Eye health is something that's on our minds a lot. We only have the younger children in the family who don't wear glasses or contacts -- yet. My husband, daughter, oldest son, and I all have to wear some kind of corrective lens to be able to do the things we need to do each day. Even though the younger ones don't wear lenses, however, they still need annual exams to make sure their eyes continue to grow healthy and strong. Important things can be learned by having a qualified eye doctor look at their eyes, including whether they are at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
It is recommended that parents start checking their kids' eye with an exam from a qualified professional at the following ages:
- 6 months
- 3 years
- before Kindergarten
- every year after
What about those times, in between? What clues can you use to determine if another visit it necessary? Things that tipped us off to my son's needing glasses included the common signs of squinting, putting a book further away than he should to read, complaining of headaches, and feeling "sick" after doing his schoolwork. Kids may also rub their eyes or have a hard time focusing. Since 1 in 4 kids have an undetected vision problem that can affect learning, it's really important to tune into these clues and get an annual eye exam on the calendar!
With times being tough for so many, it's nice to have a solid plan for financing the costs of corrective lenses. VSP is a company that I'm familiar with from when my employer offered their Vision Care insurance to me. Most doctors in my area take the Vision Care plan, and now that I'm self-employed, I can still purchase a plan through their Direct Program.
How much could I save? The average VSP member saves about $320 each year on exams, corrective lenses, and extras. There are hundreds of frame styles to choose from under the plan, and even if you choose to get contact lenses (like me), you can use your allowed credit toward the purchase of your choice of contacts!
Are you ready to learn more about what steps you can take now to ensure a future of healthy eyes and great vision for your kids? Be sure to check out the VSP website for answers to common questions parents may have about eye health and links for information to enroll!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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