Archives for July 2016

Is Vision Insurance plan a must buy?

"I do not wear prescription eyeglasses, I do not need a Vision Plan to insure my vision." This could be your natural response to someone who suggests you to buy a vision plan. But, may be it's time for you to think over it again.

And Why?

Many of the eye diseases do not show signs or symptoms before it impacts you. The only way to avoid it, is by going for regular eye examinations and vision testing by an experienced optometrist. Now, this is where your Vision Insurance can help you with the cost that is incurred on vision care.

A good health insurance plan always comes bundled up with a vision plan. Sadly, at times vision insurance is the only reason for people to schedule their annual eye exams, which means that if people did not have a vision plan, they probably will not prioritize eye care. It is important to know that certain eye diseases such as Glaucoma, is often not diagnosed early by optometrists/ophthalmologists to prevent vision loss. A vision plan helps you in securing for such unforeseen expenses arising in the future.

Now that you know and understand the importance of a vision plan, you should make it a priority to invest in a vision plan that suits your requirements

Picking up the best vision plan for yourself

Currently Vision Service Plan (VSP), Eyemed Vision Care, Aetna, Humana, Anthem Blue Cross, VisionCare Plan and Vision Benefits of America are some of the preferred vision plans available. The plans offer excellent benefits through large network of providers that consist of top quality independent private practitioners.

Alternatively, the user has the following options available -

Flexible Spending Account (FSA), is a tax advantaged financial accounts set up by an employer which allows an employee to set aside a part of his income to pay for medical expenses. Expenses incurred on eye examinations, eye glasses and contact lenses are considered to be health care expenses and you can pay using your Flex Account. If you already have a Flex Account, you do not require a vision plan.

Health Care Financing like Care Credit Patient Financing specialize in supporting a patient by financing their healthcare treatments. Currently they are associated with many private practitioners and basis your eligibility criteria you can get up to 2 years of interest-free financing.

Separate Savings Account have been set up by people for covering their medical expenses. They keep adding little money every month for any planned expenses related to health care. Considering, vision care is a planned expense with few exceptional scenarios, you can generally plan your expenses on buying new glasses or eye exams and can be paid out of this savings account.

At Devlyn Optical, we accept most major vision insurance plans and are an out-of-network provider for many others. We check your plan to see what savings you're eligible for and help you in making eye care affordable for you.

If you have any further questions related to vision insurance, just call your nearest Devlyn Optical store and we will be happy to help.

Importance of Eye Exams during Childhood

When was the last time you took your child for an eye exam? If your answer is “it’s been less than 6 months”, you can ignore this and not read any further. However, if it’s been longer than that, then it is important you read this.

For parents, their child’s health is a priority. Thus, it is important that when you take your child to his doctor, get his eyes be evaluated at all doctor’s visits, even during infancy. An easy way to avoid vision related problems is by keeping vision screenings routine.

Routine visits help in discovering problems at an early stage and stand a better chance of being treated. Untreated abnormalities can lead to worse problems such as vision loss.

Vision problems your child’s Pediatrician evaluate for, are:

  • Strabismus is a condition where eyes are misaligned a.k.a squint. In United States, close to 12 million people have been diagnosed with Strabismus and most of them are children. The different types of Strabismus come from the direction of the eye’s misalignment. It can be upward {hypertropia}, downward {hyotropia}, inward {esotropia} or outward {exotropia}.
    There is also Phoria Strabismus, a related condition in which misalignment is not obvious, but unmasked by covering either one of the eyes when the child is tired or sick.
     
  • Amblyopia, commonly known as “Lazy Eye” is a condition where child has reduced vision in one eye. It occurs during early years of childhood and impacts vision of one eye.
     
  • Refracted Errors is a condition in wherein shape of the eye averts the light to focus openly onto the retina. Myopia (a.k.a Nearsightedness) and Hypermetropia (a.k.a Farsightedness) are most common refractive errors.

