Focus on Back-to-School: HealthSaver Says Vision Check-Up Opens Eyes to Learning Success

Focus on Back-to-School: HealthSaver Says Vision Check-Up Opens Eyes to Learning Success

NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- It's back-to-school across America, and it's time to focus on ways to open students' eyes to more learning success. As the school bell is set to ring -- and with one in four children having an undiagnosed vision problem that can interfere with learning and lead to other academic challenges -- now is the time to give students a clear vision for their future.

HealthSaver, an emerging health care discount program, recommends that in addition to new school supplies, backpacks and trendy clothes, it's a good idea for students to undergo a comprehensive vision exam.

"Early vision testing is a great way to start the school year off on the right foot," said HealthSaver Vice President Liz Sheehan. "A complete and comprehensive eye exam can correct vision problems and spell greater success in the classroom."

This year alone, 10 million children will return to school with a vision problem that could interfere with their learning ability, contribute to disciplinary problems and put them at risk for permanent vision loss, according to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). The group also warns that when vision problems go undetected, students have trouble reading and doing schoolwork, and they often display fatigue, fidgeting, and frustration in the classroom. A full 70 percent of school-age children who have a learning disability in reading have some sort of visual problem, according to COVD.

Early diagnosis and treatment of children's vision problems is a necessary component to school readiness and academic learning, according to the National Parent Teacher Association. Comprehensive eye and vision examinations are important for all children entering school and regularly throughout their school-aged years to ensure healthy eyes and adequate visual skills essential for successful academic achievement, according to the association.

Since 1995, August has been National Children's Vision and Learning Month, and the goal of this national observance is to help educate parents and teachers across the country about the critical link between vision and learning. With that in mind, the experts at HealthSaver and the COVD have developed a checklist for common signs and symptoms of vision problems that may indicate the need for a comprehensive vision exam:

Physical signs or symptoms:
* Frequent headaches or eye strain
* Blurring of distance or near vision, particularly after reading or
other close work
* Avoidance of close work or other visually demanding tasks
* Poor judgment of depth
* Turning of an eye in or out, up or down
* Double vision
* Poor hand-eye coordination
* Difficulty following a moving target
* Dizziness or motion sickness

Performance problems:
* Poor reading comprehension
* Difficulty copying from one place to another
* Loss of place, repetition, and/or omission of words while reading
* Difficulty changing focus from distance to near and back
* Poor posture when reading or writing
* Poor handwriting
* Can respond orally but can't get the same information down on paper
* Letter and word reversals
* Difficulty judging sizes and shapes

HealthSaver offers discounts of 10 to 50 percent on vision care, as well as discounts of 10 to 50 percent on prescriptions at participating pharmacies, 15 to 30 percent off complementary and alternative health care treatments and fitness club benefits. Members can also save from 5 to 50 percent off vitamins and supplements by mail. Discounts are based upon reasonable and customary costs or manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) and are only available from participating providers. HealthSaver is not an insurance product or service.

About HealthSaver

More information about HealthSaver is available online at http://www.healthsaver.com/ or toll free by calling 1-800-7HEALTH (1-800-743-2584). A one month trial membership in HealthSaver (http://www.healthsaver.com/ or 1-800-743-2584) costs $1 and can be canceled anytime during the trial period. Unless the member calls to cancel during the trial, membership will be extended automatically and billed to a credit card number at the $149.99 annual fee. Members may call toll free to cancel at any time and receive a refund of the unused portion of their current year's fee. Trilegiant Corporation (http://www.trilegiant.com/) is a leader in the membership services and loyalty businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

Source: HealthSaver

CONTACT: Todd Smith, +1-615-764-2598 Office, +1-615-202-7944 Cell, or
Andrea Lindsley, +1-615-780-3315 Office, +1-615-415-8886 Cell, both for
HealthSaver

Web site: http://www.healthsaver.com/
http://www.trilegiant.com/

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