Posts Tagged ‘contact lenses’
Posted on January 4th, 2012 by Nancy D
Although many people think of winter as the wet season because of the precipitation, the atmosphere is really a lot dryer during the winter months, which often causes your eyes to be more sensitive.
Your optometrist can assist you in selecting the best options to hydrate your eyes during the arid winter season. Even before you step outside, you can help prevent dryness by using a humidifier in your home.
Be sure to take additional protective measures once you’re outside. Protect your eyes from the wind and cold by wearing a brimmed hat and well-fitting sunglasses. The point is to keep the swirling winds away and stop evaporation of your eye’s tear film.
If your dryness is persistent, consider artificial tears. These may help relieve the irritating symptoms of dry eyes. Consult with your optometrist before you start using any eye drops to ensure they are the right solution for your condition.
Don’t forget—if you wear contacts, it’s important to be especially careful in the colder months. If able, make use of rewetting drops. While you may not realize it, lenses are like sponges and are required to stay lubricated to maintain their shape. If they begin to dry out, the contacts can lose their form and stick to the eyeball, causing pain and cloudiness. So let your lenses drink up and make sure to keep them moisturized this winter. With a little awareness and planning, you can avoid the dangers of the cold, dry weather and keep your eyes safe and cozy the whole season!
Visit The Center for more information and to find a doctor near you.
File under: Contact Lenses, eye health | Tagged: artificial tears, cold, contact lenses, contacts, dry eye, eyes, rewetting drops, VSP, weather, wind, winter
1 Comment »
Posted on December 14th, 2011 by David C
If you wear contacts or are a parent of someone who does, listen up. More research indicates that 98% of you don’t follow proper hygiene recommendations. Sleeping in your contacts, topping off your solution instead of changing it, and using the same contact case forever are just a few of the most common offenses. No big deal, though, right? Think again. Almost half of contact lens wearers reported an eye infection, and more serious infections can cost you your sight.
Take a look at the full article on the Huffington Post’s website.
You may also want to check out the Caring for Contacts section of our information center.
File under: Contact Lenses | Tagged: contact lenses, eye infection, huffington post
No Comments »
Posted on November 16th, 2011 by Gail V
Well, in our preferred future dream world they can. Today, you still have to be pretty careful with your contacts. There are a ton of pluses with contacts: they don’t slip down your nose, they don’t fog up, your entire field of vision is in focus—and they match everything you wear! But if you get sloppy with them, you can put your eyes at risk of infection.
In addition to the obvious ones spelled out by the manufacturer, keep these tips in mind when caring for your contacts.
- Spit won’t get it done: No matter how desperate you are, don’t put your contacts in your mouth to clean them. Wait until you can use the solution your doctor recommended.
- Lenses out before you jump in: Don’t wear your contacts swimming, whether that’s in a chlorinated pool, the ocean, a hot tub, whatever. Dangerous microorganisms can live in those environments, and if they latch on to your contact lenses or get trapped under your lenses, they can cause real trouble. If you forget and dive in with your lenses on, be careful to remove them as soon as possible.
- In with the new: Your eyes will thank you if you dump your storage case lens solution after each cleaning, and replace the case itself every three to six months.
For more handy advice on contacts, plus a terrific selection of lenses to choose from, check out eyeconic.com.
File under: Contact Lenses, Eyeconic | Tagged: contact lenses, contacts, discount, Eye Safety, free shipping, online, order, refill, safety tips, save, selection, variety, VSP benefit
No Comments »
Posted on October 4th, 2011 by Tammi B.
Trick or Treat is around the corner! Halloween happenings are in the planning stages, and you might be looking for something to give your costume that extra ooomph that could win you first prize in a costume competition. Have you seen the variety of colored contact lenses available that can enhance your look? If you envision yourself as a vampire with amber eyes a la Twilight or you are going gaga over the anime look in the video Bad Romance, here are some things you should know to keep your fantasy Halloween look from becoming a nightmare.
