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"During this economic crisis, people might decide that they cannot afford to pay for preventive health care," said Ed Greene, CEO of The Vision Council. "While forgoing such care as a regular eye exam may seem like the only option during these tough times, it is a sacrifice that may come with a high price."
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Vision disorders are the second most prevalent health problem in the country, affecting more than 120 million people, so the effect of postponing or avoiding eye care because of the cost -- which 40 percent of Americans report doing -- could be dangerous. Many vision-threatening conditions have no early warning signs and eye exams can also detect other serious health problems including diabetes and hypertension.
According to a report recently issued by The Vision Council, two-thirds of Americans say they would be more willing to get an eye exam if they had some vision coverage, yet only 17 percent of employers report offering vision insurance. Uncorrected vision problems also have an impact on the bottom line for employers, costing more than $8 billion in lost productivity every year.
For those who lack vision insurance, or even those whose benefits don't cover all the costs associated with an eye exam, one way to make maintaining healthy vision more affordable is to use funds in a flexible spending account (FSA) toward that care. FSAs enable participants to use pre-tax income to pay for out-of-pocket health expenses, such as an eye exam or a new pair of eyeglasses. These pre-tax dollars are set aside at the beginning of the year and must be used by the end of the year or the funds are forfeited.
"A regular eye exam is the best way to keep your eyes healthy and your eyeglass prescription current," reminds Greene. "Many times an eye doctor can see things you can't."
For more information about maintaining healthy vision, visit www.thevisioncouncil.org.
Dedicated to enhancing life through better vision, The Vision Council represents the manufacturers and suppliers of the optical industry. We provide a forum to advocate for better vision and to promote quality vision care products and services in the global community.
SOURCE The Vision Council
