Eye Exam
National Diabetes Awareness Month
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. For the over 10% of the United States population with diabetes, this month serves as a reminder to take care of your health. In particular for diabetics, regular eye exams are essential to maintaining your eyesight.
Because obesity is running ramped, being overweight and often not eating properly has led to an increasing diagnosis of diabetes among young and old alike. According to the American Federation for the Blind, approximately 33% of Americans with Diabetes are unaware they have the disease.
Importance of Eye… Continue reading
Tips on Cataracts and Eye Floaters
June is Cataract Awareness Month. Did you know by the age of 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery?
What happens when you have a cataract?
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye, which prevents the passage of light into the eye. Seeing with cataracts is like looking through a frosty or fogged window. Cataract sufferers may also experience sensitivity to light, see “halos” around lights, notice fading or yellowing colors or have double vision in one eye.… Continue reading
Tips to Better Eye Health
By taking control of your eye health now, you could set yourself up for a lifetime of seeing well. We’d like to share some tips to keep you and your family healthy. Just because your eyes feel okay doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t an underlying eye problem. Often patients take their eyesight for granted until they begin having problems with their vision. When day-to-day activities become challenging, that will trigger a call for an eye appointment. Having good vision and healthy eyes may determine your ability to remain independent and… Continue reading
What to Expect at My Child’s First Eye Exam
American Optometric Association (AOA), states “infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age.” Did you know that Bissell Eye Care provides eye examinations for free to children as young as 6 months up to one year old? As children enter preschool around 3 years of age they should be rechecked and then again right before kindergarten. Experts say 5 -10 % of preschoolers and 25 % of school-aged children have vision problems.
During a child’s eye exam, we will perform three assessments, including a vision… Continue reading
TIPS TO AVOID MISUSE OF CONTACT LENSES
Contact lenses – you either love them or can’t wear them. If you are a contact lens wearer you have more than likely noticed how far we have come in the development of contact lenses since you started using them. Perhaps you have also been guilty of ignoring the wearing and care instructions from your optometrist. In a recent study 99% of people admitted they practiced at least one bad habit with their contact lenses and that puts them at a higher risk for eye infections.
Contacts are a convenient… Continue reading
MAXIMIZE YOUR FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (FSA) BENEFITS
The main purpose and benefit of contributing and using an FSA are any contributions made are pre-tax dollars. However, any qualified medical expenses paid for using the FSA are tax-free dollars. So you effectively pay no taxes on those expenses, by reducing your taxable income.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), can help you to spend less on your health care while experiencing the maximum tax benefit. However, you must use monies within the current calendar year to reap the rewards. By spending all of the money in your account before the… Continue reading
DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. If you are one of the estimated 29.1 million people that have diabetes, then you have most likely discussed with your doctor about possible health-related issues that come with the disease. Diabetes also can also harm your eyesight. Obtaining regular screenings will allow you to monitor your health and react to any changes that may have occurred.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (and the American Diabetes Association) recommend patients with type 1 diabetes receive an eye exam within the first 5 years after diagnosis, then… Continue reading
Dry Eyes and Healthy Aging
Eye drops for dry eyes
We’re rolling into another season of the year as summer winds down and the nights are getting dark earlier. September is National Healthy Ageing Month and we want to point out some advantages of annual exams and health visits. When it comes to your vision many diseases can be slowed down, stopped, or even reversed if caught early. Having routine screenings helps to give a baseline for your doctor to better be able to notice changes in your eyes.
If your eyes aren’t giving you… Continue reading
EYE INFECTIONS AND COLD AND FLU SEASON
As of Feb. 2, 2019, the flu is widespread in 47 states, and 24 states are experiencing high levels of the disease. In addition, hospitalizations are increasing, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Flu activity has continued to increase this week,” said Lynnette Brammer, the lead of CDC’s domestic influenza surveillance team.
It seems like everywhere you turn, someone is sick. For those individuals who received the flu shot, your symptoms may not be quite as severe, and Brammer urges individuals who haven’t gotten the flu… Continue reading
DO YOU KNOW YOUR FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (FSA) NUMBERS?
If you haven’t checked your FSA balance recently, now may be the time to check your account. In 2018, the IRS raised the contribution limit from $2,600 in 2017 to $2,650 for 2018. FSAs are pretax monies that can save an employee up approximately 30% on their out of pocket medical expenses. Employees may use their FSA funds to cover certain qualified medical expenses that their employer’s plan does not cover, such as co-pays and deductibles. Other qualified medical expenses include contact lenses, eye exams, eyeglasses, crutches and hearing aids.… Continue reading
