2015 LASIK Flex Plan Benefits Use It or Lose It

Dr. Keegan Johnson, M.D.
Corneal Specialist and LASIK Surgeon

Keegan Johnson, M.D., Corneal Specialist and LASIK Surgeon at Center for Sight in Fall River, Massachusetts reminds anyone who elected to withhold Pre-Tax Flex Plan funds for Bladeless LASIK in 2015 that they need to use these funds or lose them at year end.

“With all the changes in health insurance this year sometimes patients don’t remember that flexible spending account funds are “use it or lose it" plans. Any amounts you do not use throughout the plan year will be forfeited, so it is very important to plan carefully,” noted Keegan Johnson, M.D. “That’s why this time of year we like remind patients who have these funds to schedule a LASIK consultation, come and see me to find out whether they are a good candidate and arrange a treatment date that works into their schedule. For those considering LASIK in January or February 2016, they too should consider coming in to see me for a LASIK consultation so that we can confirm whether they are good candidates and so then they tell their employer to withhold the pre tax funds for 2016,” further explained Dr. Johnson.

“2015 has been a year with lots of changes to health insurance plans as well as the limits and in some cases the timing for the use of Flex Plan funds. All this change has been really confusing for patients to figure out exactly how to use the FSA benefit from Flex Plans for LASIK. At Center for Sight we just maintained all of our Bladeless LASIK fees and costs to patients at $1995 per eye. This makes it simple and affordable for those wanting Bladeless LASIK since by having the $2500 maximum annual contribution withheld through payroll deduction pre tax, most patients actually get a benefit that only leaves few hundred dollars to be paid out of pocket,” explained Marie Urfer, Practice Administrator at Center for Sight.

Protect Yourself from Airbag Eye Injury in Car Accidents

Most cars today have both seatbelts and airbags installed as part of their overall safety features. Passengers do need to be aware that while airbags along with seat belts are important safety features, not using both together can actually expose you to eye injury risk during a car accident.
 

Eye Injury from Airbags in Car Accidents
A report in Survey of Ophthalmology suggests that the incidence of eye injury and facial trauma from airbags is increasing. How can this be happening? Airbags were originally designed as a supplemental safety system to seatbelts, to protect the head from hard surfaces in frontal crashes. It is critical that all passengers wear their seatbelts even if your car has airbags in the front, back and sides of the passenger cabin. Seatbelts restrict you and prevent you from being quickly and forcefully thrown forward and colliding with the inflating airbags as they are deployed during a car accident. Airbag deployment and passenger collision with airbags has been reported to cause eye injuries including corneal abrasions, alkali burns and the serious effects of eye compression such as retinal tears, retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, retinal detachment and even cataracts. SO-the message is clear. For eye protection and safety in motor vehicle accidents, all occupants of cars should wear safety belts at all times even if your vehicle has airbags!

If you or someone you know has questions about avoiding eye injury in care accidents or needs to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment.
 
Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island. 

Lifestyle Tips & Choices for Eye Health & Vision

Making good choices about your lifestyle, habits and personal care can go a long way to helping keep your eyes healthy and you vision clear. Each of us has a responsibility to contribute to their own eye health and vision by following some basic tips and guidelines.  
 
Have Regular Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exams
Making sure to schedule regular dilated eye health and vision exams-at intervals your eye doctor recommends- is the first step to maintaining eye health and good vision. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment when necessary allows us to find eye diseases, conditions and problems so that we can address them before they are sight threatening. Many eye diseases do not have early warning signs, but signs and symptoms can be identified during a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

 Know Your Family History of Eye Problems
Many eye health and vision problems and eye diseases tend to run in families. This suggests that if an eye disease is present in any family member it may put you at greater risk of that eye problem. This is particularly the case for eye diseases such as glaucoma and age related macular degeneration (AMD). Stay abreast of the eye diseases and conditions as they exist in your family, AND BE SURE TO TELL US ABOUT THEM WHEN YOU COME IN FOR AN EYE EXAM.

Nutrition and Diet Affect Eye Health & Vision
Make sure to pay attention to what you eat and try to include a steady diet of foods high in important nutrients that support good vision, such as the following:

• Vegetables: collard greens, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes and dark, leafy greens, such as kale and spinach

• Nuts: sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts

• Fruits: strawberries and blueberries

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: tuna, halibut and salmon

• Beans: chickpeas, kidney beans and legumes

 Watch Your Weight & Exercise
Being overweight exposes you to a greater risk of diabetes. In fact there is an epidemic of diabetes in the U.S. today. Diabetic eye problems include a greater risk of glaucoma, cataracts and sight threatening diabetic retinopathy. Exercise-even moderate amounts of daily exercise reduce your risk of developing MANY eye diseases and problems.
 
Wear Protective Eyewear
Eye injury prevention is relatively easy-if you wear the appropriate protective eyewear when taking part in sports or home activities that expose you to risk. It is estimated that some 90% of eye injuries can be prevented by taking a minute to review the need for protective eyeglasses before doing home projects, trimming branches or shrubs, using saws, tool or weed whackers-and the list goes on and on. In addition, when spending time outdoors or near the water, wear sunglasses designed to block out 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s UV-A and UV-B rays.
Be smart and be safe.
 
Stop Smoking
Not only does smoking cause a host of cardiovascular and systemic vascular problems, but smoking is now recognized as increasing the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, all of which could lead to vision loss. We also now know that if you do smoke, there is considerable benefit in stopping!
 
Avoid Computer Eyestrain
CRT or video display terminals used for computers are well known to expose you eye fatigue, headache and more troubling-dry eye problems. When working on the computer or using a smartphone or tablet, practice the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eyestrain-that is, every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. If you have any sensation of dryness, grittiness or “something in your eyes”, use an eye surface lubricant or eye drop to replenish your tears.
 
If you or someone you know has questions or needs to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment
Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.