It’s that time of year again! Have you used all of your remaining vision insurance benefits?

What Is Vision Insurance?

Whether you received your vision insurance through an employer or you enrolled in a plan on your own, you may be curious how it works. Each plan differs based on your insurance provider and your level of coverage, but most plans have the same basic function.

Vision insurance plans are health and wellness plans designed to lower the out-of-pocket cost of routine eye care. This often includes eye exams and prescription eyewear. Some plans even offer discounted rates on vision correction surgery. Each provider has a wide range of benefits, so be sure to speak with your employer or insurance provider to understand what benefits are available to you.

Check out the video below to see why you should take advantage of the comprehensive eye exams included in your insurance plan:

Vision Insurance Differs From Other Insurance Policies

Most vision insurance policies differ from other major medical policies. For instance, many regular health insurance policies provide unlimited benefits after you pay a certain co-pay or meet a predetermined deductible. Vision insurance plans, however, are known as discount or wellness benefit plans that offer specific benefits and discounts when you pay an annual insurance premium.

Because of this key difference, it’s important you get the most out of your vision insurance each year! Many plans offer significant discounts on comprehensive eye exams, eyeglass frames, eyeglass and contact lenses, and lens enhancements such as anti-reflective coatings. Since these benefits are discounts based on an annual premium, they don’t roll over to the next year if left unused—meaning you’d lose out on free or drastically discounted services.

Make An Appointment Before It’s Too Late!

We want to help you get the most out of your vision insurance benefits each and every year. If you have any questions about your vision insurance plan, feel free to give us a call! We’d love to work with you to meet your family’s eye care needs.

Thank you for continuing to place your trust in our practice.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Is your vision a priority when you’re playing sports? Eye Injuries Can Happen When You Least Expect Them

The crisp smell of freshly cut grass on the soccer field, the gleam of the basketball court before a game, the cheering fans at the football stadium, the feeling of the baseball bat, familiar in your hands…There’s no doubt about it–playing sports can be a magical thing.

Unfortunately, that magic can be shattered in an instant. No one understands this better than Aroldis Chapman, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher. In March of 2014, then pitching for the Cincinnati Reds, the four-time All-Star was hit in the eye by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez. After extensive treatment, including surgery, Chapman was lucky to retain full visual capacity and return to the game later that season.

While you or your child may not experience this type or level of injury, sports related eye injuries happen frequently and unexpectedly, and can have severe repercussions as serious as permanent vision loss.

Watch out for these signs or symptoms of sports related eye injuries:

• Pain when looking up and/or down, or difficulty seeing
• Tenderness
• Sunken eye
• Double vision
• Severe eyelid and facial swelling
• Difficulty tracking
• The eye has an unusual pupil size or shape
• Blood in the clear part of the eye
• Numbness of the upper cheek and gum
• Severe redness around the white part of the eye

Know The Risks

Did you know that there are approximately 100,000 sports related eye injuries each year? 30,000 of those are sustained by children. While that may seem frightening, we’d like to emphasize that 90 percent of sports related eye injuries can be prevented through the proper use of protective eyewear.

It’s important to know what the risks are for the specific sport you are involved in, as certain sports are riskier than others. For example, baseball, hockey, basketball, water polo and racquet sports result in more eye injuries than other sports. In addition, different types of sports may pose unique risks. Cyclists, skiers and snowboarders (to name a few) are more in danger of radiation injuries caused by exposure to the sun.

Wearing protective eyewear may not be able to completely protect your eyes in all cases, but it can drastically reduce the frequency and severity of sports related eye injuries. Talk to us about the sports you and your child are involved in. We can recommend the most effective type of eyewear and gear for the specific sports you participate in.

Your Vision Is Precious

Sports related eye injuries can change a person’s life in an instant. As the saying goes, prevention is the best treatment! The next time you don your uniform, don’t forget to put on your protective eyewear with it. Your vision is precious, remember to protect it.

Thank you for being such wonderful patients!

Can you guess where nearly half of all eye injuries occur?

There are approximately 2.5 million eye injuries in the United States each year. To many people’s surprise, around 50 percent of these injuries occur at home.

