Daily peek at eyecare
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…
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.
Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
With the current California Wildfires in full force, VSP wants to remind our doctors, members and non-members of disaster relief services available from VSP, if you are affected by the fires or any type of natural disaster.
VSP Network Doctors in affected areas:
Please email vspoutreach@vsp.com or call 800.852.7600 ext. 5697 to let us know how you are doing and if your office is damaged or closed. We are available to offer any assistance you may need so you can continue to provide care to your patients.
VSP Members in affected areas:
If you have lost or broken your glasses due to a disaster and need replacements, you (or your VSP doctor’s office) can call VSP’s Customer Care at 800.877.7195 for an authorization for new services.
Station Fire in Southern California, Sept 1, 2009.
Non-VSP members in affected areas:
If you are a non-VSP member and have lost or broken your glasses due to a disaster and need replacements, you may request a free VSP eyecare voucher from the local American Red Cross.
To find VSP doctor locations, use the “Find a Doctor” feature on vsp.com or contact Customer Care at 800.877.7195.
Smoke and bad air quality can affect your eyes. See tips to protect your eyes from the effects.
Photo: Getty Images
Jessica G. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
Every day, we hear about the latest “super food” that does everything from promoting weight loss to honing your memory. While nutritional fads may come and go, some foods do contain specific vitamins and antioxidants that help prevent eye diseases and promote overall eye health.
One of my favorites: the avocado. Beyond its inherently delicious flavor and buttery-smooth texture, the flesh of the avocado contains high levels of vitamins C, B6, and E, as well as the crucial antioxidant, Lutein. Lutein helps to reduce the risk of eye conditions, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Beyond its abundance in avocados, lutein can also be found in fruits and veggies with brightly-colored flesh, or in dark leafy greens.
Avocados can be an acquired taste. Even though I’m a native Californian and have had access to exceptional produce my whole life, I’ve only learned to love the avocado somewhat recently. For those who haven’t yet embraced this ugly duckling of the fruit world, here’s a quick, easy, and delicious introduction to the avocado: guacamole, my style.
Tamiko M. is a member of VSP's Provider Services team.
Some memories are stored through sound. Saturday mornings as a child – Earth, Wind & Fire over the hum of my mother’s vacuum, Don Cornelius wishing me “love, peace and soul”. Other memories are tied to taste. Pittsburgh, PA – perfect pillows of pierogi or the surprising balance of tang and salt in a Primanti Bros. sandwich.
Though all of my senses impact the way I experience the world, vision seals the deal. Most of my favorite moments were experienced overwhelmingly through vision.
A life this rich requires vision. For my best chance at new sights I have an annual comprehensive eye exam with my private practice VSP eye doctor. I also work to maintain my overall health to keep my risk for diabetes, a leading cause of blindness, low. I hope you will too.
I would love to hear about (and see) your favorite visual experiences. Do you have photos to share? E-mail us! You may see your photos here.
A baby in Baby BanZ
July is UV Protection Month – a reminder to wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection. I for one enjoy wearing a fabulous pair of sunglasses, but often see parents struggling to keep a hat on their small kids, much less a pair of sunwear. Don’t forget about the little ones and their eye protection. In addition to slathering on sunscreen to protect skin cells from the sun’s rays, remember the sun can burn the eyes just like the skin, and most damage occurs before maturity.
One of our latest followers on Twitter, Baby BanZ, offers super cute sunwear and swim goggles with 100% UV protection and neoprene straps to secure on the child’s face. Send us your photos of your kids in sunglasses! We’ll share on the VSP Blog …
Sara B. is part of VSP's Finance team.
Forget about making that dash to the soda machine. Don’t even think of having a Diet Coke with that Chipotle burrito! Feeling thirsty? Why not reach for a tall, refreshing, nutritional glass of carrot juice? Yes, you heard me correctly; I said carrot juice! Not only is carrot juice good for your overall health, but it is excellent for your eyes, too!
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which our bodies are able to convert into vitamin A. Vitamin A is vital for eye health; in fact, vitamin A deficiency can cause poor vision, including night vision. However, research suggests that incorporating vitamin A into your diet aids in fighting vision problems like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and night blindness.
Why is eyesight so important? Because, our eyes are our windows to the world and we are constantly using them. Just think of how much strain we put on our eyes daily—from sitting in front of the computer all day at work, watching TV when we get home, reading before bedtime, or driving at night. Since we are using our eyes every second of the day, we need to take extra care of them to ensure they stay healthy.
Jessica G. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
I’m pretty competitive. To be totally honest, VERY competitive. This manifests itself in various ways, up to and including taking online tests of all types. So, when I found the Munsell Hue Test, I thought I was up to the challenge. Just rearrange the colors according to hue. How hard can it be?
The test is based on the Munsell color system, developed by Albert Munsell at the turn of the 20th century as a way to identify colors in a scientific fashion. He based the system on three elements: hue (the actual color); value (lightness); and chroma (color “purity”). The system allowed for a standardized perception of color, and forms of it are still in use today.
Scoring on the hue test is like golf – the lower the score, the better you’ve done. I took the test and scored 21 out of 99. Thinking that was a pretty respectable score, I posted it to my Facebook page, throwing down the gauntlet for my friends.
Lo and behold, my husband scores a 4! And that’s quickly followed by a perfect score of zero from one of the graphic designers here at VSP. I suppose that’s one of the reasons why she’s so awesome at what she does. For the time being, I’ll keep my day job.
It amazes me what minuscule nuances our eyes can discern (some more than others!). Learn more about how eyes detect color.
Why don’t you see how you rate? Take the test now, and share your score in the comments.
