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Caring for Your Eyes Fun & Education

Aneurysms

Fuzzy Vision or Brain Danger?
When patients come in complaining of strange and sudden vision problems, this experienced doctor knows how to go beyond the obvious.

Arterial Blockage

Sudden Vision Loss Signals Sick Arteries
Eyes are our windows to overall health. They can also help signal serious medical problems before it’s too late. One patient found out all about that – on the green.

Astigmatism

What’s Astigmatism?
Like nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatism is a common vision condition that’s easily treated. An eyecare expert shares the facts.
What is astigmatism? [video]

Caring for Your Eyes

Computer Vision
Contacts
Driving
Eye Conditions & Diseases
Eye Exams
Eye Safety
Eyewear
Genetics
How the Eye Works
Laser Surgery
Nutrition for Your Eyes
School Vision Screenings

Cataracts

Cataracts: Common Condition, Quick Correction
Americans are living longer, but our eyes don’t always keep up. Cataracts happen to almost everyone of a certain age. But, surgery to remove them is easy and quick.
What are cataracts? [video]
Causes
Vision Problems: Another Reason to Stop the Smoking Habit
Add a host of vision problems to the list of reasons to stop smoking. From cataracts to irritated eyes, smoking is to blame for several eye problems.

Color Blindness

Color ‘Blindness’ Not Really Blindness At All
It’s not really blindness, but a deficiency. 12 million American men have it, but there are techniques and tools that can help.

Computer Vision

Combat Computer Vision Syndrome
Learn five easy things you can do to help minimize the impact of Computer Vision Syndrome.
Signaling Screen Strain
Computer eyestrain, a.k.a. Computer Vision Syndrome, is a real condition – and it’s more and more common. An expert shares the symptoms – and what you can do.
What is computer vision syndrome? [video]
By Age
Children

Log Kids’ Computer Use and Keep Eye Problems in Check
With the “digital age” comes the danger of “digital-eyes.” Setting time limits on kids’ computer use is key.

Contacts

Making Contact with the Right Contact Lenses
Nowadays, there’s a lot more to picking contacts than deciding “hard or soft.” Eyecare experts share the facts on the brave new world of contact lenses.
What are contacts? [video]
Allergies
Allergies Can Mean Misery for Contact Lens Wearers
For contact lens wearers, allergy season can be misery season. There are things you can do to ease the discomfort.
Getting Wise with Your Eyes: What Products are Right?
The sheer number of eyecare products on the market can be overwhelming. An eyecare expert shares some tips for picking the right ones.
By Age
Seniors

The Golden Years Bring Golden Vision Opportunities
Seniors are finding more and more procedures and products to help them see their way to the best retirement years possible.
Contact Lens Care
Caring for Contacts: Some Common Sense Guidelines
Making the switch to contacts from glasses can make you jump for joy. But make sure you know how to take care of them.
Three Easy Steps to Contact Lens Happiness
Make sure your road to contact lens comfort includes these three important steps, brought to you by an eyecare professional.
How do I care for my contacts? [video]
How do I apply eye drops? [video]

Corneal Disease

Diligent Eye Doctor Detects Corneal Disease
Halos, double vision, and cloudy vision signaled more than this young patient thought. After visiting a VSP doctor, she found out a corneal transplant was the only solution to her vision problems.

Diabetes

Diabetes Discovery Center
VSP is a proud national strategic partner of the American Diabetes Association.

Together, we are pleased to bring you a wealth of information and resources to help you learn about and live with diabetes.


Diabetic Retinopathy


Sight Savers: Preventing Vision Loss from Diabetes
Diabetes is bad enough to have to deal with, but it can also damage vision over time, from diabetic retinopathy. That’s just one reason regular visits to the eye doctor are a must for diabetics.
What is diabetic retinopathy? [video]
What is non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy? [video]
What is proliferative diabetic retinopathy? [video]
What is macular edema? [video]
Patient Stories
Diabetes Discovery – Via the Eyes
Eye doctors can easily be the first to see signs of diabetes – through their patients’ eyes. In this case, the patient had no idea she had the disease, until her optometrist spotted it during a routine eye exam.
New Glasses, New Lease on Life
When a 50-something woman went in for her annual eye exam, her attentive doctor noticed signs of something more than a need for new glasses. Esther was pre-diabetic.
Pre-Diabetes
Extra Focus on Vision for Those with Pre-Diabetes
Before getting diagnosed with diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes usually have pre-diabetes. This is when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to have diabetes. Like diabetes, having pre-diabetes can carry a price tag on vision.
Treatments
Triple Threat: New Ways to Fight the "Big Three" Causes of Blindness
Medical advances continue in all areas of healthcare, and that includes vision and eye health. An eyecare expert shares some of the new treatments making headway against three of the biggest blindness-causing conditions.

