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Specialty Eye Institute

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How to Use Your HSA, FSA, & Insurance Benefits On Your Vision

How to Use Your HSA, FSA, & Insurance Benefits On Your Vision

Instead of waiting to improve your health, spend your HSA, FSA, and deductible on correcting your gift of vision and improving your health now. Investing in your health will help improve your life. While a majority of your goals may be related to your diet or exercise, it can be easy to forget how your vision impacts your health and quality of life.

Your eyesight is one of the most important biological assets in your possession, yet this gift is often the last on the list for scheduled maintenance. This is common because many insurance plans do not cover yearly eye exams, preventative diagnostics, and devices like glasses and contact lenses.

What is an HSA?

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an account that allows you to set aside money without taxation for preventative healthcare costs such as premiums, co-pays, and medical expenses not covered by your regular insurance or prescription plans.

Many patients use their HSA plans to pay for necessary annual preventative care such as dental exams, elective procedures, vision care, and corrective procedures.

What is an FSA?

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is an account that you can create for various healthcare-related expenses, including your deductible. This account is non-taxable by the government and depending on your employer, they may match your monthly contribution to your FSA account or offer reimbursement for certain vision expenses associated with this account.

Ophthalmologist

FSA and HSA Compatible Expenses

When considering the best way to spend your end-of-year FSA and HSA balance, instead of paying for expected co-pays and deductibles, consider spending your balance on FSA-approved vision expenses.

1. Eye Exams

Preventative eye exams are the key to diagnosing infections and progressive diseases, such as macular degeneration, which can cause irreversible blindness.

Despite these risks, some insurance plans do not cover annual eye exams. Treat your eyes well this winter and use your FSA and HSA balances to visit your ophthalmologist.

2. Eyeglasses and Contact Lens

Even if your annual eye exam is covered in your insurance plan, necessities like eyeglasses and corrective lenses are often only partially covered.

Correcting your vision is important to daily functions, and these necessary adaptive devices are included in the compatible expenses list for both FSA and HSA accounts.

3. Corrective Eye surgery

While many eye surgeries are classified as elective procedures and not covered under most insurance plans, procedures like eye surgery help many people see clearly and can make lasting improvements to your quality of life.

Rather than spending money on glasses and contact lenses each year, consider a one-time surgery that can correct your vision, so you will never have to purchase corrective devices again.

Ophthalmologist

Your Vision is Important – Don’t Wait

Regardless of your vision needs, if you have money in your FSA or HSA, now is the time to spend it! Invest in your health. Our team of ophthalmologists in Ann Arbor, MI, and other areas offer various types of eye care solutions such as cataract eye surgery, macular degeneration treatments, LASIK eye surgery for hyperopia, retinal detachment surgery, and astigmatism treatments.  Our doctors provide treatments that can help you see better and ensure your eyes are healthy. We put our patients first. So, don’t wait, schedule your appointment today. Your vision may depend on it.

May 5, 2022 Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: fsa, hsa

Botox Clinic

Botox Clinic at Specialty Eye Institute at our Adrian, MI and Toledo, OH locations

Botox Clinic

Specialty Eye Institute is hosting a Botox Clinic at our Adrian and Toledo offices on Thursday, February 18th.

Adrian Office: Morning appointments

Toledo Office: Afternoon appointments

You must call (866) 445-9063 to reserve your appointment time.

Botox treatments will be done by RaSahawn Venerable, D.O. Dr. Venerable is a Cataract, Glaucoma, and Oculoplastic Specialist. Dr. Venerable will be doing a Botox Clinic every 3rd Thursday of the Month. doctor wu

Deborah Wu, M.D.

As a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist and Fellowship Trained Oculoplastic Specialist, Dr. Wu performs the following services: cataract surgery, intravitreal injections, glaucoma procedures, medical and cosmetic eye lid procedures as well as medical and cosmetic Botox. Dr. Wu is accepting new patients at the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo locations and does surgery locally in Kalamazoo.

Dr. Wu was born and raised in Wisconsin, she enjoys spending time with her two boys, figure skating, hiking, and traveling. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and completed her residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan followed by a Fellowship in Oculoplastics at Consultants in Ophthalmic and Facial Plastic Surgery in Southfield, Michigan.

WARNING: DISTANT SPREAD OF TOXIN EFFECT See full prescribing information for complete warning. The effects of BOTOX Cosmetic and all botulinum toxin products may spread from the area of injection to produce symptoms consistent with botulinum toxin effects. These symptoms have been reported hours to weeks after injection. Swallowing and breathing difficulties can be life threatening and there have been reports of death. The risk of symptoms is probably greatest in children treated for spasticity but symptoms can also occur in adults, particularly in those patients who have an underlying condition that would predispose them to these symptoms.

September 6, 2020 Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: botox, BOTOX Cosmetic, kalamazoo

Vivity™ Extended Vision IOLs for Cataracts Now Available At SEI

Introducing The Vivity™ Extended Vision Intraocular Lens

Specialty Eye Institute is pleased to introduce the Alcon Vivity™ Extended Vision Intraocular Lens. The Vivity Lens is the latest advancement in Ivivity iolOL technology providing cataract patients with clear distance vision, intermediate vision, and functional near vision. As a practice, we’re always working toward giving our patients the best possible visual outcomes and we are the first in Michigan and among the first in the country to offer this new technology.

