The doctors of Vision Care Direct and their Vendor Allies have responded to the need of Joplin and surrounding area tornado victims.
Anyone who has lost their glasses during the tornado is eligible to receive assistance in replacing those glasses.
Please call 800.399.9644 xt 80 to locate a Vision Care Direct doctor who is participating in this program.
For more information go to www.helpjoplinsee.com
VSP — Vision Service Plan — is here to help people who have been affected by the tornadoes in Joplin. Here are some quick questions and answers for people who have VSP and for those who are not currently covered by VSP.
I lost/broke my eyewear as a result of the tornadoes, but already used my benefits this year. Can VSP help? Any VSP member who has lost or broken their glasses or contact lenses due to the tornadoes can call our Call Center at 800.877.7195 and have their VSP benefits reinstated regardless of eligibility.
Can people not covered by VSP or who have lost their glasses as a result of the tornadoes be helped by VSP? Yes. We have provided VSP eyecare vouchers to the American Red Cross. Contact your local Red Cross chapter and request a VSP eyecare voucher.
MOA Central Office has information available for optometrists (members or not) to get grants from the AOA Disaster Relief Fund. If you are an optometrist who has been affected by the tornadoes in Joplin, please contact Dr. Barrett at the MOA for more information.
As Hollywood prepares for a summer filled with 3-D blockbuster hopefuls and cable networks launch 3-D networks and programming for newly-released 3-D televisions, the trend towards this new technology is hard to miss—except for the millions of Americans who literally can’t see it.
Movies including Avatar and Alice in Wonderland have already left their impression on the 3-D screen and new movies using the technology are making their way into theaters across the country. Meanwhile, ESPN and the Discovery Channel are preparing to broadcast in 3-D. This new technology is catching the eyes of fans nationwide, but some people may not be able to enjoy the 3-D experience because of vision problems.
“Quite simply, people who have even a small vision misalignment or those who don’t have equal vision in both eyes may not be able to see 3-D images properly,” said Dr. Leonard Press, chair of the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) Pediatrics and Binocular Vision Committee. “Individuals with unstable focusing or difficulty in coordinating vision with other senses can experience headaches and other uncomfortable side effects from viewing 3-D movies.”
According to the American Optometric Association, anywhere from three to nine million people have problems with binocular vision prohibiting them from watching 3-D TV and movies. Binocular vision is the ability to align both eyes accurately on an object and combine the visual images from each eye into a single, in-depth perception. The problem comes from fatigue caused when 3-D technology forces the eyes to make adjustments to focus simultaneously on images that are near and far away.
Symptoms indicating a potential problem with the ability to see images in 3-D vary from person to person. According to the results of the AOA’s American Eye-Q® survey, the majority of individuals who suffer from 3-D vision complications most often experience headaches (13 percent), blurred vision (12 percent) and dizziness (11 percent).
The AOA recommends seeing a doctor of optometry for further evaluation if consumers answer yes to any of the following questions:
“Watching 3-D programming can unmask issues such as lazy eye, convergence insufficiency, poor focusing skills and other visual problems consumers might not have previously known existed,” said Dr. Dominick Maino, a Professor of Pediatrics/Binocular Vision at the Illinois College of Optometry’s Illinois Eye Institute. “Research shows that up to 56 percent of those ages 18 to 38 have symptoms related to a binocular vision problem. It is important to know that studies also show optometric vision therapy can help alleviate these problems and make the experience of watching these movies more enjoyable.”
Optometric vision therapy is a sequence of therapeutic procedures individually prescribed and monitored by an optometrist to develop efficient visual skills and processing. Following a comprehensive eye examination, the optometrist may prescribe vision therapy if the results of the exam indicate a need and if it is determined an appropriate treatment option for the patient. The vision therapy program is based on the results of standardized tests, the needs of the patient, and the patient’s signs and symptoms. Optometric vision therapy re-educates the brain to achieve single, clear, comfortable, two-eyed vision that improves eye coordination, focusing and eye movement, ultimately enhancing the 3-D viewing experience.
The AOA also recommends visiting a doctor of optometry on a regular basis for comprehensive eye exams to help ensure healthy vision overall. The AOA guidelines suggest adults age 60 and under have a comprehensive eye exam every two years and then annually thereafter. Children should be evaluated every other year as long as they are in school. Based on an individual’s eye health or the presence of certain risk factors, your optometrist may recommend more frequent visits.
Click here to find an optometrist here in Missouri.
High school football player who purchased colored CLS for prom at tuxedo shop: Confirmed AK and missed entire football season.
Children are at risk for serious eye infections or injury with decorative/ cosmetic contact lenses. You’ve seen them in movies like the Twilight series and on pop celebrities like Lady Gaga. Those cool looking contact lenses that change the color and look of the normal human eye. These lenses known as “Circle Lenses” come in many colors and sizes. They give the eye an enlarged effect by covering the white part of the eye with the tint of a colored contact lens. These contact lenses are sold online, without a prescription, something which is totally against the law in the United States.
This new contact lens trend may put you at risk for very serious eye problems. It is not safe to wear a contact lens that has not been properly fit to your eye by an eye doctor. Failure to do so may result in very serious eye infections that cause redness, pain, and possible permanent vision loss.
Colored Contact lenses at Hair SalonBilateral Painful Corneal Abrasions Vision<20/400Patient admitted to hospital for 3 days due tobilateral condition and questionable compliance.
Swapping or sharing contact lenses with friends should never be done as it also could cause serious eye problems.
If you are interested in any type of contact lenses, see an eye doctor to get fit properly, learn proper lens care, and have appropriate follow-up care. This is the safest way to wear contact lenses.
For further information about contact lenses and their correct prescription and use, contact
Missouri Optometric Association
100 East High Street, Suite 301
Jefferson City, MO 65101
P: 573-635-6151 F: 573-635-7989
E: info@moeyecare.org
www.moeyecare.org
Illinois Optometric Association
304 West Washington
Springfield, IL 62701
P: 217-525-8012 F: 217-525-8018
E: ioa@ioaweb.org
www.ioaweb.org
Because vision loss is often occurs gradually, many people don’t know they are experiencing vision loss until it’s too late and irreparable harm has been done.
Protect your vision — get your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist.
Doctors of Optometry complete a four-year bachelor’s degree before they beginning a four-year program which leads to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree.
Following graduation, about 10% of ODs complete an additional resident or post-graduate program in a particular area of interest.
Because optometrists are located in communities all over Missouri, you can get the eye care help you need and stay close to home.
Contact lenses can be a good fit for people who lead an active lifestyle, but they should only be worn if they are fitted by an eye doctor.
Visit our Contact Lens FAQ page for more information about contact lenses and whether they make sense for you.
