Working at VSP, and also wearing glasses for more than ten years, I understand the importance of healthy vision. (I’m not going to lie, either; I love getting new glasses and can never seem to have enough.) Last week when I got my yearly eye check-up, I had the option to get a digital image of my eye in lieu of a dilated exam. I have to admit, I was curious to see what the inside of my eye looked like…just what was my eye doctor (Dr. Nakamura of Natomas Optometry) looking at in there?
At first glance, I was a little concerned with the red dot in the middle and white blob off to the side, but Dr. Nakamura explained to me that the red dot was actually the macula and the white spot was the optic nerve—both were supposed to be there. The macula is responsible for seeing things in detail and our “central vision” (as in not peripheral vision) while the optic nerve is what carries the visual information to the brain. (Quick clip: the eye is like a camera.)
I thought it was rather interesting to see my own eyes on the screen in front of me. What I liked most was how Dr. Nakamura could show me that my eyes were healthy by comparing my images to sample pictures with various eye or eye-related health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, cataracts, and macular degeneration. I was happy to see my eyes didn’t have any of those problems.
P.S. I just got computer vision glasses for the first time, and I am really excited about them. I will write about what I think of them after I have used them a week or so.
When Phil Southerland was a baby, his parents were told his diabetes would make him blind. They were also told he would likely not live past the age of 25. Phil said he has never let diabetes determine what he could do with his life; he just made the necessary adjustments.
“I get regular eye exams to make sure my diabetes hasn’t affected the blood vessels in my eyes. I know it’s really important, and I want to keep the great vision that I have.”
Now 29, Phil uses exercise, diet and insulin to manage his diabetes and is thriving. He is the founder and CEO of Team Type 1, an organization committed to educating and empowering people with diabetes worldwide.
VSP® Vision Care is proud to be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Team Type 1. For more information about eyecare for people with diabetes, visit the Diabetes Discovery Center.
Today’s blog post features questions asked by VSP members and answers from VSP Optometrists Thomas Jonas, O.D. and Jennifer Wademan, O.D.
1. Should you have your eyes checked every year or like every other year if you’re diabetic? What is the normal?
VSP Provider Jennifer Wademan, OD
Annual eye exams with a dilated retinal exam or retinal photography are recommended for a person with diabetes. Annual eye exams are very important for people with diabetes because uncontrolled or fluctuating blood sugar levels can cause changes in vision but most importantly, irreversible damage to the back of the eye, leading to permanent vision loss. However, even a person whose diabetes is under perfect control, can still develop changes. For that reason, it is essential for people with diabetes to have an eye exam annually.
Annual eye exams are recommended for everyone — babies (starting at 6 months), children, adults, and seniors. Eye exams are especially important for children because nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism can easily go undetected in a child and potentially lead to vision and learning problems as the child gets older. Even adults who have great vision should get an annual eye exam. Your VSP eye doctor can detect signs of health conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Did you know that 80% of what you learn is through your eyes? And, more than 60% of children with learning problems have undiagnosed vision problems?
Many parents rely on school vision screenings to check for vision problems. Here’s why that isn’t enough:
The main point of school vision screenings is to check how well a child can read a chart from 20 feet away (called distance vision) – this is by no means a comprehensive eye exam.
Problems with seeing close-up (near vision) are not always tested during a screening.
A child can easily pass a vision screening, but not see well enough to read a book.
Vision screenings are extremely difficult for children less than 4 years of age.
Vision screenings can miss some of the most common vision problems, including eye coordination (making sure both eyes are working together), lazy eye and farsightedness.
Only an annual eye exam can check the health of an eye and ensure that they are disease-free.
As students around the country begin to go back to school, remember to make an appointment for your child to receive a comprehensive eye exam in order for them to maximize their ability to learn. Many parents do not know about the challenges students face, such as needing glasses, until they take their child in for a comprehensive eye exam. Check out SeeMuchMore.com and learn how you can give your child the best chance.
To support VSP in our mission to increase access to quality eyecare for thousands of children in need, please take the free Eye Pledge. When you pledge to take care of your eyes VSP will direct a gift certificate for an eye exam and glasses to a Boys & Girls Club member in need in your community.
Take the VSP Eye Pledge now and help a child be better prepared to go back to school and learn to his or her full potential!
