VSP Vision Care – Vision Care For Life

At some point in everybody’s life there is going to be a necessity for corrective lens of some kind, whether they be eyeglasses or contact lenses. VSP (Vision Service Plan) is dedicated to offering affordable, high-quality eyecare plans that put people first, support visual wellness and improve one’s quality of life. As the nation’s largest provider of exceptional eyecare coverage, more than 1 in 10 Americans rely solely on VSP for the health of their eyes. For close to half a century, VSP has been a trusted advisor in eyecare wellness and health benefits.

The VSP network or family of companies offers world-class products and services to clients, doctors and members. “VSP companies’ capabilities range from comprehensive eyecare, to cutting-edge e-commerce and practice management technologies, to services that connect private practice with the industry’s most respected and high-fashion frame brands and lab finishing capabilities.” Of course, if VSP is provided for by the company you happening to be working for, all the better. Vision Service Plan insurance will generally cover all the necessities of eye care leaving the cost of cosmetic enhancements up to the patient, usually to pay out of their own pocket. VSP, at a minimum, provides for an eye exam per year as well as lenses and frames for glasses or a set of contacts. Some plans can be set up with more comprehensive coverage and a series of co-payments tapping into a litany of quality, VSP managed, care services.

Coverage of obtaining glasses usually encompasses the following steps: Eye Examination, Prescribing, Frame selection, Accuracy of lenses, Fittings and Adjustments. Getting contacts usually entails an eye examination, prescription and then trying on and testing out a new pair of contact lenses. Normally, the optometrist suggests testing a new set of contacts out for a week or so before ordering a new set. Vision Service Plans cover the aspects of contacts that are visually necessary but as mentioned previously leave the cost for cosmetic embellishments-such as colors-up to the patient.

The VSP network works together to ensure that private practice remains the number one choice of patients in today’s extremely competitive eyecare industry. VSP Vision Care based in California provides vision care to more than 55 million members nationwide and the exclusive network of private-practice doctors is more than 25,000 strong and growing. As a full-service benefit provider, VSP members can get a WellVision Exam, a wide selection of eyewear brands and personalized, monitored care from any of their network doctors.

At Vision Service Plan’s website, http://www.vsp.com, a large amount of invaluable, up-to-date resources are available to all members, as well as non-members, promoting trusted eyecare wellness to the larger public. Optometric and doctor resource articles are continually being added revealing the lastest practices and developments in the eyecare industry. Members can easily “Find a VSP Network Doctor” that is right for them, access personal benefit information, choose a plan through their employer and obtain eyewear advice specifically suited to that member. This are only a few of the services available online through VSP. Most of your eye health questions can also be answered. Questions relating to Computer Vision, Contacts, Driving, Eye Conditions & Diseases, Eye Exams, Eye Safety, Eyewear Genetics, How the Eye Works, Laser Surgery, Nutrition for Your Eyes and School Vision Screenings can all be addressed.

There is also a Diabetes Discovery Center which addresses living with diabetes and information related to eyecare and diabetes. Topics covered include: Diabetes and Your Eyes, Diabetes Risk Test, All About Diabetes, Diabetes Prevention, Nutrition & Recipes, Weight Loss & Exercise and For Parents & Kids. You can also subscribe to Eye on Health, their quarterly eyecare education e-newsletter, providing timely information on eye health topics to help you keep your vision healthy. You can subscribe to their newsletter by clicking here.

Dr. Beckwith of Austin County Eye Associates is a VSP doctor instilling the same commitment and dedication to eyecare wellness for nearly three decades. His commitment to the quality of life of his patients and eyecare on the whole meets with the standards of excellence and practice set out by Vision Service Plan.

For additional information or to schedule an Eye Examination, please contact us at (866) 611-7556.

Extraordinary Eyewear Designs by Silhouette

The Silhouette Company was created in 1964 with one idea in sight. That idea was to design and develop eyewear and frames that were not only functional in correcting poor vision, but also as a fashionably designed and stylish accessory suited for everyday wear. A business operation which began with only one designer and a staff of five, Silhouette eventually created the Silhouette eyewear range to extend from a fashion accessory to one that expressed quality, individual personality and exclusive functionality as well. Silhouette developed ingenious, high-quality production techniques to manufacture and distribute its frames, at the same time creating extraordinary designs. All this was combined in an effort to raise the bar on the standards of fashion eyewear industry as a whole. Silhouette has developed the Titan Art models, which are lightweight, exceptionally resilient and practically indestructible. All of these designs are in perfect harmony with Silhouette’s aims to create Silhouette frame designs that are balanced between eyewear functionality, form and shape. This technique is aligned with Silhouette’s philosophy that eyewear design is a combination of art and science. With this, Silhouette eyewear designers are able to develop comfortable, fashionable eyewear, some of which are worn by models on the catwalk and in fashion magazines.

The range of Silhouette eyewear includes the Titan Minimal Art series, which include classical oval shapes and almond shapes made mostly for women with a thinner face profile. This series also include bold and trendy designs for men, and even oblique unisex models to suit both men and women. Some of the latest designs creating a splash from the Titan Series include Titan Edge, Titan X and Titan Next Generation III. The Minimal Art line offers lightness, durability and overall comfort, which make them a perfect choice. Such a perfect choice, that this line of frame has become the official eyeglasses of NASA. So, if they are good enough for astronauts, they must be good enough for us land dwellers.

