VSP Blog » VSP

Ready for the Big Game this Sunday?

Rudy R — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:07:28 +0000

Who is ready for the Big Game this Sunday? While many fans have been getting ready by planning super bowl parties the New England Patriots and New York Giants have trained hard and getting ready for the big rematch. As you may already know football is an extremely fast-moving sport that puts a premium on excellent concentration, timing, reflexes and balance–all of which are helped by vision training. Every position can use vision training to increase concentration, balance and reflexes. For example, here are some common problems that may be attributed to poor vision skills: poor timing on passes, difficulty finding the open player, difficulty making secondary reads, high interception rates and problems reading the defensive sets. All players go through a vision training, especially the quarterbacks, since a split-second decision can be the difference between a touchdown and an interception. I came across this article online on LiveStrong.com that touches briefly on the importance of vision training for quarterbacks. Check it out; it’s an interesting read. Most importantly, be sure to check out the game on Sunday to see who will be victorious… The Patriots or The Giants!

When was YOUR last eye exam?

Alex — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:08:57 +0000

Happy Friday, everyone! This week, we’ve been focusing on the importance of eye health using the Kings VSP Vision Tips with our friends from the Sacramento Kings. We posted a Facebook poll on Tuesday asking fans when their last eye exam was, and we were very happy to see that 65% of poll participants have received an eye exam in the past year!

Receiving regular eye exams is a critical component of your health care routine. Learn more fun facts about eyecare by watching these silly Kings VSP Vision Tips today!

Celebrity chef’s revelation of diabetes brings additional awareness

Alex — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:27:21 +0000

Nationally recognized chef Paula Deen, who is featured on popular cooking shows seen on the Food Network, told the “Today” show on Tuesday that she has Type 2 diabetes. Although Deen was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes three years ago, her recent revelation on national TV has brought additional attention and awareness to the subject of diabetes.

Because diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults, VSP Vision Care has long been committed to increasing consumer awareness of the important role regular eyecare plays in the prevention, early detection and management of diabetes through numerous efforts.

The national VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign, now in its third year, travels to states around the country providing education, awareness and free comprehensive eye exams and glasses to those in need. In 2012, we will be heading to Mississippi, Ohio, California and Pennsylvania.

VSP also has a Diabetic Eyecare Program to help people with diabetes manage their conditions. VSP eye doctors work with patients and can identify changes in the eyes that can lead to diabetes-related blindness. When changes occur, VSP doctors can coordinate care with the members’ primary care physicians to help ensure they receive the care they need.

Almost 26 million people in America have diabetes, and that number is expected to grow sharply over the next 20 years.

Comprehensive eye exams serve as a preventative tool for diabetes because they provide the only unobstructed view of the bodies’ blood vessels. By examining changes in the blood vessels, optometrists can detect early signs of diabetes years before a patient displays symptoms or is diagnosed by a medical physician. This is why scheduling an annual eye exam is so important for maintaining not only your eye health but overall health as well.

Stay tuned to the VSP Blog and Twitter (@VSPVisionCare) for updates on the national Eye on Diabetes campaign. For more information on diabetes and your eyes, please visit the Diabetes Discovery Center.

Tyreke Evans talks Jimmer, Kings, and more in exclusive interview with Yahoo! Sports Radio

Alex — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:43:53 +0000

Tyreke Evans drives to the hoop - Photo Credit: Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

NBA star Tyreke Evans recently spoke about his return to the court following the NBA lockout, the current state of his Sacramento Kings and vision drills that help his game during his interview with Yahoo! Sports Radio on Sunday. Want to know what he thinks of his new teammate, former BYU phenom Jimmer Fredette, or his new head coach, Keith Smart? Curious about what his favorite sports vision drill is? Learn more by listening to Tyreke’s interview below.

If you catch the sports vision drill Tyreke used to do with his brother, email it to prteam@vsp.com and you’ll be entered to win an item autographed by Tyreke!

Click the gray arrow to play the interview:

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.

Dry eyes in winter weather?

Nancy D — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:25:28 +0000

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.

