Are Healthy Eyes and Vision Part of Your Goals for the New Year?
Did you start off the year with a resolution for healthier eyes? From scheduling your annual eye exam, eating healthier, or finally finding out if you are a candidate for a laser vision correction procedure such as LASIK to help you look and see better, there are simple things you can do that give you the satisfaction of taking great care of your eyes. Best of all: It’s never too late to set your vision goals!
Always start with a comprehensive eye exam. Getting an eye exam is a great way to ensure your eyes are healthy and gives you the opportunity to talk to your eye doctor about your vision correction needs and what the next steps should be if you want to look at a procedure like LASIK.
If improving your vision with laser vision correction is on your list of goals for 2021, it is a good idea to invest some time in learning all you can about the procedure and pull together a list of questions you want answered so you can make the best decision for you and your vision. One of the questions we hear most often is: LASIK can be upwards of $4,400, so how am I going to pay for it?
It is a good question and, today, there are many ways to pay for LASIK. You should begin with a conversation with a highly qualified LASIK surgeon to discuss your options and ensure you have the facts about the cost of LASIK. Once you thoroughly understand the cost of the procedure that has been recommended for you and your vision, then you can look into ways to pay for laser vision correction that works with your budget.
One approach that has been getting a lot of attention in the news recently, Health Savings Accounts – also known as HSAs. These accounts are offered by employers as a benefit to employees, the benefit of using pre-tax dollars for certain out-of-pocket health and medical expenses. Another option with tax benefits is known as a Flexible Savings Account or FSA. Laser vision correction procedures, like LASIK, are considered eligible expenses for both HSA and FSA funds. There are rules and limitations to each of these options for paying for a laser vision correction procedure so read How to Use Your FSA and HSA for LASIK Surgery to learn more about how these tax advantage accounts can help you put your 2020 vision goals in reach.
Speaking of 2021 goals, if you have resolved to eat better and healthier in the New Year, consider adding or increasing these foods that are not only good for your body but your eyes as well! For instance, eye-healthy foods may reduce your risk of cataracts or help delay their progression. Studies have shown eating a diet high in vegetables and fruit lowers the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults. Good eye nutrition is also important to protect the investment people make in vision correction treatments such as LASIK.
If healthy eyes and great vision are on your list of must-haves for 2021, it is time to take the next step. Schedule that eye exam and get the conversation going with your eye doctor about these and other ways you can protect and improve your vision for a lifetime.