When your child is under the age of 3, their doctor will usually check for Refracted Errors, Astigmatism (another eye problem), Amblyopia, Eye Movement Ability, Proper Eye Alignment (Strabismus), and the Eye’s Reaction to Changes in light and darkness. Once a child turns 3, he can and should have a formal eye test done.

Various types of Eye Tests

Corneal Light Reflex – It is a test to check for misalignment in eyes. A light is directed on the bridge of the child’s nose, allowing the examiner to check that light reflexes proportionately and shines at the similar spot on both eyes. If the reflex not similar or in center, it indicates a misalignment i.e Strabismus.
This test helps in differentiating between Pseudostrabismus, a condition in which the eyes seem misaligned but does not require treatment, and real Strabismus.

Unilateral Cover Test – This test helps an examiner to check whether an infant or child has a reduced vision. The unilateral test helps in detecting Strabismus in older children.

Example of Unilateral Cover Test conducted on a child below 3 years.

A Pediatrician will use an object and have child follow it with both eyes. Next, he will cover one eye of the child and have them keep following the object. If the child begins to feel irritated or stops following, this may indicate that un-covered eye has reduced visio

If you come across any indications, like;

i) Child’s eyes are crossing and there is a misalignment visible, or
ii) If they just are having trouble seeing
iii) Child complains of frequent headaches or Double/Blurred Vision

These are the signs that your child has an eye problem and you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

For more information about Child Vision Screenings and Eye Examinations, visit your local Devlyn Optical Store.

10 Facts about Color Blindness

More than likely you know someone with color blindness, but here are the 10 facts you may not know!
  1. The first document on color blindness dates back to 1798. It was written by John Dalton, an English Chemist who himself was a color blindness.
  2. Types of Color Blindness –
    • One, which makes it hard for a person to differentiate between Red and Green,
    • Second, in which a person is unable to tell the difference between Blue and Yellow, and,
    • The third, where a person is diagnosed with absolute color blindness.
  3. Monochromacy is the word for absolute color blindness and a person diagnosed with it can only see shades of gray, white and black.
  4. Color blindness is genetic; it can be passed from parents to children. Because of this, women who are red-green color blind will always have red-green color blind sons.
  5. 99% of people with color blindness are Red-Green color blind.
  6. Color blindness can also be caused due to eye diseases, retina damage, or with aging.
  7. Color blindness affects more men than women and is not a gender blind trait. In United States, 10% of men are red-green color blind as compared to 0.5%of women.
  8. Ishihara Test is the most widely used test for color blindness. Created by Dr. Shinobu Ishihara, a Japanese ophthalmologist, the test is made of plates filled with colored dots. The plates contain numbers in dots of different colors that a colorblind person cannot differentiate.
  9. Certain countries do not allow color blind people to drive. It is hard for them to distinguish between the red, green, and yellow traffic lights.
  10. For color blind people, even colors in their dreams are limited to what they see in everyday life.

If you have difficulty in identifying the correct colors, you should immediately meet your nearest Optometrist or visit your nearest Devlyn Optical Store today!

Devlyn Optical collaborates with Essilor Vision Foundation for Healthy Vision Day in San Antonio

American Optometric Association recently quoted that 25% children in United States have been identified with undiagnosed vision problems. This has impacted their ability to learn. Furthermore, uncorrected vision related problems are affecting productivity of 33% working population. Due to poor vision, chances of falls and hip fractures are as high as 7 times among senior people.

With commitment to make quality vision care and eyewear accessible to the underserved communities in United States, the Essilor Vision Foundation partnered with Devlyn Optical and the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute to provide free vision services for CRIT’s patients, their families and the community they serve.

On June 23rd, the Essilor Vision Foundation’s Mobile Vision Clinic and Devlyn Optical were at Children’s Rehabilitation Institute - San Antonio to provide eye examinations by experienced optometrists and eyeglasses, at no charge.

A total of 88 vision screenings were performed, 47 patients were referred to mobile clinic for full eye examination and 14 kids received their prescription eyeglasses that very same day.

At Devlyn Optical, we are always looking forward to serving the community by giving the gift of sight to those in need and spread awareness about vision care among children and adults.