Gail V scouts optical styles, trends and brand breakthroughs for eyeconic.com.

Whether I’m cheering on my friend’s kids in peewee football or heading downtown to root for my favorite pros, I make sure my eyes look good, feel comfortable, and will stay healthy.

Yes, I love styling up my look with the latest shades. It’s such an easy way to score fashion points! But I also know how important it is to protect my eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Hey, I put on sun block every day, so why wouldn’t I do my eyes the same favor? The effect of UV rays on the eyes is cumulative and I don’t want to have eye problems down the road.

Now, this may not be the best argument to make with your kids as they’re heading out to the next home football game. They can’t see the effects of sun damage on their eyes the way they can see what sunburn does to their skin.

But you don’t have to try and get kids to think long term! Just tell them they’ll look way cooler in the latest shades. And would they want to miss seeing the game-winning catch because they were squinting through the glare? Of course not! And while that may be their only focus, you can rest easy knowing they’re reducing their risk of damaging their corneas or developing other problems later in life, like cataracts.

Just tell them to check out the latest looks in sunwear at eyeconic.com. They can virtually try-on tons of styles, let our personal shoppers help them zero in on the best look, and find a nearby VSP doctor that carries their faves.

Who knew shopping for shades could be so good for you?

Through our eyewear donation program, Eyes of Hope, we’re partnering with communities near and far to help serve the more than one billion people globally who cannot afford or do not have access to eyewear. The program is designed to boost awareness about the importance of eye health while providing an opportunity for the community to support a charitable cause.

In October 2010, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNS), announced their support of the program and immediately received engagement from their employees.

VSP employee Mel S. traveled to their headquarters to pick up the more than 1,868 prescription glasses, readers, and sunglasses collected from LLNS employees. This is the single largest donation we have had since the program was started in December 2008!

(From left) Mel S. of VSP accepts boxes of eyewear donated by Lab employees from Lynn S., Marie T. and Bob B. Photo credit: Jacqueline McBride/NEWSLINE

As employees provide positive feedback regarding the program, LLNS expects to collect even more glasses as they continue to share the benefits of the program within the organization.

For more information on how you can get involved, visit us at vsp.com/community and click on Eyes of Hope.

Ed Tepper with Team Type 2

I’ve been wearing glasses since ever I can remember, and I’m now 61.  About 30 years ago a friend talked me into wearing contact lenses and I did up to about 9 months ago.  The story about me changing back to glasses started a few years ago when I could no longer read close up or clearly see a computer screen without “cheater” reading glasses.  I had several pairs that I kept in different rooms at home and in my office.   Then one night at a nice restaurant I had to ask my wife to read the menu to me because I left my cheaters at home.  Needless to say, the ribbing continued through dessert.

Fortunately, it was time for my annual eye exam with my VSP optometrist.  I’ve had VSP coverage through my employers for many years.  I’ve always received great service and saved a bunch of money.  The optometrist suggested that I try progressive lenses.  These lenses are graded to allow clear vision at all distances.  They do take a little while to get used to.  I found I might have to tip my head up or down a little so I’m looking through the right part of the lens to see clearly.  For example, I’m now focusing at a medium distance to see my computer screen so I’m looking through the middle to bottom part of the lens to see clearly.  When driving I have to look through the top part of the lens to see distant signs and the bottom part of the lens to see the speedometer so I don’t have to focus on the flashing blue lights behind me (LOL).  At first this constant adjusting was annoying but after a few days it became second nature!

As a member of Team Type 2 it’s especially important that I’m able to see near and far while I’m training for our signature event, The Race Across America.  While training I need to be able to clearly see the road ahead and my bike computer so I know whether I’m in my training zone.  Wearing optical inserts in my VSP cycling glasses gives me the clear vision I need.

If you’re like me and need corrective lenses to see both near and far, I strongly suggest that you visit your VSP optometrist and ask about progressive lenses.

About Team Type 1 and VSP Vision Care
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP® Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.

I’ll admit it, I’m addicted to technology. My Blackberry is attached to my hand, I can’t imagine life without my computer, and I think Facebook is the best thing that ever happened to my far-flung family and friends.

Every once in a while, I run across a story that reminds me that technology can be used to serve a much bigger, far-reaching purpose than my own creature comforts. I found this story about how specialized glasses are helping Lance Corporal Craig Lundberg, a British soldier blinded in Iraq, actually see again so incredible that I thought it needed to be shared.

Sara J. is a member of Altair's sales team.

Were you aware that VSP’s eyewear companies Marchon and Altair encompass a total of 26 brands including Calvin Klein, Joseph Abboud, Coach and Disney? With such a diverse product offering, Marchon and Altair have a strong marketplace presence and something to offer every consumer. With that in mind, there’s been an exciting update to VSP.com- an Eyewear Gallery!

The new Eyewear Gallery is one comprehensive location for many of the Marchon and Altair brands offered by VSP doctors. You can search frames by specific brand or style category such as Sport, Technology, and Kids, among others.