Driving

Ignoring Road Glare a Nighttime No-No
We can’t prevent nighttime glare from getting us in its grip, but there are things we can do to minimize its effects.
Driving Decision: Seniors on the Road
Americans love their cars. And, that goes double for older people. Losing the independence of driving can be a big blow for seniors. But is it time to make a hard decision? There are telltale clues.

Dry Eye

Eyes Running Short of “Windshield Wiper Fluid”?
Just like your car needs wiper fluid to keep its windshield clean between scrubbings, your eyes need tears to keep them comfy. What happens when there isn’t enough eye moisture to go around?
What is dry eye? [video]
Dry Eye Syndrome a Sign of Overactive Thyroid
Problems with your eyes can often signal other things. In one woman’s case, her dry, irritated eyes had a direct link to an overactive thyroid gland.
Getting Wise with Your Eyes: What Products are Right?
The sheer number of eyecare products on the market can be overwhelming. An eyecare expert shares some tips for picking the right ones.

Eye Conditions and
Related Medical Topics

Aneurysms
Arterial Blockage
Astigmatism
Cataracts
Color Blindness
Computer Vision
Diabetic Retinopathy
Dry Eye
Genetics
Glaucoma
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Low Vision
Macular Degeneration
Migraine Headaches
Multiple Sclerosis
Nearsightedness
Pink Eye
Presbyopia
Stars, Spots & Floaters
Sties
Stroke
Thyroid Disease
Tumors
Vasculitis

Eye Exams

Eye Exam 101
Although it's called an exam, a careful check of your eyes and vision shouldn’t cause memories of testing nightmares from school. Here’s a quick primer on what to expect at your all-important annual eye exam.
What is dilation? [video]
What is hyperopia? [video]
What is myopia? [video]
What is a refractive error? [video]
A Must for Your Peepers
Your one pair of eyes deserves a very important thing each and every year: a complete exam. Why? In addition to helping you see your best, it can allow your doctor to spot signs of serious health conditions.
By Age
Infants

Baby Steps: Make Sure Some of Them are to the Eye Doctor
Did you know that children should have their first eye exam before they can even walk? That’s right, babies should have their eyes checked at a mere 6-months of age. Experts share why.
Children

Getting Kids Ready for Their First Eye Exam
Who likes to go to the doctor? Your child might actually look forward to their eye appointment – if you do your homework.
Seniors

Seniors’ Sight: Yearly Checkups a Must
With age comes more conditions – visual and otherwise – to keep tabs on. All it takes is a simple annual exam to do just that. An eyecare doctor shares info about some of the conditions most often caught and treated in annual checkups.
The Golden Years Bring Golden Vision Opportunities
Seniors are finding more and more procedures and products to help them see their way to the best retirement years possible.
Eye Exam Tips
Health Talk: Honesty Important in Quality of Eye Exams
Sharing personal health and lifestyle information with your eye doctor may not seem necessary, but you’ll get better results, and exams, if you’re open and honest.

Eye Safety

Vision: A Marvel and a Gift
The old adage, “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” could easily apply to vision. Eyesight is often taken for granted. An eye expert shares why that’s a mistake.
By Age
Children

Toys and Tots’ Eyes: Choose Safety
Tots love toys, but not all playthings are created equal when it comes to eye safety.
Lenses
Astronauts Wear It, Why not You?
There’s a space age plastic that can be found in everything from astronaut helmet shields to children’s glasses. If you haven’t heard about polycarbonate lenses, read up here.
What are polycarbonate lenses? [video]
Environment
When Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
If it's smoky outside, it's likely your eyes are feeling it. Here are some tips to protect yourself.

Eyewear

By Age
Children

How to Tell if Your Child Needs Glasses
Over one in five school-age kids have vision problems. A children’s eyecare specialist gives the low-down on what to look for – and what to do.
Getting Kids into Glasses
Kids don’t always want to wear specs, but there are techniques that can help get them interested.
Make Sunglasses as Common as Sunscreen for Kids
In a recent study, 82% of parents protect their kids with sunscreen. Just 32% outfit them with sunglasses. An eye doctor in the know shares why that’s so concerning – and needs to change.
Seniors