Dr. Phelps talks with Phil Southerland of Team Type 1 about diabetes and eye exams

David C — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:00:22 +0000

Dr. Phelps

Today’s post is written by guest blogger Dr. Roger Phelps, a VSP provider in Ojai, California. Dr. Phelps is also a certified diabetes educator.

Diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent, but still many patients either don’t know they have the disease or don’t take the proper preventative steps. Those preventative steps include not only keeping A1C levels as low as possible, but also getting an annual eye exam to check for any signs of trouble with the blood vessels.

As an optometrist and a type 1 diabetic, I am very passionate about controlling diabetes because of the damage it can do to the eyes without proper care. I sat down with Phil Southerland of Team Type 1, who is equally passionate about diabetes, and he shared with me why he takes going to the eye doctor so seriously.

For more information about diabetes and the eyes, visit the Diabetes Discovery Center.

Watch a Boys & Girls Club member’s experience of receiving the gift of sight

Alex — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:21:33 +0000

Just in time for the season of giving, Sacramento’s FOX affiliate (KTXL) recently aired a special story on Christmas Day about one of the 50,000 Boys & Girls Club members who are receiving the gift of sight from a VSP doctor courtesy of the VSP Eye Pledge campaign. Watch the story here.

To learn more about the VSP Eye Pledge campaign, please click here.

A letter from a member

David C — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:53:31 +0000

We often receive letters, emails, phone calls and posts about positive member experiences. We are very grateful for each and every one, and we would like to share one of those with you today.

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

A Mom’s Laser Vision Correction Journey – Part 2

Jill N — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:26:20 +0000

You said what about my corneal thickness??

After meeting with Cathy to learn more about the VSP Laser VisionCare program, I immediately called my VSP doctor’s office, Natomas Eyeworks, to schedule a consultation appointment. They advised me to take out my contacts that night and to wear my glasses until my appointment date, which was scheduled for two and a half weeks later. When I asked if I could get in earlier they said it was important for me to be out of my contacts for about that amount of time so my eyes would be back to their regular shape (ummmm…side note, I had no idea that contacts actually changed the shape of your eye! I am learning new fun things every day!). So I stocked up on lens cloths, polished up on my karate skills to keep AJ’s hands off my glasses and counted down the days.

During my consultation I went through a number of a tests and checks to see if my prescription and eye health were good candidates for laser vision correction. I also learned about the various surgery options that were available such as the difference between LASIK and PRK.

Watch the video below to see what I learned during my consultation that could completely change what my surgery experience will be and why, for the first time, I was disappointed when a doctor’s test came back telling me I was thin…

Stay tuned for my next video where I meet with Dr. Furlong, my eye surgeon, to learn which surgery procedure ultimately will be right for me as I go through my pre-op appointment and find out exactly what my surgery and recovery will be like. Will I qualify for LASIK which has a shorter and easier recovery time? Or will I be advised to go with PRK which has the same great results but will require additional recovery time and be slightly more uncomfortable? I know which one I want, but we will see…

See what happens next in Part 3: The Decision

Miss Part 1? See it here: The VSP Laser VisionCare program

What did you say?

Lisa P. — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:58 +0000

We’re committed to helping you experience life to the fullest by not only seeing well, but being well. We are excited to announce a special offer for VSP members. Starting now, all VSP members can take advantage of deep discounts on some of the most popular digital hearing aids on the market from TruHearing.

Vision and hearing loss are affecting more and more people. Studies show age-related hearing loss tracks almost 1-to-1 with age-related vision loss. Reasons include the aging U.S. population and the increased use of personal listening devices and handheld computers that place greater demands on our eyes and ears.

According to the Better Hearing Institute, one in 14 people aged 29-40 and one in six aged 41-59 has a serviceable hearing loss. With the average cost of a pair of hearing aids topping $5,000, it’s no wonder that 70% of the more than 30 million Americans who need hearing aids don’t have them because they can’t afford them.

To learn more about this great VSP member offer, visit specialoffers.vsp.com/truhearing.