3-D is a topic that carries across all generations and genres and here’s are just a few of the bloggers from various focuses that found this video and topic worth sharing:

• BlogHer: Bill Nye the Science Guy is becoming a Mythbuster (sort of)
• Cinematical: Get Seasick in 3-D movies? Bill Nye is Here to Help
• Crunch Gear: Bill Nye the Science Guy (!) Explains why 3-D movies can make you sick
• The Movie Blog: Bill Nye the Science Guy talks 3D Disorientation!
• Pulse 2: Bill Nye is Back and He’s Doing a YouTube Channel for VSP Vision

Click here to view the embedded video.

Check back with us every week as Bill Nye, along with VSP provider Dr. Phelps, continue to debunk common eye health myths in VSP’s EyeFiles webisode series. In the meantime, check out the Today Show clip on 3-D and overall eye health. 

Be sure to visit VSP’s Facebook - Contest tab for your chance to win a FREE pair of Glasses/Sunglasses through the Eyewear Makeover Contest.

To help educate Americans on eye health and debunk common myths, VSP has  created a series of webisodes called VSP EyeFiles featuring the iconic Bill Nye the Science Guy and Dr, Roger Phelps, a VSP provider.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As part of this initiative, VSP Vision Care sent an online survey to VSP doctors across the country, asking them for the most common vision-related myths they hear from their patients on a regular basis.

The VSP doctor myth research survey revealed that:

Myth: Working many hours in front of a computer screen will harm your eyes.

Fact: 31 percent of doctors say they hear this myth on a daily basis. Although using computers will not damage vision, fatigue, headaches, neck pain or eye strain may occur with use over extended periods of time. This overuse can result in a serious condition called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). To help prevent CVS remember the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away.

Myth: Wearing glasses tends to weaken the eyes.

Fact: 24 percent of doctors say they hear this myth on a daily basis. Glasses do not weaken eyes. Eyes lose the ability to focus on near objects as people get older, a natural digression called presbyopia. Presbyopia, which means “old eye” in Greek, becomes noticeable between the ages of 38 and 42. The bottom line is glasses do not weaken eyes; rather eyes naturally become weaker with age.

Myth: Sitting too close to the television will harm your eyes.

Fact: 11 percent of doctors say they hear this myth on a daily basis. Despite what your mother told you as a kid, sitting closer than necessary to the television may cause headaches, but will not cause eye damage.

Other alarming myths that VSP doctors heard from patients on a regular basis included:

Myth: As long as your eyes don’t hurt, you can wear contact lenses 24/7.

Fact: If your contacts aren’t the overnight-approved, extended wear variety, don’t treat them that way. Daily wear contacts need nightly soaks to clean and disinfect them. Contacts are a great alternative for lenses, but proper contact care is needed to prevent eye irritation and infection.

Myth: Children do not need to have their vision tested until they are at least 5.

Fact: The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends a six-month eye exam to make sure the baby’s eyes are developing correctly and to scan for serious problems such as cataracts and tumors. Eighty percent of what we learn is through our eyes, and one in four students has a visual impairment problem. One study shows a whopping 85 percent of America’s pre-schoolers haven’t received a vision exam by age five. Experts recommend that children see their eye doctor at six months, between the ages of 2 and 3, before entering kindergarten, and annually thereafter to ensure their eye health and learning progression.

Myth: If you can see fine, your eyes are healthy and you don’t need an exam.

Fact: Many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms. It is important to make annual visits to an eye doctor to receive comprehensive eye exams. Through an exam an eye doctor can detect signs of serious health conditions including diabetes, brain tumors, and high cholesterol, before physical symptoms are present.

Myth: You cannot get cataracts unless you wear glasses.

Fact: Cataracts are caused by the aging and deterioration in the lens of the eyes. This is a normal process that occurs in about half of adults between the age of 65 and 75. Everyone can develop cataracts, no matter if they wear glasses or not, in fact, glasses can actually help postpone cataract surgery.

Research Methodology:

• VSP sent an online invitation to 1,200 VSP doctors inviting them to participate in the survey; 143 doctors responded, resulting in a 12 percent response rate.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What do you think? Curious to hear the thoughts of Dr. Kevin Pho, Jesus Diaz, FitSugar, Ken Denmead, and Richard Lawler on the topic as well.

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — An estimated 11 million Americans have uncorrected vision problems — from near- or far-sightedness to sight-threatening diseases. That’s why everyone should get an annual eye exam, starting at six months old — it’s as important as regular trips to the dentist. To educate people about eyesight and overall vision health, VSP Vision Care, the nation’s largest eyecare benefits provider, today kicked off its ‘See Much More’ campaign.

The See Much More initiative includes a fun, interactive website with loads of useful information and resources about eyesight and vision health, including:

• A fast-paced video with interesting facts and things you may not know about your eyes
• Tips everyone can follow to immediately improve their vision health
• Information about how vision coverage helps keep eyecare affordable by reducing the cost of eye exams, eyewear and other vision-related health services
• Daily surveys about eyesight and vision health
• Community features, such as links to VSP’s blog, Twitter feed, Facebook page and resources for finding a doctor
• Fun, interactive games and social networking applications will be added throughout the fall enrollment drive

“The goal of the See Much More website is to remind members and potential members how valuable their vision is in all aspects of their lives — personally, professionally and physically,” said Kate Renwick-Espinosa, Vice President of Marketing at VSP. “While vision coverage itself might not seem exciting, it is important and it impacts our lives in deeply meaningful ways. We want to help people learn about it in a fun, easy and accessible way.”

Learn more about taking care of your eyesight at www.SeeMuchMore.com. Whether it’s to make sure your kids can see well at school, to know that your spouse can see the road perfectly, or to be confident you can always be productive at work, great vision is vital for your health and well-being.

Photos

Twitter Pitch

Your eyesight is important. If you haven’t seen an eye doctor lately, see what you’re missing at SeeMuchMore.com

Tweet It!

News Facts

• Nearly 80% of what a child learns is obtained visually… however, 1 in 4 have undetected vision problems.
• 65 million Americans have never had their eyes checked. Ever.
• Diabetes causes 18,000 new cases of blindness in the US every year.
• Eyestrain is the most common workplace-related health complaint today.
• See much more at SeeMuchMore.com.

Viral Video

Click here to view the embedded video.

Resource Links

See Much More

VSP

VSP Blog

VSP on Flickr

VSP on Twitter

VSP on YouTube

VSP’s Facebook Fan Page

About the VSP Family of Companies
VSP Global includes VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 55 million members; Marchon Eyewear Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers, designers and distributors of quality fashion and technologically-advanced eyewear and sunwear; Eyefinity/Officemate which offer innovative solutions and the premier management software and technology to improve overall practice management and patient experience; and VSP Labs, industry leaders in new technologies, production processes, service and logistics.

Since 1997, VSP has provided more than 529,500 low-income, uninsured children with free eyecare. Through relationships including those with the American Diabetes Association and Prevent Blindness America, VSP promotes the importance of annual eye exams for maintaining eye health and overall wellness.

Press Contact:
Liz Baidoo
VSP Corporate Public Relations