Make Your Home Safe For Your Sight

When we hear the words “protective eyewear” most of us think of people working in lab coats or hard hats, while normal tasks such as mowing the lawn or cleaning with household chemicals seem so commonplace as to not pose any danger. As evidenced by the statistic above, we know this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Here are our top five tips on how to protect your vision at home:

1. Use protective eyewear. Wear proper safety glasses whenever exposed to projectiles (such as wood chips, shavings and dust), chemicals, and radiation or electricity.
2. Make your home eye-safe. Remove tripping hazards, secure rugs and make sure there is sufficient lighting and handrails around stairs.
3. Remove debris before yardwork. Lawn mowers and weed wackers can cause devastating injury. Inspect your yard to remove any hazards before going to work.
4. Be smart when using hazardous products. Do not mix chemical agents and always be aware of manufacture warnings and guidelines. Always wash your hands after completing a task involving chemical substances.
5. Properly store tools and cleaners. Ensure that they are out of reach of children and pets.

Take Extra Care With Bungee Cords

While bungee cords are extremely useful, and relatively cheap, they are often the cause of serious eye injury. Bungee cords are pulled tight to hold things down or keep them in place, but what if the cord is not quite long enough?

Many people are inclined to keep pulling until the cord slips out of their hands or breaks, launching it back at them at up to 200 miles an hour. As you can imagine, this can be very dangerous, especially in the hands of children. If you do use bungee cords, be sure to wear protective eyewear. However, we recommend using alternative fasteners such as ropes.

Talk To Us About Protective Eyewear

If you wear glasses or contacts and frequently do tasks around your home that pose a risk to your eyes, talk to us about getting prescription safety glasses. We want to make safeguarding your eyes as easy and as comfortable as possible so your vision is always protected!

We’re grateful for your loyalty to our practice.

We’ve all felt it during a long day at our desk job or after a lengthy session of scrolling through social media on our smartphones–digital eye strain.

But did you know your kids may be suffering too? In today’s world, children are using various digital devices just as much, if not more, than their adult counterparts. Increased computer usage in school combined with the hours after school spent watching television, playing video games or on tablets and phones may be hurting your child’s eyes.

Children May Be More Susceptible To Eye Strain

Eye strain can be especially hard on a child’s developing eyes. Eye strain is characterized by :

• headaches
• neck and back pain
• eye dryness and fatigue
• blurry vision
• difficulty shifting focus to objects at a distance

There are a couple of factors that make children more likely to experience digital eye strain. For example, if a child is using an adult’s computer, the workstation might not be ideal. Difficulty reaching the keyboard or placing their feet to the floor can contribute to arm, neck and back discomfort. In addition, a child at an adult’s computer cannot achieve the optimal viewing angle, which is slightly downward at a 15 degree angle.

Holding tablets or phones too close to their eyes for long periods of time also contributes to eye strain. The ideal distance between a screen and your eyes is about an arm’s length away or more.

A child may also be unaware of problems or simply ignore them.They may not be aware of the hours they are spending in front of a screen and take few breaks, if any. Children are also more likely to have uncorrected problems with their vision which can further contribute to eye strain, especially after prolonged exposure to digital screens. Vision problems often go undetected because children assume that everyone sees the way they do.

Help Your Child Develop Healthy Vision And Avoid Strain

Recent studies have indicated that, on average, the more time children spend outside, the lower their risk of developing myopia, or nearsightedness. Long hours on digital screens can be hard on developing eyes. One thing that you can do to help your child’s vision is limit the amount of time you allow them to be on digital devices. Encourage them to play outside and have fun!

Another thing you can do to help your child avoid digital eye strain is make sure they take frequent breaks. We call this the 20/20/20 rule. Teach them to look at something 20 feet away from their screens for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This will give their eyes a much-needed break.

Regular Eye Exams Are Essential For Healthy Vision

Don’t forget to come see us! Every child needs a regular eye exam so we can make sure that their eyes are developing properly and that their vision is correct. We want to ensure they have healthy vision for a lifetime!

Thank you for continuing to be a valued patient and friend.

Did you know pregnancy can affect your vision?

A woman’s body goes through extraordinary changes during pregnancy. Some of them, like changes in hormones, metabolism, fluid retention and blood circulation, can have an effect on your eyes! Below are some of the most common vision-related changes women see during pregnancy.

Pregnant Women Can Experience Blurry Vision

Due to fluid retention (a common side effect of pregnancy) the thickness and shape of the cornea can change slightly, causing blurred or distorted vision. Usually the change is minor but if your vision is significantly altered, talk to your doctor.

If you have glasses or contacts and the change in your vision is severe, your prescription may need to be changed. This is usually unnecessary, however, as your cornea will return to its normal shape after you’ve had your baby.

