Category: Vision Health

This is the category for vision health.

Use Up Your FSA or Insurance Benefits Before They Disappear!

Posted on November 11, 2022

With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s important to remember that if you have unused funds remaining in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or vision insurance benefits, they could be expiring at the end of the year. One way many people choose to spend these dollars is on eyewear like eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, or a yearly supply of contact lenses.

Maybe it’s been a year or two since you updated your prescription or had your eyes checked, in which case we recommend an annual eye exam and fresh pair of eyeglasses. If your current glasses suit you just fine, but you don’t own a backup pair, now could be a great time to gain the peace of mind of knowing that if you do break your favorite pair of specs, you’ll have a another waiting for you that you love just as much.

Daily glasses wearers are all too familiar with the frustration that comes with not owning a pair of prescription sunglasses, but what they may not know is Longe Optical can turn virtually any eyeglass frame into sunglasses. Our helpful opticians love styling our guests, and even if you can’t find a pair of traditional sunglasses to suit your style, your options at Longe are practically limitless. We use the highest quality polarized lenses to customize regular frames on a daily basis, and with our all-digital ClearVu Experience producing an ultra-accurate prescription, your vision will not be compromised in the least.

At Longe Optical we take contact lens care very seriously. Contacts are classified as a medical device, and a current contact lens exam with one of our independent optometrists is required to order a new supply. This is to help protect your eyes from problems caused by Contact Lens Overwear Syndrome or improperly sized contacts, which can cause long-term vision and health problems. Ordering contacts from Longe Optical is simple and convenient — we carry dozens of the most popular brands and styles, and are more than happy to provide guests with various trial lenses so they can find the contacts that suit them perfectly.

Even though insurance often eliminates or reduces your out-of-pocket expense, we offer some very budget-friendly promotions year-round — including 50% off a second pair of glasses and 50% off glasses when you purchase a year’s supply of contact lenses. We will do everything we can to help you maximize your insurance benefits and minimize the money you spend on eyewear.

For a list of our in-network insurers you can click here, or give us a call at (260) 469-3937. And if we’re out-of-network for you, we can often find special discounts or rebates to help you save as much or more than if you went somewhere in-network.

We hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season, and if there’s anything we can do to help you see, look, and live your best, our friendly staff at all six of our Fort Wayne locations is ready to help!

4 Tips to Promote Healthy Eyes During Back to School Season

Posted on August 17, 2020

Whether your child will be going back to classes in person, staying home this fall, or a little of both, their eyesight is important to their overall health and learning. Poor vision can harm your child’s education because their eyes are constantly used for visual learning activities such as reading, writing, and using computers. Be sure to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Longe Optical for your child at the start of the year to ensure they are seeing clearly and can learn their best!

Screenings aren’t everything

A basic screening that your child might have done at school, while helpful with detecting vision issues, doesn’t capture the overall health of eyes. Only a comprehensive eye exam like the ClearVu Experience we offer here at Longe Optical can truly give you the big picture of your eyesight. Vision screenings in school and at a pediatrician’s office usually only test a child’s distance vision. Most learning is done through reading which is closer than 20 feet.

Know your family’s eye history

Knowledge of past and present family eye disorders can help save your vision. If age-related macular degeneration (AMD) runs in your family, you’ll have a greater chance of developing it. Telling your optometrist the types of eye diseases that run in your family can help them give you accurate recommendations for eye screenings. The earlier an eye disease is caught, the better chances you may have of saving your vision. This is why annual comprehensive eye exams are important!

Wear Sunglasses on cloudy days

Making sure your children have proper eyewear even if it’s cloudy outside is important! Your eyes are exposed to UV light even on cloudy days and during every season of the year. Cataracts, other growths, and various cancers are directly related to UV exposure. Make sure your sunglasses offer 100% UV protection. Just because a pair of sunglasses says it offers “UV protection” doesn’t mean it is protecting against all kinds of UV.

