Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

More and more employers are offering their employees the option of directing their health care spending with Flexible Spending Account Plans (FSA), through “Cafeteria” Benefit Plans.  And savvy plan participants are directing that spending towards eye care.

Most participants know they can use their plan dollars for eye examinations, eyeglasses and contact lenses.  But there are many more ways to apply those dollars towards eye care.

For example, plan participants can use their accounts to pay for prescription medications for eye conditions such as dry eye syndrome and glaucoma, even laser vision surgery.

These plans may also be used to extend the benefits of a patient’s vision plan.  A patient who is covered by a separate vision plan, can use flex dollars for the co-payment on a covered eye health examination.  Or, if their vision plan provides one pair of eyeglasses, the patient can use plan dollars to pay for computer glasses, driving glasses or prescription sunglasses.

Some plans have a deadline by which the employee must use the dollars in their account or forfeit them.  Contact lens patients who face such a deadline may consider purchasing an annual supply of lenses with their remaining plan dollars.

--- James B. Mayer, OD, FCOVD
     Agape Learning & Optometry Center
     Thousand Oaks, CA   91360

Sports Vision Tinted Contact Lenses

Tinted Contact Lenses for Sports

Many professional and amateur athletes wear sport tint contact lenses to enhance their visual performance.  The use of sport tint lenses is growing - especially baseball (football & soccer) players, golfers, runners and tennis players.  CBS Evening News recently had a feature on tinted contacts for sports.

Baseball/Football/Soccer:  An amber lens blocks out blue light which is called "visual noise" by vision experts while the red colors, such as a baseball's seams, are accentuated.   They block high amounts of blue light to heighten contrast and visual acuity.   They are particularly useful to improve contrast on grass and against blue skies. Professional baseball players Chipper Jones (Atlanta Braves) and Mark McGuire (Cardinals - retired) are big proponents of these sport lenses.  Professional football players Marques Colston (Saints), Charles Tillman (Bears), Jason Hill (Broncos) and Brandon Jones (Ravens) and also very happy wearers.

Amber "Pupil Only" Sports Vision Tint



Available in Full Iris tint and Pupil Only tint.

Golf:  The gray-green lenses allow golfers to better differentiate distance on a golf course.  They heighten contrast (mildly) while preserving color balance and reduces brightness.  Professional golfer Justin Leonard has commented that with the gray-green lenses he is able to separate out every blade of grass.

Gray-Green Sports Vision Tint

Runners:  The Sun Tac lens reduces overall brightness while preserving 100 percent normal color recognition.  These are great on bright days in order to avoid dripping sweat on sunglasses.

Sun Tac Sports Vision Tint

Tennis:  The Bolle Blue lens blocks blue light to heighten contrast and visual acuity.  The tennis ball is much easier to see with this lens.

Bolle Blue "Pupil Only" Sports Vision Tint

--James B. Mayer, OD, FCOVD

     Agape Learning & Optometry Center

     Thousand Oaks, CA

Protective Sports Eyewear

“Suit Up” The Eyes For Sports Safety

Shin guards for soccer.  Shoulder pads for football. Batting helmets for baseball and softball.  Almost every sport has its own unique safety equipment.  Most participants in sports, however, forget to protect one of the most important parts of the body: the eyes.

Sports are the leading cause of eye injuries in children under 16.  Most of these could be avoided by wearing proper eye protection.

Protective sports eyewear can help prevent injuries such as fracture of the eye socket, scratched corneas, swollen retinas and even cataracts caused by trauma to the eye.

Parents of children who participate in sports should insist that their children wear protective eyewear and encourage schools and athletic clubs to adopt a policy requiring it.

September is Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month.  We encourage anyone who participates in sports – children and adults alike – to remember to outfit the eyes for safety.  Today’s protective eyewear is lightweight, comfortable and available with or without vision correction.

Tips For Choosing Kids Glasses

TIPS FOR MOM & DAD!!

Do your kids need help picking out a new pair of glasses?
Do you need help in helping them?
You're in luck. This crash course in kids' eyewear is just for you.

Shape of Eyeglass Frame
As you probably already know, even kids like to look their best. Shapes that create a "balanced" oval face can help them do just that. You'll want to avoid frames that mimic the shape of your child's face--so, no square frames for square faces, round frames for round faces, etc.

What if you're not sure of the shape?
Ask!!--we're pros at this sort of thing.  But if you want to figure it out on your own, try to picture a dot on either side of your child's brow, cheek, and jaw.  Then, visually connect the dots.  For a really sure fire method, physically draw the same dots on a photograph.  Or, have your child stand in front of the bathroom mirror as you trace his or her outline in soap (this way is the most fun!).

As a general rule of thumb, kids age 2-5 look best in round and oval frames.

Looking to downplay:

Close-set eyes?
Choose frames with a simple bridge color and dramatic temple (side-arm) color.

A long nose?
Select a low-set bridge.

A short nose?
Select a high-set bridge. The top of the frame should follow the brow, without blocking facial expressions.

The frame's width should always match the width of your child's head.

Too many colors to choose from? Use this as a guide:



Here's some eyewear extras that take frames from good to great:

Strap Bridges
If your little one has high cheekbones and a wider, flatter nose, a strap bridge will reduce pressure on the sinus, septum, and developing bones by distributing the frame's weight evenly over a wide area.

Cable Temples
Cable temples are perfect for smaller or younger children (particularly up to 3 years old) because they are soft on the ears and hard to pull off.
Cable temples are also great for active older children who need to keep their glasses from sliding off during sports or play, or for kids who spend alot of time working on the computer.

Spring Hinges
Spring hinges let frames expand as kids grow-getting rid of unwanted pressure that can cause headaches. They resist bending when glasses are taken off with only one hand (something even grown-ups do), so they're more durable too. The payoff? Fewer visits for adjustments.

Gooseneck Nose-Pad Arms
Gooseneck nose-pad arms are easier to adjust than regular nose-pad arms, making it easier to fit the frame to the nose without chafing. They're particularly important for setting the position of bifocal lenses and for fitting very young kids.

PVC Nose Pads
Unlike silicone used on adult frames, PVC nose pads are hypoallergenic and won't cause irritation.

Sun Clip-Ons
Children's eyes need extra protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Clips do the job for less than a separate pair of prescription sunglasses.

Storage Cases
Good children's eyewear always comes with a storage case. "If it's not on your face, it's in the case." Remember this rhyme and frames will stay like new.

In the end, it's all about what your child likes. Kids get the final say.

Thanks to Marchon.com for help with this.

James B. Mayer, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.

Agape Learning & Optometry Center