The Vivity lens is the first-of-its-kind and uses a non-diffractive technology called X-Wave™. Alcon’s proprietary non-diffractive technology uses all available light to create a continuous, extended range of vision to reduce a patient’s dependence on glasses. This technology reduces visual disturbances like halos, starbursts and glare reported with other multifocal and extended depth-of-focus lenses.

“The Vivity Lens gives the vision quality of a 48-year-old who does not wear glasses for distance. This smooth depth-of-focus lens design gives excellent distance vision, intermediate vision and functional near vision with no halos or glare that you would get from a multifocal lens,” says Paul H. Ernest, M.D., Founder and Cataract Specialist at Specialty Eye Institute.

 

November 25, 2020 Filed Under: Blog

Eye Protection From the Sun: UV Protection Tips

Sun Damage to Eyes: UV Protection

Most people are aware of how the sun can affect and damage their skin. Likewise, the majority of outdoor enthusiasts are well-versed in effective ways to protect their skin from the sun. However, many summer revelers are less aware of (or have a tendency to overlook) the damage the sun can cause to their eyes. Although maybe not as apparent as a blaring sunburn after a long day of summer fun, UV eye damage is just as dangerous.

Protecting Your Eyes from Sun Damage

Use this UV protection guide to learn the potential risks of sun exposure and learn how to effectively protect your eyes from the most damaging UV rays.

Types of UV Damage

There are two basic types of rays from which you need protection: UVA and UVB. UVA rays are the deeper penetrating of the two and are much more prevalent. These rays impact your central vision and can damage the macula, which is a part of your retina in the back of your eye. UVB rays are most known for their role in causing sunburns and skin reddening, but they can also have an effect on your eyes. It is important to protect your eyes from UVB rays to prevent damage to your cornea. In addition, UVB rays have been shown to cause even more damage to vision than UVA rays.

Depending on the frequency and intensity of your exposure to damaging radiation as well as the methods you utilize to protect your eyes, exposure may lead to a number of eye concerns, including:

  • Macular degeneration
  • Cataracts
  • Pterygium
  • Cancer of the eyelids
  • Corneal sunburn

As eyesight is likely one of your most relied-upon senses, it is crucial that you learn proper summer eye care and protect your eyes any time you are in the sun.

Tips & Insights: The Advantages of Receiving Cataract Surgery & Treatments

Summer Sun Protection Tips

Most eye care is generally straightforward; however, protecting your eyes involves more than just throwing on your favorite pair of shades. Effective summer sun protection takes intentionality and knowing what to look for to really protect your eyes. Use these sun protection tips recommended by your eye doctor to avoid preventable sun damage to your eyes.

Sun Damage to Eyes: UV ProtectionChoose Your Sunglasses Carefully

While classy summer shades are a favored accessory for many, don’t just go for style when investing in sunglasses. Rather, look for a pair that is labeled with “100 percent UV protection” or “UV400” to make sure you are getting the right type of protection. Likewise, opt for a larger style with a bit of wrap-around to avoid rays penetrating your eyes from the side. If you need help protecting your eyes from the sun, ask your eye doctor for recommendations or have them take a look at your shades.

Wear a Hat in Addition to Sunglasses

In addition to sunglasses with the right UV protection, wear a wide-brimmed hat that will further protect the eyes. A hat will block roughly half of the UV rays to which you are exposed. This protection also gives you a better defense against rays that may penetrate above or around your sunglasses. Look for a hat with an effective UV rating to get the most protection.

Avoid Peak Hours

While most people love to soak up the sun’s rays mid-day, this time of day is also when the sun can be the most damaging. If at all possible, avoid sun exposure between 10 AM and 4 PM to protect your eyes from the most aggressive UV rays. In the event that you must be out during the middle of the day, though, always wear protective gear, including sunscreen, and seek shade whenever possible.

Tips & Insights: View Our LASIK Eye Surgery & Treatment Options

SunNever Gaze Directly at the Sun

Even with protective eyewear, looking at the sun directly can cause significant damage to your eyesight. The most common type of damage caused by direct sun contact is retinopathy, a form of retina damage caused by solar radiation. The easiest way to protect your eyes is to avoid gazing directly at the sun during the day, including during an eclipse.

Avoid Exposure Even When It’s Cloudy

Many people are fooled by cloudy days. Thinking that the clouds provide protection from the sun’s rays is an easy way to damage your eyes without even realizing it. Don’t be fooled. Practice safe eye care and wear protective sunglasses and a hat even when it is cloudy out.

Your best defense against the sun is knowing the damaging effects of the sun’s rays and wearing the right kind of protection. Use these sun protection tips to maintain your eyesight and avoid as much preventable damage as you can.

 

eye protection

April 13, 2021 Filed Under: Blog

Dr. Carmelina Gordon Appears on the Morning Blend

Fox 47 Interview on Retina Disease

Dr. Carmelina Gordon, Vitreoretinal Specialist discusses the diseases of the retina on the Morning Blend…. Read More »

October 31, 2017 Filed Under: Blog

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