Healthy diet and exercise

Nothing can replace a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Eating properly is good for your body, and that goes for your eyes, too! Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin help prevent cataracts, such as spinach, kale, and broccoli. Lutein also stimulates the growth of pigments that block out harmful UV rays. Antioxidants improve protection against sun damage. Carrots, blueberries, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes are a few excellent sources of antioxidants. Exercise is vital to healthy vision as it helps prevent high blood pressure which can damage vision and even lead to blindness.

For more information about what to include in a healthy diet and lifestyle, ask your optometrist or doctor! You can click here to learn more about our exclusive ClearVu Experience and when you’re ready to schedule your family’s yearly eye exams, visit us here or give us a call at (260) 469-3937.

If you’ve recently had exams but are ready for a fresh pair of specs, just stop in at any of our five Fort Wayne locations with your prescription.

We look forward to helping you and your family out this school year!

Protecting Your Eyes from Blue Light — Why Quality Matters

Posted on August 6, 2020

Have you heard different terms thrown around for “blue light” protection and wondered what the difference is between these terms? Have you wondered if blue light is even harmful to your eyes?

A lot of optical companies refer to the coating they use to protect against blue light with their own branded term. Here at Longe Optical, we utilize the ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect on our opticals. This coating has been specifically developed for people who spend a lot of their time indoors and are exposed to blue-violet light from LED light bulbs, TVs, computers, and tablets. For example, if you work at a computer for long periods of time your eyes would definitely benefit from this product.

We can also add an anti-reflective layer on the back of the lens to reduce the indirect light reflected into the eye. This allows our technology to block UV rays coming into the eye from all directions.

All digital devices emit blue light, a low wavelength, light energy light that can potentially damage your eyes over a long period of time. Although there is an element of blue light that we’re exposed to on a regular basis, for example from the sun, the concern with digital devices comes from their close proximity to users and the amount of time they’re used. Although not all blue light is bad, overexposure can lead to things like digital eye strain and retinal cell damage that can increase your risk for issues like macular degeneration. It’s important to know what blue light protection you are purchasing because not all blue light protection is the same. If your glasses aren’t protecting against the right kind of blue light or if they have a cheap coating, they won’t effectively protect your eyes.

Make sure to check out Longe Optical’s unique ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect lens coating! Adding this feature to your lenses can ensure you have comfortable vision, even when there is a high level of blue light present. This BlueProtect filter reduces portions of the blue light spectrum from reaching your eyes, and many eyeglass wearers with the BlueProtect report greater visual comfort thanks to this coating.

A Few Words About Contact Lenses

Posted on July 30, 2020

Getting the most for your money on contact lenses is important and you may find yourself wanting to consider online options to save money, but what do you give up in the process? Is ordering a contact prescription online truly a better deal?

Here at Longe Optical, we are passionate about your vision care and through our exclusive, state-of-the-art all-digital ClearVu Experience, we can generate a prescription that is perfect for enhancing your lifestyle.

Here are some reasons why we believe getting your contacts through us is a better value and experience compared to purchasing online or over the phone.

Every one of our guests receives personalized care

At Longe Optical, you’re not just another account number, we do our best to know you by name and understand your vision history and situation. For example, our the manager of our West Jefferson location, Brent, has been with us for 15 years and he knows so many of our guests not only from a medical standpoint, but on a personal level.

If we see that one of our guests is refilling a year’s worth of contacts even though it has only been six months since they last ordered, we can get to the root of the issue to make sure that their contacts are working properly. There might be another issue at hand if they’re going through that many contacts in such a short amount of time.

We want to help you fix problems! This is a unique time for all of us, but during the COVID-19 shutdown, we had the opportunity to help out many guests who wouldn’t have been able to receive service from their “regular” retailers.

We carry a massive variety of brands and types of contact lenses

At our five Fort Wayne Longe Optical stores, we offer as many as 40 different types of contacts from all of the leading brands, virtually all of which that can be trialed to ensure you find a brand that works and fits you the best! We won’t try to steer you into a one-size-fits-all contact lens brand. We make sure you find the right contact lens for your needs, whether that’s a daily, weekly, or monthly disposable, a bifocal or multifocal, toric lenses, or something else!

