Healthy Vision Month takes place in May, and it is a time to spread awareness and educate individuals on the importance of eye health. Approximately 39 million people in the world are blind, and around 6x that amount are visually impaired. Therefore, vision health should be a priority for most individuals. To stay healthy, individuals are encouraged to attend regular eye check-ups before issues arise.
Why is Healthy Vision Month important?
Vision is a highly utilized sense, and it affects most daily activities. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, wearing sunglasses, attending eye exams, and refraining from smoking all contribute to healthy vision. However, some individuals are more at risk than others of becoming visually impaired due to family history.
Vision as a voluntary benefit
Many employers offer vision as a voluntary benefit, which provides a variety of ways to maintain eye health. Employees who are offered vision insurance through their employer should consider its advantages. Vision benefits offer routine eye exams, and attending these exams can help catch issues like:
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- High cholesterol and high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Liver and blood diseases
- Macular degeneration
- Brain tumors
- And more.
Vision insurance typically covers a variety of individual services, including:
- Eye exams (annually or biannually)
- Eyeglasses lenses and frames
- Contact lenses
Depending on the plan, additional services may be covered (i.e., prescription protective eyewear or laser vision care programs.) It’s important to note that not all plans cover frames, eyeglass lenses, or contact lens replacement.
Protecting your eyesight helps to maintain your current lifestyle and well-being. Enrolling in vision insurance is a great way to ensure your health and financial future.