Champaign Eye Professionals – The Importance of Diabetic Eye Care

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Diabetes is a disease that attacks different areas of the body, including your eyes. This is why it’s vital to see your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, regularly, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes. Early intervention may help prevent diabetes-related eye problems, including vision loss.

How Diabetes Affects the Eyes

Diabetes is marked by high levels of sugar in your blood. Over time, this can cause several eye-related conditions that could lead to permanent vision loss if left undetected or untreated. These conditions include:

  • Cataracts
  • Blurred Vision
  • Glaucoma
  • Diabetic Retinopathy

All are serious concerns, and all require regular visits to your eye doctor to keep them from worsening.

What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts are marked by a cloudy film that develops on the lens of the eye. As the film grows, it becomes more and more difficult to see clearly. Through routine eye exams and regular eye care, your eye doctor can intervene before cataracts worsen. Treatment options include prescription eyeglasses or, in more serious cases, removing your cloudy lens and replacing it with one that’s artificial.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma damages your optic nerve, and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated. This condition causes patchy blind spots in your vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, headache, and more. Treatment includes lowering the pressure inside your eyes and learning how to effectively manage your diabetes.

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels in the retina at the back of your eye. It may cause your vision to blur or may cause “blind” or “dark” spots in your vision. To protect your vision, you should keep regular appointments with your eye doctor and primary care provider who can help you learn to manage your diabetes.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes in Champaign, IL, follow up with an eye exam at Champaign Eye Professionals today.

Common Eye Conditions: Presbyopia 

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Presbyopia may sound serious, but in reality, it’s something that happens to most of us as we age. It’s a fancy term to describe your eyes’ inability to focus close-up as you get older. If you have presbyopia, you may need corrective lenses to see things up close, such as the small print in a book or newspaper. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, can tell you more about this eye condition that affects millions of people every year.

What Causes Presbyopia?

Presbyopia happens when the lens of your eye becomes less flexible due to age. Usually, symptoms begin appearing around age 40. Small print becomes more difficult to read, and you may have trouble seeing well enough to perform close-up, routine tasks, such as threading a needle. When you’re young, the lens of the eye is softer and more pliable. It’s able to change shape more easily, allowing you to shift focus between objects near and far away. As the lens ages, it loses some of that flexibility. And what was once easy to see, becomes blurred.

What Are the Symptoms of Presbyopia?

Symptoms of presbyopia are similar for everyone. Over time, it becomes more and more difficult to see close-up objects clearly. You may be forced to hold your book or newspaper further away to focus on the print. And you may suffer headaches or eye strain after a session of doing close-up work, such as sewing.

Treatment Options in Illinois

Presbyopia isn’t something to fear. In fact, it’s a very common occurrence. Treatment usually involves eyeglasses that bend the light before it reaches the lens of your eye. Other options may include refractive eye surgery or lens implants.

If you’re struggling with age-related vision changes in Champaign, IL, schedule an appointment today with Champaign Eye Professionals.

About Your VSP (Vision Service Plan)

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VSP is a top insurer for managed vision care in the United States. If your family is covered under a VSP, you have access to many benefits that shave money off basic services and eyewear, including premium frames not covered by other insurance carriers. If it’s time for your annual eye exam, your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, can tell you more about the benefits offered by your VSP.

Who Is VSP?

Surprisingly, VSP has been operational since 1955. It has only recently grown to become the top provider of vision insurance in America. VSP was created by optometrists to help provide patients with access to better vision care. Currently, 40,000 doctors worldwide accept VSP, which means it’s easy to find an in-network provider.

Benefits Offered By Your VSP

Benefits may vary depending upon which company you work for and which plan you choose. However, the overall benefits include:

  • Additional discounts on featured frames
  • Full coverage on standard progressive lenses
  • Savings on LASIK
  • Monthly premiums as low as $13
  • Premium lens upgrades
  • Coverage and discounts on comprehensive eye exams

To learn more about your personal benefits under VSP, you can create an account at the VSP Member Portal. Or, you can call your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, to learn more about the services covered by your VSP.

Contact Champaign Eye Professionals Today

If you’re insured under a VSP, you have access to many discounts and perks, including the costs of your eye exam and prescription lenses. Call Champaign Eye Professionals today to schedule an appointment and to learn more about which services your plan covers. Our friendly team is always professional, and we’re happy to answer your insurance questions when you call.

About your EyeMed Vision Plan

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Do you have vision coverage through EyeMed Vision Care? If so, you have access to many benefits that can save you money on the costs of your eye exam, frames, lenses, and more. EyeMed Vision Care is now one of the largest providers of vision benefits in the United States and is offered by many employers nationwide. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, can tell you more about what’s covered through your EyeMed Vision Plan.

Who Is EyeMed?

EyeMed has been offering vision coverage since 1988. It’s parent company is Luxxotica, based in Italy. Initially an eyewear brand that specialized in frames and lenses, Luxxotica created EyeMed to help its members gain better access to managed vision care. In 2022, it was named one of the top two Best Vision Insurance Companies by The Balance.

What Benefits Do I Have Through EyeMed?

Like most managed-care plans, your benefits may vary depending upon your level of coverage. More than 87,000 vision care providers accept EyeMed in the United States, which makes it easy to find someone nearby. And though your savings depend somewhat on the company you work for and the type of lenses, frames, and add-ons you choose, you can save up to 73 percent off the cost of your new prescription eyewear as well as your eye exam. Other in-network benefits may include:

  • 20 percent off items not covered by your plan, such as prescription sunglasses
  • 40 percent off a second pair of glasses
  • 20 percent off frame balancing
  • Savings on contact lenses
  • Savings on LASIK and PRK corrective surgeries

As an EyeMed plan participant, you can also save money on a wider selection of frames, including premium frames that aren’t typically covered.

Call Champaign Eye Professionals Today

If you have questions about your EyeMed Vision Plan in Champaign, IL, call Champaign Eye Professionals to schedule a consultation. We’re happy to answer all your vision-insurance-related questions.