The Golden Years Bring Golden Vision Opportunities
Seniors are finding more and more procedures and products to help them see their way to the best retirement years possible.
Eyewear Selection Tips
Fit, Fashion, Finish-Line: Three Things to Guide Eyewear Picks
Choosing the perfect eyewear shouldn’t be a guessing game. With some helpful guidelines and help from your doctor and his or her team, you can find the perfect pair for you.
New Eyewear, New Outlook
Adjusting to new eyewear shouldn’t be hard. Whether you’re getting new glasses or contacts, a few quick tips can help make the transition a snap.
Types of Eyewear
Progressives: The Perfect Prescription for Presbyopia
The annoying and age-related phenomenon of presbyopia has gotten a lot more tolerable – and fashionable – with advances in progressive lenses. Learn the facts.
What are bifocal lenses? [video]
What are progressives? [video]
Sunglasses an Eyecare Must
Sunglasses do double duty: as a fashion statement and a way to help keep your eyes – and eyesight – healthy as you age. That’s because just like your skin, your eyes need protection from the sun.
What is polarization? [video]
What is a UV filter? [video]

Glasses

Fit, Fashion, Finish-Line: Three Things to Guide Eyewear Picks
Choosing the perfect eyewear shouldn’t be a guessing game. With some helpful guidelines and help from your doctor and his or her team, you can find the perfect pair for you.
How to Tell if Your Child Needs Glasses
Over one in five school-age kids have vision problems. A children’s eyecare specialist gives the low-down on what to look for – and what to do.
New Eyewear, New Outlook
Adjusting to new eyewear shouldn’t be hard. Whether you’re getting new glasses or contacts, a few quick tips can help make the transition a snap.
Progressives: The Perfect Prescription for Presbyopia
The annoying and age-related phenomenon of presbyopia has gotten a lot more tolerable – and fashionable – with advances in progressive lenses. Learn the facts.

Sunglasses

Make Sunglasses as Common as Sunscreen for Kids
In a recent study, 82% of parents protect their kids with sunscreen. Just 32% outfit them with sunglasses. An eye doctor in the know shares why that’s so concerning – and needs to change.
Sunglasses an Eyecare Must
Sunglasses do double duty: as a fashion statement and a way to help keep your eyes – and eyesight – healthy as you age. That’s because just like your skin, your eyes need protection from the sun.

Genetics

All in the Family? A Primer on Genes and Vision Problems
Will your child need glasses just like mom? Genes can play a big role in vision problems, but they’re not the only player. A pediatric eyecare expert weighs in on the subject.

Glaucoma

Gaining on Glaucoma: Detection and Treatment
Glaucoma affects millions of people and can cause vision loss. But, there’s good news – early detection, coupled with new treatments, are helping gain ground on the condition.
What is glaucoma? [video]
What is narrow angle glaucoma? [video]
What is ocular hypertension? [video]
What is open angle glaucoma? [video]
Treatments
Triple Threat: New Ways to Fight the "Big Three" Causes of Blindness
Medical advances continue in all areas of healthcare, and that includes vision and eye health. An eyecare expert shares some of the new treatments making headway against three of the biggest blindness-causing conditions.

High Blood Pressure

Blurry Eyes or Ballistic Blood Pressure?
Here’s how one patient learned a life saving diagnosis from a routine eye exam. Blurry vision brought him in; high blood pressure finally got attention.

High Cholesterol

Eye Exam: New Lease on Life
For one 60-something almost-retiree, a routine visit to the eye doctor could have been a life saver when high cholesterol damage was detected.

How the Eye Works

Light to Sight: How We See
Does sight happen in your eyes or in your brain? It’s a little of both, says one veteran eye doctor.
How does the eye work? [video]

Laser Surgery

Laser Surgery Low-Down
Laser surgery helps over a million Americans every year say goodbye to their glasses or contacts. An expert shares some facts about the various procedures and some things to consider when figuring out if laser surgery is for you.
What is refractive surgery? [video]
Who is a good candidate for refractive surgery? [video]
By Age
Seniors

The Golden Years Bring Golden Vision Opportunities
Seniors are finding more and more procedures and products to help them see their way to the best retirement years possible.
Patient Stories
Barry Manilow Sings LASIK Praises
A Los Angeles eye surgeon “to the stars” shares some facts about the simple and quick procedure that’s allowing more and more people to toss out their contacts and glasses.

Low Vision

Low Vision: Helping People Turn Up the Dimmer
It’s not an eye disease in its own right, but low vision often goes along with things like cataracts and glaucoma. But, there are products out there to help people cope.
The Golden Years Bring Golden Vision Opportunities
Seniors are finding more and more procedures and products to help them see their way to the best retirement years possible.