Colorama, Dimension, Embrace, Enviso, Elegance, Class and TMA – The MUST Collection are other high-tech designs delivering on the high Silhouette standard and ones to further research. New models for both men and women are not only light, robust and firm but are comprised of various designs and materials to suite all tastes, contours and need. For example the Elegance range are rimless glasses designed with an added charm and sophistication with deeper lenses to suit different tastes and face types. The Casual Silhouette eyeglass range on the other hand, presents metallic rimmed glasses that highlight a simple and yet uncomplicated style with different models made for men and lady wearers.

Silhouette eyewear designs have proven to move with the times from its birth in the sixties to now in the new millennium. During the sixties, when curving butterfly frames were popular, Silhouette introduced their philosophy of frames as a fashion statement. In the seventies, Silhouette evolved to increase the frame diameter, with its trendy Futura Silhouette eyewear also has a collection with extra large frames and a variety of colors. The eighties was a decade where designer fashion was trendy. At this time too the Silhoutte eyeglasses ranges were growing with more variety and colors added. The nineties brought about elegant, clear-cut and casual designs to Silhoutte eyeglasses. It was during this period too that an Italian designer who was brought in introduced aerodynamic curves to Silhouette eyewear. Finally, in the new millennium, Silhouette initiated their Titan range of rimless models, which in addition to its light and unique features, also boasted of minimalism and sturdiness.

“Silhouette became a part of my life 19 months ago. I have been wearing glasses for over 20 years. It was not until I tried on my first Silhouette that I truly understood the meaning, or the connection of lightness, minimalism and fashion. I always thought I had to have a chunky, heavy plastic frame on my face to be “in style”. Now I know different! When wearing a Silhouette I have style, function and fashion all in one!! I will NEVER wear anything but a Silhouette! Silhouette helps me see my world more clearly.” — Chris, United States

Austin County Eye Associates offers a wide range of Silhouette too meet every face profile and every personality profile. Click here to view their full range of eyewear.

For additional information or to schedule an Eye Examination, please contact us at (866) 611-7556.

Contact Lenses

A contact lens, also known as a contact, is a corrective, cosmetic or therapeutic lens which is normally placed on the cornea of the eye. Contact lenses normally serve the same purpose as eyeglasses, that is, to correct the vision. However, contact lenses are normally virtually invisible and extremely lightweight. Most contact lenses are tinted a light blue when merged in storage and cleaning solutions. Some contact lenses are tinted to intentionally change the appearance of eye color. These lenses are cosmetic in nature but can also be corrective. Individuals often prefer to wear contact lenses over eyeglasses for several reasons, the most notable, being appearance and practicality. Comparatively to eyeglasses, contact lenses are less likely to get wet, do not steam up and provide a much wider field of vision making them much more practical for many patients. Additionally, ophthalmological conditions such as keratoconus and aniseikonia may not be accurately corrected with eyeglasses. Corrective contact lenses are designed to specifically correct vision. In many patients, there is a discrepancy between the refractive power of the eye and the length of the eye resulting in a refraction error. This error is a glitch in the focusing of light by the eye and a commonplace reason for poor visual acuity. A contact lens can balance this discrepancy by allowing correct focusing of light into the retina. Corrective lenses address conditions such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hypermetropia), astigmatism and presbyopia. Contact lenses can only be worn for a short period of time. Usually patients must remove the lenses every night or every few days. There has been renewed interest in orthokeratology, the correction of myopia by deliberate overnight flattening of the cornea, leaving the eye without contact lens or eyeglasses correction during the day.

Cosmetic contact lenses are developed to intentionally change the appearance of the eye. The lenses can also be designed for the purpose of correcting vision as well. The FDA refers to non-corrective, cosmetic contact lenses as “decorative lenses”. Scleral lenses cover the white part of the eye (i.e. sclera) and are used in many cosmetic theatrical lenses. Theatrical lenses are mostly used in the entertainment industry to alter the appearance of the eye. Due to their size, these contact lenses can be difficult to insert and do not move very well within the eye. There can be some disturbance in vision with these lenses and it is advised that these lenses not be worn too much, however, research has shown them to have no direct link to any long term conditions of eye degradation. Similar lenses have more direct medical use. For example, some lenses can give the iris an enlarged appearance, or mask defects such as absence of (aniridia) or damage to (dyscoria) the iris.

Therapeutic contact lenses are normally soft and often used in the treatment and management of non-refractive disorders of the eye. A therapeutic contact lens protects an injured or diseased cornea from rubbing which allows for proper healing They are used in the treatment of conditions including bullous keratopathy, dry eyes, corneal ulcers and erosion, keratitis, corneal edema, descemetocele, corneal ectasis, Mooren’s ulcer, anterior corneal dystrophy, and neurotrophic keratoconjunctivitis.

A daily (disposable) wear contact lens, is designed to be removed daily normally before going to sleep. An extended wear contact lens is designed for continuous wear including throughout the night and normally can be worn for 7 consecutive days/nights depending on the brand. Newly developed materials, such as silicone hydrogels, allow for even longer wear periods of up to 30 consecutive days/nights. These longer-term lenses are often referred to as continuous wear. Extended lens wearers may have an increased risk for corneal infections and corneal ulcers, primarily due to poor care and cleaning of the lenses, tear film instability, and bacterial stagnation. If you wear a contact too long an ulcer may occur.

Some brands of contact lenses include Vistakon/Johnson & Johnson, CIBA Vision, Bausch & Lomb and CooperVision, Conóptica, Conta Optic, Daysoft, Menicon and UltraVision. However, there are many more brands on the market and it is imperative to consult with either an Optometric Phyisician or Optometrist to find the best solution for your needs. An examination or consultation will deterimine your needs in conjuction with the current condition of your eye health.

For additional information or to schedule an Eye Examination, please contact us at (866) 611-7556.