You can also click through to view style samples for the collections and take a look at the latest trends. This year’s trends of retro style and pop colors such as reds and purples can be seen in many of the style samples.

It’s a great resource whether you’re a patient getting ready to visit your VSP doctor and looking for a new frame, or a VSP doctor looking for new styles to provide your patients.

The best part is that this is just the beginning. More will be coming to the Eyewear Gallery soon, so be sure to check in often! Check out the new Eyewear Gallery today and let us know your thoughts!

Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

Well, maybe. As someone who swears by polarized lenses due to my Scandinavian love of water, I have gone through life assuming those lenses will do me just fine in whatever activities I participate in. After spending a week  learning all about Nike Vision while in the Competitive Advantage Tent at the Transitions PGA Championship last month, my eyes started crossing (definitely not helpful when playing golf) with all of the amazing lens technology that is currently out there.

There was one that completely reasonated with me because I could really identify with it. I asked Andy S. with Nike Vision to share with us why the Nike Max Optics and Max Golf Tint may be a better option than a polarized tint when trying to hit a little round contraption into that obscure hole hundreds of yards away…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jill N. (with minimal personal space between her) and Erik Estrada.

 
I ran into Erik Estrada at the Transitions PGA Championship in Florida and he graciously took the time to explain why he was running around handing out tickets to guests at the golf tournament. Not only did I get to witness the man in his “CHiP’s” uniform (very impressive he still fits in it by the way), turns out he had very good reasons for harassing the spectators…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sara J. is an account executive for Altair Eyewear.

I had what I thought was a unique experience at an upscale restaurant recently. The sommelier was walking my group through the evening’s wine choices when his glasses caught my eye. It wasn’t the style (a very trendy, black Buddy-Holly type frame) that I noticed as much as the fact that the lenses looked…different. My dinner companions all happened to be fellow Altair Eyewear employees so I knew they noticed as well (we all seem to obsessively check out people’s frames) and eventually the most outspoken one in our bunch threw the question out there: “Excuse me, but if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me what kind of lenses you have in your glasses?” The sommelier’s response? “Um, these are the plastic lenses that they came with. I saw these and had to have them-I don’t even need to wear glasses!” We all had a good laugh about it with him, but it made me think-it seems like I see people wearing trendy glasses without an Rx everywhere now! As it turns out, my observation is correct, and, according to the NY Daily Times, men are wearing these “fakes” just as much as women are, and for the same reasons. Who knows-if this trend continues, maybe we’ll see glasses become just as popular an accessory for men as belts, watches and shoes?

Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

The winner of our Facebook Sweepstakes made it to Florida Friday afternoon to the Transitions PGA Championship with his wife, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Whil PGA player John Mallinger wasn’t able to make it to the tournament last minute, our back up plan did work well with an introduction to non-other than Erik Estrada, that’s right, Ponch himself. That’s a fair trade right?

After a good night sleep, Dave and guests joined us at the Transitions/VSP/Nike Competitive Advantage Tent to receive a private swing consultation with Kinesiologist, Tyler, walk through the newest lens and frame technology from Nike and Transitions and learn about the importance of annual eye exams and eye health through a putting excercise wearing glasses that simulated different eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Erik Estrada hanging with Dave W.

Next, we walked next door and took a tour of our newest mobile eye clinic (yet to be named!) and recorded a video on the video kiosk showing their squinty faces when they are caught outdoors in bright light. Last stop was the Live Your Vision Pavillion where they experienced Optomate technology and watched the Transitions/VSP/Nike fashion show before sneaking onto Ponch’s tricked out CHP car for a quick photo.

Stay tuned for some videos of Dave’s experience and updates from Sunday, including Erik Estrada’s explanation of the “Sightations” he has been giving out all weekend.

For the Monterey County Office of Education’s first VSP Mobile Eyes event we were able to provide services to over 55 children and youth in need — in the future we’ll shoot for over 100!

VSP Mobile Clinics Operations Manager, Niki M., with a patient in his shades after his eyes were dilated.

During the three day outreach event, the clinic visited three school districts in Monterey County, including Greenfield Union, Sta. Rita Union and Salinas City Union. The young patients entered the clinic with excitement and gratitude, especially after they had the opportunity to select their frames from popular brands like Disney & Coach!

One of the students picking out his frames with VSP Mobile Clinic Operations Managers, Kim R., and Monterey County Migrant Program partner, Isabel.

It was a pleasure partnering with the team at VSP.  Kim R., Niki M., and Vicki A. are a great team to work with, and I want to give a big  thank you to our local VSP optometrists – Dr. Sylvia Lee, Dr. Brett Fredericks, Dr. William Kadell, and Dr. Catherine Winters – who enthusiasticly volunteered their time to provide eye exams to the kids.

VSP Volunteer, Vicki A., Dr. William Kadell, Kim R. and Niki M.

Now that the students who needed glasses will receive them, I feel they will definitely show an improvement in their language arts and math achievement this year as they can see with much more clarity and precision!

We look forward to VSP Mobile Eyes visiting our area again.  What a great service VSP offers to the community!!!