Wise & Well U encourages employees to have eyes checked

January was National Glaucoma Month, and Western’s Wise & Well U program is encouraging staff and faculty to take advantage of their medical benefits and get their eyes checked.

According to the World Health Organization, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, and the best way to protect from glaucoma is to get comprehensive eye exams.

“A lot of people don’t know that part of their medical benefits include vision,” said Jocylynn Kelley, the benefits assistant in Western’s Human Resources Department.

Any benefits eligible employee of the university who is enrolled in a medical plan has vision coverage. Depending on which medical plan you are enrolled in, this may include one visit every 12 months and $150 towards frames/lenses every 24 months. Contact your provider for details.

Kelley hopes that Western employees take advantage of the opportunity to get annual eye exams, she said.

Glaucoma has been called the “sneak thief of sight,” by the Glaucoma Research Foundation because many cases show no symptoms, but result in permanent vision loss. More than 3 million people in the U.S. have glaucoma, and it is projected to reach 4.2 million by 2030.

The Wise & Well U program is dedicated to helping Western faculty and staff improve their financial, personal and physical well-being. The program provides information and various workshops to ensure that employees are provided with the necessary tools to maintain a healthy well-being.