Expect Dry Eyes During Pregnancy

It’s normal for your eyes to feel a bit more dry, tired or irritated during pregnancy. Wearing contact lenses, especially for longer periods of time, can be a bit more uncomfortable for expectant mothers. If you are experiencing dry eyes, consult with your eye care provider about artificial tears that are safe to use during pregnancy.

Vision Disturbances May Be A Sign Of Preeclampsia

Issues with your vision during pregnancy may be a sign of a more serious condition called preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and usually occurs after the 20 week mark. Signs of preeclampsia can show up in your eyes, such as:

• Temporary loss of vision
• Light sensitivity
• Blurry or double vision
• Seeing spots or flashing lights

If you experience any of these more severe vision disturbances, contact your doctor immediately.

Diabetes Can Affect Vision, Especially During Pregnancy

Women with diabetes who become pregnant should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam as soon as possible and throughout their pregnancy as recommended. This is because women who have diabetes during pregnancy may have a rapid onset or worsening of diabetic retinopathy, a disease that causes damage to the small blood vessels that supply the retina of the eye.

If you have diabetes and are planning to conceive, talk to your doctor and eye care provider. We will monitor your condition throughout your pregnancy so that you and your baby can be as healthy and safe as possible.

Expectant Mothers Can Trust Our Practice

Just because you are expecting a baby doesn’t mean you have to put off your regular eye exam. We care about the vision and overall health of you and your child. So, in between trips to the doctor and Babies-R-Us, don’t let visiting your optometrist fall off of your pregnancy to-do list!

We love our patients and thank you for reading!

An eye exam may be the last thing on your mind in the rush to get your children ready to go back to school.

But in reality, no amount of new clothes, binders, backpacks or pencils will help your child succeed in school if they have an undetected problem with their vision.

Why Back-To-School Eye Exams Matter

Did you know that one out of four children has vision problems? And yet only 50 percent of parents with children under the age of 12 have taken their children to an eye care professional.

If you child has any of the symptoms below, it is a sign that your child may have an undiagnosed vision problem :

• Turns or tilts head to use one eye only
• Loses their place while reading
• Works Slowly
• Holds reading material closer than normal
• Rubs his or her eyes
• Has headaches
• Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing
• Confuses Left and Right
• Consistently performs below potential

Many children struggle needlessly with vision problems simply because they don’t know they have one. For a child in school, vision correction can make all the difference in their academic performance as well as their ability to play sports and interact with others. Eye exams ensure that children are seeing and feeling their best.

The Difference Between Eye Exams And Vision Screenings

You may be wondering why eye care professionals recommend a back-to-school eye exam when many children receive a vision screening at school. There are important differences between a screening and a comprehensive eye exam. Where a screening tests only for visual acuity, comprehensive exams will test for visual acuity, chronic diseases, color vision and make sure the eyes are working together properly.

A standard school vision screening mostly checks distance vision but does not check for near vision issues, meaning farsightedness is often missed. Amblyopia, or lazy eye, and eye coordination issues are also frequently missed during screenings. That means that a child may pass a vision screening because they are able to see the board, but they may not even be able to see the textbook in front of them!

Children’s bodies are rapidly growing and changing. Their eyes are as well. Regular eye exams will ensure early detection and treatment of any problems!

Set Your Child Up For Success

80 percent of learning at school is visual. Make your child’s eyesight a priority this school year and come in to see us for your back to school eye exams. We want what’s best for you and your family, and that means ensuring lifelong vision health!

We’re committed to you–our amazing patients!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

The Fourth of July is coming up and most of us are looking forward to the Independence Day parades, family celebrations, backyard barbecues, and of course, fireworks.

As fun and beautiful as fireworks are, they can also be extremely dangerous. In fact, over 10,000 fireworks-related injuries were reported in 2014, 1,300 of those being eye injuries. So, whether you’re watching or using fireworks to celebrate Independence Day or simply for your own entertainment, there are precautions you should take to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.

Tips On Firework Safety

It is important to note that the best way to avoid firework injuries is by leaving firework shows to trained pyrotechnicians. Attending professional public fireworks is much safer than purchasing consumer fireworks.

That being said, if you do choose to light your own fireworks, make sure you follow all local and state laws as well as firework instructions and warning labels. Protective eyewear should always be worn when handling fireworks. Onlookers should also wear eye protection as nearly half of people injured by fireworks are bystanders.

