The end of the year is fast approaching, and your health benefits are expiring! You might already be feeling anxiety for the upcoming holiday season, but don’t let worry set in about any health funds that you haven’t spent yet for the year. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are great benefits for your health, however the dollars that have been put aside are use-it-or-lose-it and will likely be forfeited if not used by the December deadline. What better way to use these funds than by ensuring that your vision and eye health are taken care of and in the best shape possible.

You could utilize your health funds towards an annual comprehensive eye examination. A comprehensive eye exam is a great way to check in on your overall health, as optometrists can diagnose over 270 diseases. Knowing what is going on with your health will help you decide the next steps you need to take. Not only will your comprehensive eye exam give you insight into your overall health, but it will also make you aware of any vision or eye health problems that you need to consider and correct. 

Your HSA/FSA account can also be used for glasses and contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, replacing those lenses at the prescribed frequency is an integral part of your continued eye health and reduces your risk of infection and irritation.  Your glasses protect your eyes daily from harmful UV and blue light. Updating your glasses for optimal vision, having a back up to your contact lenses or just looking fantastic is a great use of those funds. 

Don’t forget about the rest of your family! 80% of information we take in every day is visual.  Vision correction benefits children in the classroom both academically and emotionally. Poor vision can lead to learning problems and low self-esteem. Be sure to set your children up for success by simply scheduling an appointment with an optometrist in your area. If you don’t have an optometrist yet, find one here!  

If you aren’t sure exactly what you can spend your health spending account dollars on, talk with your optometrist or their office staff as they can point you in the right direction. They work with individuals every year who are up against similar deadlines, so they can offer their expertise when it comes to which items are covered or not. They can also help you pick out a perfect pair of spectacles or sunglasses that will be the perfect fit for your style.

Plan for next year! Ask your optometrist or their staff for an itemized bill. That can help plan what to set aside for next year. Ensure you are taking care of all the visual needs of you and your family.Consider scheduling your family’s annual comprehensive eye exams earlier in the year or even right before school starts, especially if you have kids, so that everyone can enjoy the beautiful Colorado views clearly and healthily!

Did you know that between 16 million and 49 million Americans have dry eyes? This is between 5-15% of the population!¹ Dry eye symptoms are often not harmful at first but if left untreated, they can be uncomfortable and could potentially affect your vision and harm the health of your eyes. Some signs that you might be experiencing dry eyes could include:   

• Itching eyes  
• Redness  
• Feeling like something is in your eyes  
• Light sensitivity   
• Eye fatigue   
• Blurred vision  

There are many causes for dry eye symptoms, such as:  

• Medications/medical conditions  
• Age  
• Weather/environmental conditions 
• Allergies  
• Gender 

As we are entering the cold and dry winter months, Coloradans can notice their eyes feel like they are not producing enough tears to keep them properly lubricated. Cold weather is one of the leading causes of dry eyes because there tends to be a drop in humidity. As we are entering the winter months, (or any time of year) here are some tips to keep your eyes feeling their best!  

• Avoid places with a lot of air movement  
• Turn on a humidifier  
• Rest your eyes frequently when doing near tasks 
• Stay away from smoke  
• Add omega-3 fatty acid to your diet²  

If these at-home remedies do not solve the dry eye issue, you could be experiencing chronic dry eye. Chronic dry eye can be alleviated by intervention from your optometrist. Eye doctors can prescribe medications to limit and manage the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye. If the symptoms are still not going away, there are other options to manage your dry eyes such as: 

• Using special contact lenses. Ask your doctor about newer contact lenses designed to help people with dry eyes. Daily disposable contact lenses are often the best choice for patients with dry eye. Some people with severe dry eyes may opt for special contact lenses that protect the surface of the eyes and trap moisture. These are called scleral lenses or bandage lenses. 
• Unblocking oil glands. Warm compresses or eye masks used daily can help clear up blocked oil glands. In office procedures to clear blocked glands often help in more severe cases, or in cases where the meibomian glands are atrophied. 
• Using light therapy and eyelid massage. A technique called intense-pulsed light therapy followed by massage of the eyelids has proved to help people with moderate to severe dry eyes. This is also helpful with patients who have a condition called ocular rosacea. 
• Closing your tear ducts to reduce tear loss. Your doctor may suggest this treatment to keep your tears from leaving your eye too quickly. This can be done by partially or completely closing your tear ducts, which normally serve to drain tears away. 
  Tear ducts can be plugged with tiny silicone plugs (punctal plugs). These are removable. Or tear ducts can be plugged with a procedure that uses heat. This is a more permanent solution called thermal cautery. 
• Medications to treat chronic inflammation associated with Dry Eye. Your doctor may prescribe short term or long-term medication to assist in controlling the inflammation. There are many options available.³ 

During your annual comprehensive eye exam is a great time to discuss dry eye concerns, care and management with your optometrist. The sooner you begin treatment the easier it is to control this condition long-term. If you do not have an optometrist, find one near you here!   

References:  

1. https://dryeyedirectory.com/dry-eye-statistics/#:~:text=Currently%20between%2016%20million%20and,the%20economy%20each%20year%20%5B10%5D 
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/dry-eyes-home-remedies#prevention 
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371869 

Eye emergencies happen. Our first instinct may be to get to an emergency room or an urgent care for help, however that might not always be the best plan of action when dealing with the eyes. Oftentimes ERs are able to treat a wound, but they don’t always have the correct equipment to do a proper comprehensive eye examination; staff who specialize in eye care; and/or could potentially misdiagnose you resulting in permanent vision loss. Visiting your optometrist could be the best answer when dealing with an eye-related emergency. 

Nearly 25% of eye-related ER visits were determined to be non-emergencies and could have been treated by an optometrist in-office.¹ Unnecessary ER visits can be costly to the patient and even slow down care for others experiencing an emergency, too. There are many reasons to choose to visit an optometrist, but specifically in an eye emergency because they can treat six common eye care emergencies.   

• Blunt Eye Trauma 
• Eye Cut, Puncture or Foreign Body to the Eye or Eyelid 
• Chemical Burn of the Eye 
• Sudden Vision Changes or Loss 
• Red Eye 
• Pupils are Different Sizes (pupil anisocoria) 

Leaving these symptoms untreated for a long amount of time can lead to permanent damage, vision loss or blindness. Not to mention, these symptoms can be very irritating. Most eye doctors have emergency/urgent care hours for their office as they are experts in treating these types of problems and can help to keep your eyes and vision safe and healthy. Eye doctors want to help by providing convenient and quick care, so utilizing their urgent care after-hours for emergencies could be beneficial.   

Having consistent interactions with an eye care professional can help you determine if what you are experiencing is an actual emergency or something that is completely common and benign. Getting an annual comprehensive eye exam can help you to understand any eye conditions you might experience, for instance, a puffy eyelid; pink eye; or eye floaters. Eye doctors are also able to help diagnose many underlying health conditions that you might have through an eye exam which can illuminate paths for treatment. 

Optometrists are specialists of the eyes, and they know the best route to keep you healthy and seeing your best. Reach out to your optometrist to help you determine what options there are within their office for emergency care. If you don’t have an optometrist, click here to find one near you! An eye doctor should be the primary line of defense for your eye health and working with them will help you to be prepared if an eye emergency happens.  

References: 

1. https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(16)31631-1/fulltext