Tyreke Evans is upping his game…and this time, it’s off the court. He stars in the final episode of VSP EyeFiles Season 2, which you can watch below or on our Facebook page. A big fan of 3D, Evans knows that as much as a third of the population experiences discomfort or “vision sickness” while watching 3D and that a smaller group of the population has trouble seeing 3D at all. Symptoms can include nausea, headaches, and eye strain. But did you know that those symptoms may signal an undiagnosed vision problem?
Whether you’re watching a game on ESPN 3D or watching Avatar, be sure to make an appointment with your eye doctor if you or your children have difficulty watching 3D content. Your eye doctor can often treat and correct these eye conditions, but the earlier they are addressed, the better. Learn more by watching the video clip, and enter to win a 3D prize pack for four!
About Tyreke Evans and VSP Vision Care
VSP Vision Care is proud to be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Tyreke Evans. Tyreke plays professional basketball for the Sacramento Kings and was named 2010 Rookie of the Year. He’s the fourth rookie ever to average 20 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game. The only other players to accomplish this were Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Not only is good vision a critical component for being successful in sports, it’s also an important part of every day life. Be sure to follow VSP Vision Care on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with Tyreke’s Activities.
Children today have more digital tools at their disposal than ever before—tablets, smartphones, e-readers, hand-held videogames and computers. What ever happened to playing outside? Somehow Angry Birds usurped hide-and-seek because, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children and teenagers (ages 8-18) are spending more than 7.5 hours a day consuming electronic media. This overuse can cause digital eye strain, a medical issue with serious symptoms that can affect learning and work productivity. Symptoms of digital eye strain, or computer vision syndrome, include blurry vision, difficulty focusing, dry and irritated eyes, headaches, neck pain and back pain. Digital eye strain is now the number one computer-related complaint in the United States—ahead of carpal-tunnel syndrome.
VSP EyeFiles Season 2 continues with Dr. Liddicoat’s recommendations for avoiding digital eye strain, which include:
Getting annual comprehensive eye exams: make sure your eyes are healthy and can see properly without squinting.
Following the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Ensuring proper lighting: reduce bright light and position devices to reduce reflections and glare.
Limiting device use: watch for squinting and eye rubbing as this indicates overuse
Establishing proper working distance: use the distance from your elbow to your knuckle—about 18”.
Going outside: daily outdoor play can reduce the risk of nearsightedness.
For more information on these tips, be sure to watch VSP Eyefiles episode below, and don’t forget to enter the contest on our Facebook page. You could win a Samsung Galaxy Tab!
Even with new regulations on the labeling of sunscreen products to help consumers better protect their skin, many Americans are still unaware of the sun’s damaging effects on their eyes. UVA and UVB rays can cause cataracts and macular degeneration, and are believed to cause melanomas (cancerous growths both inside and around the eyes), all of which can cause blindness. Also, UV damage is cumulative over time, so it’s never too late or too early to start protecting your eyes from the sun, especially for young children. In fact, a survey by VSP® Vision Care found that less than 30 percent of children wear sunglasses outside.
Don’t miss VSP EyeFiles Episode 2, which you can watch below and on VSP’s Facebook page. See the risks of not wearing sunglasses and enter our EyeFiles contest for a chance to win designer sunglasses and $200 cash!
Tyreke’s brother, Doc Evans, talks about needing glasses for the first time ever
Doc Evans, Tyreke Evans’ brother, just had his annual eye exam by Dr. Ryan Nakamura at Natomas Optometry. Doc is a musician, and good vision is important to him. During his eye exam, he discovered he needed glasses for the first time ever and shared that experience with me after his exam.
Doc Evans ready for his eye exam
Doc, some people aren’t happy when they find out they need glasses for the first time. How did you feel and what advice would you offer someone in this position? I think it’s natural for a person who has always had “perfect vision” to succumb to the fact their vision is getting worse. At least it was for me! Most of the time, as you age, your vision worsens. It’s just part of life. My advice would be to get an eye exam every year to be aware of your vision and eye health. If you do need glasses, you should definitely get them. If you avoid it, you’re limiting what you can see in life. There’s such a great variety of styles available now, that I was actually excited to hear I’d be able to pick out a really cool pair that fits my personality.
How will having glasses impact your work as a musician? As an artist and producer, I need to be able to see the music from a digital standpoint, which includes placing each bar or verse within the song. Clear vision is important for me to be accurate in what I do.