Additionally, we take full accountability for the quality control of the lenses we carry and if we feel that a certain brand or type of lens is not up to our standards, we will not carry it.

Consistency is key and not everyone can offer that

We believe it’s important that our independent optometrists see our patients on a regular basis, preferably yearly, which leads to familiarity and allows the doctor to recognize an issue that you may not realize you have. This leads to healthier eyes and higher quality of life.

It may be tempting to attempt to save money through a discount retailer online or over the phone, and our concern with that is you could be potentially sacrificing the health of your eyes. An ill-fitting contact or incorrectly filled prescription can cause vision issues and lead to serious health implications.

We do our best to offer fair, value-based pricing for our contact lenses and often can identify rebates or alternatives to help manage your budget. More importantly, in our minds and hopefully yours, is the understanding we gain from the personalized care we provide.

Just some food for thought as you consider your next contact lens purchase! Give us a call at (260) 469-3937 or visit longeoptical.com/request-an-exam to schedule your next contact lens eye exam.

Sun’s Out, Shades On – Take Care of Your Eyes This Summer

Posted on June 30, 2020

According to our independent optometrists, too much UV light can raise the risk of various eye diseases over time, so knowing how the sun can affect you and your children this summer is important! Proper eye protection during the summer is vitally important to maintaining overall eye health.

Proper exposure to the sun can also be great for your vision when you’re properly protected! According to a study done by the Ohio State University College of Optometry, children who are exposed to more sunlight throughout the day are less likely to develop nearsightedness over time.

Understanding Types of UV Radiation

The sun emits two major types of UV radiation that can cause damage to the eye: UV-A and UV-B.

Overexposure to UV-A radiation can damage the macula, hurting your central vision. Too much UV-B radiation exposure can lead to damage in the corona and the lens of your eye. Understanding what you are trying to avoid will help you take steps to prevent damage to your eyes.

Four Ways to Protect Your Eyesight

Although the sun can be harmful, it’s still important to make sure you and your family are able to get great exercise and spend time outside. Here are a few tips for maintaining good eye health without having to hide from the sun completely.

Choose sunglasses carefully

Not all sunglasses function the same way! It’s important to consider more than just style when grabbing a new pair of sunglasses. Look for sunglasses that are labeled with “100 percent UV protection” or glasses with larger lenses that wrap around the sides of your eyes. Just because your pair of sunglasses says it offers “UV protection” doesn’t mean it is protecting against both kinds of UV! If you’re not sure how efficient your sunglasses are, ask your doctor.

Wear a hat

A hat with a 2- to 3-inch brim is ideal because it specifically protects the eyes. A dark underside to the brim can lower the amount of damaging UV rays your eyes and skin are exposed to. Many bucket hats and floppy hats are available for even the youngest of children to wear.

Wear proper eye protection even when it’s cloudy

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 80% of the sun’s UV rays can pass through clouds. It’s important to make sure you still wear your sunglasses even if the sun isn’t visibly shining.

Limit exposure to the sun during peak hours

The sun’s rays are most aggressive from 10AM to 4PM. It’s important to stay in the shade, apply sunscreen frequently, and wear other protective gear — especially during these hours.

At Longe Optical, we offer a wide variety of high quality, name brand sunglasses that can be purchased with non-prescription or prescription lenses. Let us help you have a safe and happy summer by scheduling your annual eye exam today. While you’re here, pick up a pair of stylish sunglasses that will keep you safe this summer!

Helpful Hints for Selecting Sunglasses

Posted on June 11, 2020

At Longe Optical, we are passionate about eye care, which includes the eyewear we wear during the summer months! Many of our customers don’t realize how important sunglasses are and that they function as more than just a fashion accessory. When shopping for sunglasses, it’s important to understand exactly what types of UV protection you are looking for and what might happen to your eyes if you’re not properly protected.

