Wellness :: The Importance of Eye Care

 

 

While watching a basketball game in high school, I asked my friend sitting next to me if I could check out her glasses – just to see how I looked in them.  Imagine my surprise when I found that I could see much better and thus began my lifetime journey of wearing contacts and eyeglasses.  It does seem surprising that I went through middle and high school and my nearsightedness was never caught!  At my last eye appointment, my optometrist suggested I start wearing reading glasses while on the computer to help with the eye strain.  It has helped me and I find my eyes aren’t as tired at the end of the day as they usually are.  With the technological advances, optometrists are now able to detect early signs of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, among others.  I found it quite fascinating to see the picture they took of my eyes to see if there were any signs of damage due to my pre-diabetes (so far so good!).

 

It is recommended that you should schedule an annual comprehensive eye exam prior to starting school to ensure that your children’s eyes are in good condition and they are not in need of any eyewear.  VSP Vision Care has provided a good checklist of why parents need to take their children for an annual exam as well as signs to look for if you suspect someone in your family is having a hard time seeing.  I was surprised that 1 in 4 children have an undetected vision condition that could negatively impact their ability to perform in school.  Since 80% of what you learn is through your eyes – undiagnosed vision problems could be the cause of some children who have learning issues.

 

 

VSP Vision Care Suggests:

 

1. Parents should take their children to the eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam starting as young as six months old, then again at three years old, before kindergarten and every year after that.
2. In-school screenings do not provide the same level of detection as comprehensive eye exams.
3. 80 percent of what we learn is through our eyes, making an eye exam essential for your back-to-school “to do” list.
4. Common signs of vision problems include squinting, head tilting, avoiding “close work,” trouble focusing, continuous rubbing of eyes, and headaches.
5. 1 in 4 children has an undetected vision condition that can negatively impact learning.

But keeping everyone up-to-date on their eye care can get costly and that is why VSP Vision Care just might be the answer you are looking for to help cut back on costs!  The doctors in their network are highly credentialed doctors who provide thorough exams and the average VSP member saves approximately $320 each year on vision insurance.  Plus you will have access to great eyewear and they offer more than two dozen brands and hundreds of styles to choose from.  Just the other night I had misplaced my glasses and took out an old pair I used years ago.  It is funny to see how styles (and you) change over the years!  I like that VSP offers so many choices of quality eyewear and saves you money on eye care for the entire family.  Plus check out the stylish Diane von Furstenberg eyewear they offer!

 

 

 

About Vision Care:

As the only national not-for-profit in vision care, VSP reinvests in the things its nearly 60 million members value most – the best care at the lowest out-of-pocket costs. With a network of 30,000 doctors and highest credentialing requirements, VSP members have the freedom to choose the provider, location, and eyewear that’s right for them. It’s easy to see why VSP is consumers’ #1 choice in vision care.

 

 

Good news!  Play the VSP Time Crunch Sweepstakes for a chance to WIN the following Grand Prize:

A vacation for two (2) to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands consisting of: (a) five (5) nights stay at the Marriot Beach Resort; (b) round trip economy airfare for two (2) persons from the major international airport closest to the winner’s residence; (c) two (2) fifty minute massages at Lazule Sea Spa; (d) Certificate for Dinner at Aqua Terra Oceanfront Grill for $200; (e) two (2) passes for Snorkel Adventure – Full day sail.

 

It is very easy to play (I played it and have 3 entries – wish me luck) and you can enter by going here:   Good luck as well lovely dandelion moms!

Photo’s courtesy of the VSP website.

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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