Contact lenses are classified by the FDA as medical devices and it is illegal to sell them without a prescription, even if the lenses themselves are non-prescription. Avoid the temptation to order these lenses online or off the rack. We all come in different sizes, shapes, and colors and this applies to our eyes as well. A properly fitted contact lens may enhance your costume or character, but an improper fit can do serious harm to your eyes.
VSP’s The Center has more information about colored contacts, including makeup tricks as an alternative. But remember, a simple visit to your eye doctor for a fitting and for information on what safe options are available to you will keep your eyes healthy and help you avoid risks like infection, eye damage, and even vision loss – things that are truly frightening!
File under: Contact Lenses, Eye Safety | Tagged: contact lenses, contacts, eye injury, fantasy, Halloween, Lady gaga, twilight
1 Comment »
Posted on August 30th, 2011 by Gail V
How often can you buy something and support a good cause at the same time? At Eyeconic, you can. Here’s how it works: For every box of contact lenses purchased on our site, we donate $1 to the American Red Cross. The donation comes out of our pocket, not yours. And you don’t even have to fill out a form. It’s that simple.
The American Red Cross is an amazing resource for communities during and after natural disasters. There’s been a lot of extreme weather this summer, and the Red Cross has always been there to help. When flood waters drove thousands in North Dakota from their homes, the Red Cross offered shelter and food. When first-responders were battling wildfires in Oklahoma, the Red Cross was helping keep them hydrated. After the tornadoes in Alabama, the Red Cross was there again.
The Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts are well known. You might be familiar with their collection and distribution of lifesaving blood, but the organization does so much more. It offers community services to the needy; support for military members and their families; educational efforts that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs. The need is ongoing.
Most of us are on a tight budget, so I think it’s a real plus to be able to have a donation go to the American Red Cross without adding anything to the cost of my purchase. So, if you got your initial supply of contacts from your doctor and want to reorder online, check out the competitively priced selection at Eyeconic.
Know we carefully verify your prescription. Know that shipping is free. Know that you can virtually try-on really cool sunglasses and find nearby VSP doctors that carry them. And know that every box of contacts you purchase from us comes with a compassionate donation.
File under: Contact Lenses, Eyeconic | Tagged: American Red Cross, contact lenses, designer sunglasses, eyewear, free shipping, order contacts
1 Comment »
Posted on August 9th, 2011 by Lisa P.
Today’s Blog Posts comes from our friends at ACUVUE®.
Technology for contact lenses is constantly improving to provide the most comfortable experience for wearers. So let’s tackle an uncomfortable topic—dry, red eyes—and look at how lens technology is pioneering new solutions in the quest for comfort.
As most everyone can attest, dry, red eyes can almost make you want to cry. The dryness. The irritation. The blinking. If you’re rubbing your eyes just thinking about it, we are too.
Here’s the thing: Our eyes naturally maintain a healthy, comfortable layer of moisture. But a number of factors can throw that delicate moisture balance off. Being tired is a big one. Air-conditioned rooms, smoke, dust, and wind—all of these airborne irritants can play a role as well. Even prolonged staring at a computer screen deserves some blame (reading this article excepted).
For those who wear contacts, there could be another culprit lurking behind red eyes—the lenses themselves. General wearer discomfort at the end of the day can mean your eyes aren’t getting what they need, like enough moisture or oxygen. To maximize your comfort when wearing contact lenses, ask your VSP doctor to make sure your lenses have the following properties:
- High Oxygen transmissibility: An innovative contact lens material is Silicone Hydrogel — a soft, gel-like plastic – which is used to optimize the amount of oxygen carried to your eyes, so they stay fresh & healthy.
- Low stiffness: Flexibility and fit are important to allow the lens to better contour to the eye.
- Long-Lasting Wettability and Lubricity: Ideally your lenses should stay wet and smooth to ensure that your eyes are comfortable throughout the day.
Combine these elements and the result is so comfortable, it almost feels like you aren’t wearing any contacts at all. And the best part is, this technology is available in both ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses and ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Plus Brand Contact Lenses.