Types of UV Radiation

The sun emits two major types of UV radiation that can cause damage to the eye: UV-A and UV-B. Overexposure to UV-A radiation can damage the macula, hurting your central vision. Too much UV-B radiation exposure can lead to damage in the corona and the lens of your eye.

UV Protection

When picking out a stylish pair of glasses, Longe offers a wide variety of frames that also provide protection for your eyes at an affordable price. It’s important when you’re looking for a good pair of sunglasses to not just grab the cheap promotion glasses you got from a local parade: quality is important. When looking for a pair, make sure your glasses say “100% protection against UV.” A pair of glasses that just says UV protection most likely will rub off after one cleaning, as the UV protection is just coated over the lenses, not embedded into it.

Polarized Lenses

Not all polarized lenses provide active UV protection! Polarized lenses have a unique chemical coating that is designed to reduce glare from reflected light. Although it is true that polarized glasses and UV protection are often paired together in high-quality glasses, this is not always the case. Many cheap polarized sunglasses on the market don’t have any UV protection which is why checking for 100% protection in your pair is important.

Serious Conditions

Prolonged unprotected exposure to UV rays can lead to cataracts, pterygium, and macular degeneration in the human eye. Cataracts involve a clouding of the eye’s lens resulting in blurred vision; pterygium involves painful tissue growth on the eyeball; and macular degeneration leads to destroyed central vision when the macula in the retina deteriorates. If not prevented, these conditions can require surgery or cause loss of vision.

Although serious conditions in your eye might not be occurring now, be sure to schedule your annual eye exam today and while you’re here, pick up some stylish sunglasses with lenses that will both protect your eyes and keep you looking great this summer!

Just a few ways we’re helping Fort Wayne see better than ever.

Posted on April 15, 2020

The safety of our guests and our staff remains our highest priority and we are following all CDC recommendations, so while we are unable to provide eye exams until at least May 4, we know that many of our patients and their families need vision correction to go about their daily lives. Our five Fort Wayne Longe Optical locations are open to allow for pickup of eyeglasses and contact lenses, to make eyewear repairs, and to assist guests with scheduling future exams, and these are a few of the stories our hardworking associates have shared with us.

The Dog Ate My Glasses

This happens quite often, it’s not just a homework excuse anymore! Recently, a guest came in with some mangled glasses her dog had gotten ahold of. It had been about two years since her last eye exam and so her prescription was not only outdated, but unavailable because her regular eye care provider was closed. We invited her into the store to attempt to adjust or fix her glasses in hopes we could help her get by until we are able to do eye exams. Upon inspecting her glasses, we quickly realized that her lenses were also damaged. We were able to fix them well enough for her to wear them over the weekend, and we were able to discern her prescription based on her existing lenses. She chose and purchased a new pair of glasses and scheduled an eye exam with us so that she can get her prescription up to date. In the meantime, she’s grateful to have usable eyeglasses that will hold her over until we can do exams again. And the cherry on top is if her pooch decides to snack on her specs once again, the pair she purchased at Longe Optical will be covered for a year thanks to our exclusive One-year, Worry-free Guarantee!

Don’t Worry, See Happy

Speaking of our exclusive One-year, Worry-free Guarantee — there’s no catch, we just want to make sure you’re seeing your best, year-round. Here’s a great example of how it can improve not just your vision, but your life! The mother of a young patient called in and explained that her son in the seventh grade broke his glasses on the last day of school (little did anyone know it was to be the LAST day of school for 2020). He was embarrassed and thought he might get in trouble, so he did not tell his mom and avoided wearing them for several weeks. Mom finally figured out what happened and stopped by one of our stores, unsure what, if anything, could be done. She knew it had not been a whole year since they got them, so insurance wouldn’t cover a new pair. Just like many of us, times are tough due to the pandemic, so she was concerned that her son would need to return to his old glasses until they could afford a new pair. We were thrilled to explain to her that his glasses are still covered under our One-year, Worry-free Guarantee, and since the glasses were not fixable, we offered to replace them at no cost. The mother was really touched and most importantly, this young student will have the opportunity to continue learning this spring and be ready for next school year without falling behind!

