Dear Sirs:

I have had my eyes tested, new glasses & lenses on November 22, 201[1] by Dr. Michael J. Moses in Killeen, Tx. This is just to let you know I am very please with my testing and the frames I picked. Since I was 16 I have seen the tops, bottoms, sides and bows of the frames, an annoyance. The new frames are almost colorless so I’m really pleased. At 86 I need bifocals and I read 10 books, at least, a month, Smithsonian, National Geographic, Time & Science News plus a daily and bi-weekly paper. Reading and TV mean my eyes and their care is very important. I just wanted to thank you for your coverage and Dr. Moses services.

Sincerely,
Margaret

For privacy reasons, all identifying information has been removed.

Dear Margaret,

You are very welcome, and we are so pleased that you like your new glasses. We really appreciate the time you took out of your day to write us and tell us about your experience.

Sincerely,
VSP

Sunwear – cut down on squinting and harmful UVA/UVB rays by opting for prescription sunglasses.

Computer glasses – help reduce eyestrain while using computers and other digital devices with a mild prescription which can help combat symptoms of computer vision syndrome.

Sports glasses – stay on top of your game and keep your eyes safe with prescription sports goggles or wrap around styles rated for sports play.

Safety glasses – maybe you do a little wood work, welding or serious gardening in your spare time and need to protect those peepers with a pair safety glasses.

And the list goes on. Talk with your VSP doctor and get creative with your lens and frame benefits through your VSP plan. Wishes do come true! And don’t forget–you can use your flexible spending account (FSA) dollars for prescription eyewear.

Fashion Maven

Working in sales I attend many benefit fairs throughout the year, and it’s exciting to see people taking interest in their health. I love speaking to people about the importance of yearly eye exams. For instance, most people have no idea that eye doctors can detect the early signs of diabetes and high blood pressure through an eye exam.

One question I get most frequently is “Why choose VSP?” VSP greatly reduces the cost of annual eye exams and prescription eyewear—you’ll get the best vision care at the best price. So be on the lookout for our booth your next benefit fair…you might just see me there!

To learn more now, visit seemuchmore.com

Danielle DeVoren, VSP member (Hoboken, NJ)

Today’s post comes from our East Coast friend and VSP member, Danielle DeVoren. She shares her experience with Hurricane Irene. 

This past weekend New York and the Northeast braced for one of the worst hurricanes in decades to hit its coast line.

New York (and in my case Hoboken, NJ) prides itself on being prepared, but are also often times over confident.  However, with the constant warning from city officials there was no mistaking it – it was imperative to lay low!

In the 24 hours leading up to Irene’s visit, grocery store shelves were ransacked and the flashlight became the hottest commodity in town while we braced for her wrath. In Hoboken, the city literally shut down in the early afternoon on Saturday.  Bars and restaurants were ordered to be closed by early evening, and ground floor apartments were subject to mandatory evacuation.

Living on the fifth floor, I just waited. There was true calm before the storm.  The air was muggy and smelled like the beach.  We waited… and waited… we watched the rain stop and start the wind pick and die back down.  By early morning on Sunday (when I woke up) the worst was over.  In cities like NYC and Hoboken, destruction was really on a block-by-block basis.  Some blocks were completely flooded and some left unscathed.  My block was somewhere in between, my apartment had a few small leaks in the roof (being on the top floor) and the basement of my building definitely collected some water.

As I watch the news, I realize how lucky I am, as some homes, cars and businesses in the Northeast were completely destroyed.  Some of my colleagues still don’t have power. So while for me personally it wasn’t as bad as predicted, I was impressed by how my community banded together to ensure our safety.

Special note to VSP members and doctors: 

• VSP Members: If your glasses were lost or damaged due to the hurricane, please call our member services support line at 800.877.7195 for reinstatement of your benefits, regardless of eligibility.
• VSP Doctors: If your practice has been affected due to the hurricane please call 800.852.7600, ext. 7373. We’d like to offer any assistance you might need so that you can provide care to your patients if you choose to do so.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dr. Michelle Calder Cardwell

Guest Blog: Dr. Michelle Calder Carwell, an optometrist in Northville, from her Visionista Blog.

If you’ve had Lasik surgery and want to upgrade to a new pair of sunglasses this summer, we’ve got a great tip that could save you over $100 on your new shades. Thanks to a little known benefit from VSP, VSP vision insurance members who have undergone Lasik vision correction surgery can use their bi-yearly eyeglass benefit toward a pair of non-prescription sunglasses. Yes, we said that right: If you’ve had Lasik and you have VSP, you can get your non-prescription sunglasses completely or partially paid for.