Children should never be allowed to light or play with fireworks of any type–even sparklers. Believe it or not, sparklers can reach temperatures upwards of 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. They can easily ignite clothing or cause severe burns, so they’re definitely not a toy for young children!

If an eye injury does occur, seek medical attention immediately. Do not rub, rinse or apply pressure to the injured eye, or remove any objects stuck in the eye.

Know The Facts

Understanding the prevalence of fireworks-related injuries, especially eye injuries, is the first step to preventing accidents. Keep these facts in mind when using fireworks:

• One in six fireworks-related injuries results in permanent vision loss
• On average, 400 Americans lose sight in one or both eyes due to fireworks every year
• 45 percent of fireworks-related injuries occur in children under the age of 14

Keep Fireworks Fun

Unexpected injuries not only ruin celebrations, but they can also dramatically change lives. Keep fireworks fun by remembering these tips and being smart about how you use fireworks. Stay safe out there!

Happy Fourth of July from our Vision Source family to yours!

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness among older adults in the United States. In fact, more than half of all Americans have cataracts by the time they are 80 years old.

We understand you may have questions about cataracts, so we’d like to take this opportunity to help you understand how they affect your vision, what steps you can take to prevent them, and what treatment is available.

What Is a Cataract?

Put simply, a cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens. This clouding changes or obstructs the passage of light into the eye and through to the retina, making vision blurry or dim.

Our eye’s lens behaves much like the lens in a camera. When a camera’s lens is dirty from obstructions like dust or oil from stray fingerprints, light can’t easily pass through the lens and images will appear dull and cloudy. Once a camera’s lens is cleaned, more light is able to pass through to the camera’s sensors, helping images become more bright, crisp, and vibrant—much like a cataract-free lens in our eye.

Cataracts Offer Many Signs and Symptoms

Cataracts often begin small and go largely unnoticed. Over time, they grow larger and your vision may become dull or blurry, much like images from the smudged camera lens we discussed earlier. Here are some common symptoms of cataracts:

• Clouded, blurred or dim vision
• Increasing difficulty with vision at night
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Seeing “halos” around lights
• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Double vision in a single eye

Cataracts Aren’t Just Caused by Advanced Age

There are several potential causes for cataracts, but most are due to age-related changes in the lens. That being said, some risk factors include:

• Diabetes
• Smoking
• UV radiation
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Family history
• Significant alcohol consumption

Prevention and Treatment Can Lead to Clear Vision

Cataracts can’t always be prevented, but simple practices can be put in place to maintain and promote healthy vision. Always remember to eat a nutrient-rich diet filled with fruits and vegetables, and be sure to protect yourself from harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses and hats during outdoor activity.

Fortunately, when cataracts cannot be prevented, they can be treated with full restoration of vision. Early symptoms may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, or anti-glare sunglasses. If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective treatment. Surgical cataract removal is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States. It is a simple and highly successful procedure that consists of removing the clouded lens from the eye and replacing it with a clear, artificial lens. While each person heals differently, many patients report clear vision within hours of the surgery.

We Care About Your Lifelong Health

As your lifelong care provider, we are committed to helping you through every stage of life. As you age, watch for changes in your vision, as well as for signs of cataracts. If you have any questions, feel free to let us know or make an appointment today. We want to make sure you get the most accurate information and excellent care for your individual needs!

Thank you for being a valued patient and friend!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Rubbing your eyes can

Do you ever find yourself rubbing your eyes as you wake up in the morning? How about after a long day working at your computer?

When our eyes are tired or irritated, our first instinct may be to rub them for relief. Even though it seems harmless, that small sense of alleviation may come at a serious cost to your vision. 

Why Do We Rub Our Eyes?

We often rub our eyes when they are irritated—either from dryness, fatigue, or from external irritants like dust or allergens. Tired and fatigued eyes often become dry as a result. Gently rubbing your eyes helps trigger the secretion of tears, helping lubricate eyes that are dry or itchy.

Rubbing your eyes doesn’t just help produce tears to provide relief. Surprisingly, it can help relieve stress too. Pressing down on the eyeball can stimulate the vagus nerve, which slows down your heart rate and relieves stress by triggering your oculocardiac reflex.

Despite the benefits associated with an occasional gentle ocular massage, rubbing your eyes can potentially do more harm than good.