Check out this 2 minute video on the innovative HYDRACLEAR® Technology behind ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses:
File under: Contact Lenses, eye health, Frames & Lenses, Technology | Tagged: ACUVUE ADVANCE, Acuvue contact lenses, ACUVUE contact lenses rebate, ACUVUE OASYS, contact lenses, contact lenses technology, HYDRACLEAR, VSP member benefits, VSP Vision Care
2 Comments »
Posted on June 14th, 2011 by Jace D.
Success in sports doesn’t rely solely on your athletic ability. NBA Star and Sacramento Kings player Tyreke Evans knows that in order to play your best, you have to see your best, and that means getting an annual eye exam. Evans stars in the second season of VSP EyeFiles video series, which you can watch on the on VSP’s Facebook page. The series offers parents fun and entertaining reminders to keep their children’s vision healthy and top of mind, while providing answers to a variety of eye health questions.
Don’t miss episode one, which focuses on sports vision. Share it with friends and family and enter our EyeFiles contest for your chance to win an Xbox 360 with KINECT and an autographed shoe worn by Tyreke during the filming of the video.
Stay tuned! New webisodes willl roll out every few weeks until the end of July.
File under: Fun, sports, Tyreke Evans | Tagged: basketball, contact lenses, eye exams, fun video, kid video, optometrist, sacramento kings, sports, sports eyewear, sports goggles, Tyreke Evans, vision care, VSP
No Comments »
Posted on February 10th, 2011 by Erica K.
Erica K. is a communications manager with VSP's Marketing Team
If you’re a regular VSP blog reader, you know how important annual eye exams are to your overall health. If you know someone who doesn’t have vision insurance, tell them about the VSP Choice Plan for Individuals. For a low annual premium, the subscriber will receive an eye exam and either prescription glasses or contacts, not to mention discounts on lens options and laser vision care.
So tell your grandparents, your neighbors, or your newest Facebook friends about VSP’s Individual Plan because we want everyone to be getting their annual eye exams!
File under: eye exam, eye health | Tagged: contact lenses, eye exams, glasses, individual plan, laser vision care, vision insurance. individual vision insurance, VSP Choice Plan for Individuals, vsp insurance, VSP Vision Care
No Comments »
Posted on December 17th, 2010 by Lisa P.
I’m always looking for ways to save money, especially during the holidays. So if you have some funds remaining in your flexible spending account (FSA) , here is a great way to save even more money on an essential item , while making sure you use up all your FSA dollars.
VSP has teamed up with two contact lens manufacturers to offer additional value to our members. Starting now, if you purchase an eligible supply of contact lenses, from ACUVUE or Bausch + Lomb you could save big. Just check out these deals:
- ACUVUE Brand Contact Lenses
Receive an extra $25 rebate, up to $125 back on ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses — a VSP member exclusive and the highest rebate available anywhere on ACUVUE® Lenses
- Bausch + Lomb Contact Lenses
Receive up to $70 in savings on Bausch + Lomb contact lenses — their highest national mail-in rebate.
If you need contact lenses or just want to save some money on them for next year, I recommend looking into this opportunity. Happy holidays!
File under: Frames & Lenses, vision benefits | Tagged: Acuvue contact lenses, bausch+lomb contact lenses, contact lens rebate, contact lenses, how to save money on contact lenses, vsp insurance, VSP Vision Care
1 Comment »
Posted on November 2nd, 2010 by Lisa P.
VSP Vision Care and Bausch + Lomb are pleased to offer VSP members an exclusive contact lens rebate.
Beginning November 1, VSP Members who purchase an annual supply of Bausch + Lomb Contact Lenses from a VSP provider will receive savings of up to $70 in mail-in rebates, a higher value than any other nationally available Bausch + Lomb rebate. Whether you’re a new or existing contact lens wearer, you can take advantage of this VSP member exclusive.
Learn more at our Rebates & Special Offers section VSP’s The Center website.
File under: Fun | Tagged: bausch + lomb, contact lenses, exclusive deal, rebates, rebates and special offers, VSP, vsp members, vsp providers, VSP Vision Care, vsp.com
No Comments »