How did the exam itself go? My eye exam was fun! Dr. Nakamura was very knowledgeable and told me he was looking for signs of diabetes and high blood pressure — just by looking in my eye! I think that is amazing. It was fast and painless, and now I know my eyes are healthy. I love my new glasses and see so much better!
Doc Evans picking out glasses at Natomas Optometry
At this past weekend’s Health Fair & Forum in Sacramento, 14 VSP employees volunteered their Saturday to staff an information booth, provide low-level vision assessments, or assist doctors Elisabeth S. Swan, O.D. and Thomas R. Swanson, O.D. who were also volunteering their services in SeeLia, one of the VSP mobile clinics.
Several of the VSP volunteers share their thoughts from the experience.
Marian H. assisted patients in the screening:
“The vision assessment showed that both a man and his daughter were in need of our services. The daughter is in the second grade and wants to be a teacher or a scientist when she grows up. She was having trouble seeing at school so her teacher moved her closer to the front of the class.
He knew they both needed corrective eyewear but had absolutely no way of providing for himself and his daughter.
I explained the importance of annual comprehensive eye exams and set him up with a VSP Mobile Eyes voucher and a doctor directory.
I couldn’t believe the change in his demeanor. He was so happy he started crying and it took a few minutes to get him calmed down. I assured him we were happy to provide this service.”
Judy M. assisted patients in low-level vision assessments and discovered:
“My most memorable moment was when I realized the young man I was talking to was having a sight-threatening issue, knowing time was so important to saving his eyesight.
Sure, I could be at home or going to a movie, you know, comfortable things. But for so many people there is little comfort. The people that come to these events come for a very real reason. It’s a need.”
Juliet C. manned the information booth, educating visitors on health risk factors prevalent in the African American community.
VSP Employees (L to R): Koi R., Juliet C., Cynthia S. and Doris B. volunteering at the VSP information booth
“I volunteered for this event because of the importance of educating the community on various health risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.”
Cynthia S. helped educate visitors on what makes up a comprehensive eye exam.
“I volunteered at this event because I grew up in the neighborhood, and this was a way of giving back to the community. I met parents of people I went to school with and it felt good to be able to educate them on the many diseases that can be detected through the eyes. It was amazing how many people didn’t understand the difference between their perception of an ‘eye exam’ and a ‘comprehensive eye exam’ from a VSP doctor.”
Jenny B. assisted in the vision assessment process.
“..to see someone’s face when they realize that VSP isn’t expecting anything from them, that the exam and glasses given to them are free just so they can see better! I met a 52-year old woman who had never had an eye exam in her lifetime, making do with $2 ‘cheaters’ that really didn’t fix her vision problems!”
Me? I got to merge my photography hobby with my desire to volunteer in the community and work alongside VSP employees who I don’t see everyday! Check out the photos from the event at VSP’s Flickr gallery.
MaryBeth R. is a member of VSP's Marketing Team and is an avid sports fan.
In this, my first blog post as VSP’s new sports blogger, I’d like to congratulate professional basketball player Tyreke Evans on an outstanding game last night in a nationally-televised game against the Denver Nuggets. Tyreke led the Sacramento Kings to a 122-102 victory and recorded a season-high 12 assists, one short of his career high.
So far, Tyreke is avoiding that so-called “sophomore slump.” He is second among all sophomores when totaling points (533), rebounds (145), and assists (168). Not bad, especially when you consider how high Tyreke set the bar last year averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists a game and taking Rookie of the Year honors.
All of this makes me proud that VSP is Tyreke’s exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider. Watching Tyreke dish passes left and right with his teammates catching the ball in stride illustrates just how important vision is in sports.
Are you an athlete? Have your eyes checked once a year to make sure you’re getting the most out of your performance. Learn what you can expect in an eye exam here.
For questions about this blog, e-mail vspblogadmin@vsp.com.
For other questions, contact Member Services at 800.877.7195 Monday – Friday.
VSP Blog Comments Policy
We encourage conversation about VSP and our VSP Global companies.
We review all blog comments prior to posting and may forward some comments to others within the company for follow up. Please note that we won’t post comments that are off-topic, unrelated to VSP or the VSP Global companies, or that violate the VSP Privacy Policy.
Public comments expressed on the VSP Blog don’t necessarily reflect the views of VSP, or our VSP Global companies or subsidiaries. By posting comments, VSP does not endorse or approve of content.