Bacteria Transfers From Your Hands to Your Eyes

We use our hands for just about everything throughout the day. From working on your computer to cleaning up around the house, they are introduced to a host of bacteria. Anytime we touch our eyes without washing our hands, we risk transferring that bacteria and exposing our eyes to infection.

And if you’re rubbing your eyes for allergy relief, you could be making it worse!Allergens can become trapped in your eyelashes and when rubbed, can be transferred to the eye’s surface.

Rubbing Your Eyes Can Cause Dark Circles

As we get older, the skin around our eyes is one of the first areas to show signs of aging. Rubbing your eyes can cause tiny blood vessels beneath the skin’s surface to break, resulting in dark circles, puffiness, and can even contribute to premature crow’s feet and drooping eyelids.

Although eye rubbing can be a contributor, those dark circles—also known as periorbital circles—can also be caused by:

• illness
• allergies
• prolonged tobacco use
• alcohol consumption
• excess salt intake.

Resisting the urge to rub your eyes and avoiding substances like tobacco and alcohol can keep the skin around your eyes looking fresh and vibrant.

Rubbing Your Eyes Can Cause Excess Pressure!

Even light rubbing can double the pressure in your eyes. Activities such as removing makeup or wiping away tears can add even more pressure. Aggressive eye rubbing can increase eye pressure by as much as 20 times. For most, the pressure will return to normal after they finish rubbing, but some with certain eye conditions risk seriously harming their vision.

Those with progressive myopia—a common type of short-sightedness—can find that excessive rubbing worsens their vision. In some cases, their retina may detach from the back of the eye due to the extreme pressure.

Rubbing can harm the front of the eye as well. The combination of the pressure exerted and the rubbing motion of the hand can potentially damage the cornea. This may either cause a tear, or weaken the cornea and cause it to be misshapen, resulting in a condition called keratoconus. Both causing significant loss of vision.

We Can Help You Achieve Clear, Healthy Vision

We understand how tempting it can be to rub your eyes when they’re a bit dry or tired. If your eye’s natural defenses aren’t quite enough, try using eye drops to relieve the discomfort. You’re health is important to us and we love helping our patients achieve clear, comfortable vision.

If you have any questions about how to calm your eye irritation, make an appointment or let us know in the comments below!

Thank you for continuing to place your trust in our practice!

Nothing makes us want a fresh spring salad more than chirping birds, blooming flowers, and a pleasant spring breeze. Not only can a good salad refresh your palette, it can benefit your vision as well!

We’re taking advantage of all of our favorite in-season fruits and vegetables this spring to provide you with super smoothie and salad recipes you’ll crave year-round!

A Fresh Salad Satisfies More Than Just Your Taste Buds

Many common salad ingredients provide nutrients that are essential to maintaining healthy eyes and vision. Walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds are excellent sources of vitamin E and zinc, which help keep your retina healthy. Grapeseed oil is also a good source of vitamin E.

Spinach contains the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. Not only do these antioxidants protect against macular degeneration, they also absorb blue light, protecting your retina from any damage.

Strawberries, and berries in general for that matter, are a great source of vitamin C and help reduce the risk of eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.Blueberries are especially good for your health, reducing the risk of glaucoma, heart disease and cancer.

Try the recipe below and give your eyes a healthy boost!

Eye-Healthy Spinach And Fruit Salad

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• 3 cups spinach
• ½ cup blueberries and/or strawberries
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• ¼ cup walnut and/or almond pieces
• ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese
• ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar, or to taste
• ¼ cup maple syrup, or to taste
• ¼ cup grapeseed oil, or to taste
• Salt, to taste

Here’s how you make it: Toss spinach, berries, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, nuts, feta and goat cheese in a large bowl. Pour the vinegar, syrup and grapeseed oil over the salad one at a time. Toss until evenly coated. Season with salt to taste.

Here’s our inspiration for this eye-healthy salad!

If you want to go the extra mile, eat your salad with a salmon on the side! Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are great for boosting eye health and protecting against disease.

If you prefer your greens blended, here’s an idea for a delicious smoothie to boost vision health!

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup packed chopped kale
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup diced pineapple
• 1 banana

Here’s how you make it: Puree ingredients in a blender until smooth.

A Healthy Diet Makes For Healthy Vision

These smoothie and salad recipes can help your vision and your overall health.  A healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet, protects your eyes from damage and disease.

If you have any healthy recipes to share we’d love to see them in the comments below or on our Facebook page!

Our patients rock!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.