Normally, the frame benefit can only be applied to prescription sunglasses (for non-Lasik patients.) But if you’ve had Lasik surgery, VSP wants you to still protect your eyes from damaging UV rays and is willing to let you apply your usual frame benefit toward a pair of fantastic suns.

Depending on your particular VSP plan, this benefit can save you up to $150 dollars on non-prescription sunglasses, at a savings of up to 50% off the retail price (or better, depending on brand and model.)

Available Only Through VSP Optometrists. Find a VSP doctor near you!
There are two important things to keep in mind around this Lasik sunglass benefit from VSP:

1. To use the benefit, you will have to visit a participating, authorized, independent VSP optometrist. Because it requires an VSP insurance pre-authorization from an optometrist.
2. You will also want to consider whether you may need to use the frame benefit in the next 24 months for reading glasses, versus sunglasses. This is more of a concern among patients and clients who are over 40 years of age and may need reading glasses in the near future, despite their Lasik.

To determine your exact sunglass benefit, please contact VSP’s member services at 800-877-7195, imember@vsp.com. With just a couple pieces of information, they can pre-authorize you in minutes over the phone so you’ll know exactly what you qualify for.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What do you think? Did you know an eye exam could show so much? Curious to hear the thoughts of Manny Hernandez, David Mendosa, and Amy Tendrich! 

Editor’s Note:
Dr. Roger Phelps is a VSP Vision Care eye doctor practicing in Ojai, Calif. He’s a Certified Diabetes Educator and also has type 1 diabetes. Dr. Phelps is passionate about educating others about this disease and the importance of eye exams. For more information about his practice, Ojai Eyes Optometry, visit his website.

Click here to view the embedded video.

After viewing the video, vote for the clinic name and be entered to win an HD Flip Cam!

Gail J. and her grand-daughter.

Gail J. works in VSP’s Human Resources department. She shares her experience as an employee volunteer at the recent 2010 Sacramento Black Expo, of which VSP was a major sponsor.

VSP made quite the impression at Black Expo 2010. We’ve participated in the past by having the standard booth and VSP volunteers on hand to share information about our company, more so from a job opportunity perspective. But this year, it felt different. With our VSP Mobile Clinic, SeeLia, as the backdrop of our booth, it was a thrill seeing the eyes of both children and adults as they approached us. Lots of “Wow! Look how big that thing is!” People were definitely drawn to VSP; and whether they wanted information about vision care, job opportunities, or simply to spin the prize wheel, they walked away with a true sense of the VSP experience.

While VSP made quite the impression to others, my volunteer experience left quite the impression on me. A lot of times, events such as these are basically an opportunity for people to walk by and grab the free giveaways. I didn’t get that sense this time at all. I may have chatted with at least a hundred people during my few hours of staffing the booth, but one person in particular stood out for me. I met an elderly gentleman who didn’t know anything about VSP and when I shared what we were doing at Black Expo (e.g. sharing eye health information, the Mobile Eyes program, job opportunities), he said he knew it was important to go to the doctor every year for a check-up, but he just didn’t have the money and he didn’t think the government was going to fix healthcare with all of their partisanship. I told him about our voucher program and to step inside the mobile clinic to learn more about the program. He emerged a few minutes later with a voucher and list of local VSP providers in hand. He had the biggest grin on his face and thanked me for making his day. I honestly believe the reverse was true … he made my day.

I always feel a sense of pride when I have the opportunity to represent VSP. And having the opportunity to volunteer at an event that combines two things that are of importance to me was a plus – my community (in general and specifically the African-American community) and where I work. [Of course, my family is THE most important thing in my life, but that goes without saying! ] But being able to share the VSP experience with the community was awesome! I met people who have VSP as their vision care insurance and asked me questions about their plans. Thank goodness there were volunteers from VSP’s Customer Service division to provide expert answers. I met kids who reminded me of my granddaughter Kayla in the way they asked a million questions about the Mobile Eyes clinic – “Do you drive this bus? Do you work in there? Do you live on it? Can we ride on it? How’d you guys get that thing in here?” and on and on and on. How fun that was! And last but not least, being in Human Resources, I loved hearing time after time as people approached, “VSP! You guys are one of the best companies to work for!” Even though VSP is technically not on the FORTUNE “100 Best” list this year, we remain “best” in the hearts and minds of many.