Macular Degeneration

Nutrients, Sun Protection and Treatment: Fighting Macular Degeneration
With the now-famous “aging of America” comes a range of age-related conditions. Vision problems like macular degeneration are taking center stage.
What is macular degeneration? [video]
What is the dry form of macular degeneration? [video]
How do nutritional supplements help macular degeneration? [video]
How do sunglasses help macular degeneration? [video]
What is the wet form of macular degeneration? [video]
Treatments
Triple Threat: New Ways to Fight the "Big Three" Causes of Blindness
Medical advances continue in all areas of healthcare, and that includes vision and eye health. An eyecare expert shares some of the new treatments making headway against three of the biggest blindness-causing conditions.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine Misery and Your Eyes
Migraine pain is like no other. It affects a lot of people – over 25 million Americans alone. Eye doctors can help combat the little-known visual effects of the painful problem.

Multiple Sclerosis

Optic Nerve Points Way to Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
Our eyes can often give the very first indication that something’s amiss in our overall health. No one wants to hear “MS,” but for this young woman, an eye exam opened the door to an essential diagnosis and early treatment of the disorder.

Nearsightedness

Up Close with Nearsightedness
Contrary to what you might think from its name, nearsightedness means not being able to see well far away. Usually an inherited condition, it’s easy to correct.
What is myopia? [video]
By Age
Children

Glasses Helped Second Grader’s Learning Problem
ADHD diagnosis in your child? Rule out a vision problem first. As one family found, the two can go hand in hand.

Nutrition for Your Eyes

Vision for Food: Eat Healthy
Every time you choose or prepare food, you hold your health in your hand – including your eye health. An expert shares some advice on what foods and nutrients are especially vision friendly.

Pink Eye

Red, Itchy, Watery Eyes? Sounds Like Pink Eye
There’s nothing fun about eye infections. From itching and pain to worse, “pinkeye” – a.k.a. conjunctivitis – is common and contagious.
Irritated Eyes? Don't Brush Them Off
From redness and itching to floaters, your eyes are giving you clues you should be paying attention to.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia: The 40-something Eyesight Challenge
No, your arms aren’t shorter. Your eyes are getting older. And, if you’re having to hold things farther away to see them, you could have presbyopia.
What is presbyopia? [video]
Types of Eyewear
Progressives: The Perfect Prescription for Presbyopia
The annoying and age-related phenomenon of presbyopia has gotten a lot more tolerable – and fashionable – with advances in progressive lenses. Learn the facts.
What are bifocal lenses? [video]
What are progressive lenses? [video]

School Vision Screenings

School-Age Kids Need More Than Vision Screenings
10 million kids in America have vision problems. And, traditional school vision screening can miss them. An expert shares some advice.

Stars, Spots and Floaters

Freaky Floaters
While minor stars or spots in your vision aren’t usually anything to worry about, noticeable changes or new symptoms should be a cue to call your eye doctor.
What are floaters? [video]
Irritated Eyes? Don't Brush Them Off
From redness and itching to floaters, your eyes are giving you clues you should be paying attention to.

Sties

Why Sties?
Sties aren’t the most serious eye problem you can have – but they’re nasty – to look at and to feel. An eyecare expert shares some facts about the condition.

Stroke

Contact Lens Malfunction? Vision Problem Masks Stroke
When a patient came in complaining of contact lenses suddenly going blurry, one veteran optometrist knew immediately to look for something more serious.

Thyroid Disease

Dry Eye Syndrome a Sign of Overactive Thyroid
Problems with your eyes can often signal other things. In one woman’s case, her dry, irritated eyes had a direct link to an overactive thyroid gland.

Tumors

Eye Exam Leads to Life-Saving Diagnosis for Little Boy
Could a routine eye exam reveal something even a brain scan missed? This one did. The results? A healthy, happy nine-year-old boy with a renewed promise for a healthy life.
Teamwork Tackles Tumor — Twice
There was nothing routine about this regular eye exam. A patient’s partial vision loss pointed instantly to something bigger going on in his brain.
Wellness Routine: Cancer Found During Annual Eye Exam
Routine eye exams can be anything but routine. One patient got a first hand experience with that – and the life-saving discovery of a rare form of cancer taking shape in his eye.

UV Protection

Protect Your Eyes
While we can't see ultraviolet radiation, it can see—and harm—us if we're not careful. Sunscreen protects your skin from overexposure to UV rays. Proper lenses can safely block UV radiation and protect your eyes.
What is polarization? [video]
What is a UV filter? [video]

Vasculitis

Eye Exams: Shedding Light on Health Problems
Sometimes serious health problems can imitate merely annoying eye conditions. Read how a man’s life was likely saved by a routine eye exam.

© Vision Service Plan 2008