to stay open for business as usual, but they were appreciative knowing they had options available if need be.
VSP's Mobile Response and Disater Response teams.
This year our Disaster Response Team has already responded to 15 disasters, including the larger ones such as the flooding in North Dakota, tornadoes in Mississippi and, most recently, the California wildfires. It is a good feeling knowing that the company I work for not only provides “insurance” that contributes to a positive quality of life, but it also provides “assurance” during times when it is needed the most.
See much more