Eye Spy Sugar Levels Are High

When we tell patients “your eyes can be a window to your wellness,” sometimes all we get is an eye roll. But here’s a perfect example of how vision issues can be a symptom of a larger problem in your body. One of our patients called to schedule an eye exam this past week and we informed her that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC requires that our doctors not see patients at this time in order to prevent unknowingly spreading or contracting the virus. The guest understood, but was concerned, because she felt as if recently her eyesight had gotten significantly worse. We asked her a series of questions in an effort to uncover the exact nature of her issues and discovered that, as a diabetic, she had not been checking her sugar levels as often as she should. We explained that fluctuations in her sugar levels can indeed affect her vision and in some cases, this damage could be permanent. This prompted her to keep a closer eye on her blood sugar, which had been high at the time she called. Later that evening she reported back to us that her levels were back to where they should be. We scheduled her for an eye exam in May to determine if she needs an updated prescription, and she’s now more committed to checking her levels and maintaining a healthier diet.

We’re Just a Phone Call Away

A longtime patient was running out of contact lenses and called us not knowing if we were open. She was pleasantly surprised when we answered the phone and elated when the contacts were shipped to her house! Upon calling, she said, “I didn’t think you’d be open, but I thought I’d call anyway.” This is one major reason why all five Fort Wayne Longe Optical locations are open during this unprecedented, trying time — we’re here to help you meet your essential needs, and vision should be at the top of the list!

We’re Here to Help

A relatively new guest who had recently ordered contacts from us called this past week and said that as a FedEx worker, he was concerned about touching his eyes due to wearing contacts, and wanted to limit his exposure since he is working in an essential job. We invited him to come into the store and told him we would happily help him shop for glasses. He found a high quality, reasonably priced pair, and even though we are out of network for his insurance, we were able to keep his out of pocket costs down to about what he would have spent using his insurance. His usual eye care provider is not open at this time and he was so thankful that we were open that he is going to keep coming back to us for his future vision care needs.

Don’t Fly Blind

A guest had glasses at our store available for pickup, but he assumed we were closed, so he had not yet come to get them. We called to let him now that his glasses were ready and he was extremely thankful that we called, because he was flying back to California the next day to see his family for Easter. He was able to pick up his glasses before he left, giving him some much-needed peace of mind (and clearer vision!).

Contacts Right to Your Doorstep, With No Contact

A favorite guest of ours was very happy that we were open because she had been meaning to order contacts, as she was down to her last pair of monthlies. Not only was she happy to be able to order her contacts, she was ecstatic when we told her we could ship them to her home, so she didn’t have to come out to get them. Add in a lucrative rebate that we were able to email and submit for her, and it all resulted in a very appreciative patient!

We love receiving and sharing these stories – they embody the spirit of what makes the Sweet Family of Companies so special. If you have urgent eye care needs, please do not hesitate to give us a call and we’ll do everything we can to help you see, look, and live your best!

Fun Facts About Vision

Posted on August 5, 2019

At Longe Optical, while we’re passionate about vision care, we’re also fascinated by some of the more obscure facts and figures out there. So on a lighter note, we thought we’d share some with you – just click the link to read more.

Half of your brain capacity is dedicated to visual perception. The other half is dedicated to the remaining four senses (and if you have a sixth sense, then your brain is running on overdrive)
The most used muscles in your body are the muscles to move your eyes. This is even more true if you enjoy watching professional table tennis
Surface tissue of your cornea (epithelium) is the quickest healing of all your body. We insist that you do not test this one out for yourself; please, just take our word for it!
Your eyes can get sunburned. It is called photokeratitis. Sunglasses, not sunscreen, can help prevent this. And no, your eyes will not get a tan, so let’s keep them the color they were meant to be!
Ommatophobia is the fear of eyes. While we definitely do not have any ommatophobes on staff, we definitely have some arachnophobes!
The average person will blink 15–20 times a minute. Some animals, like fish and snakes, don’t blink, simply because they don’t have eyelids. Hamsters also don’t blink; they wink — one eyelid at a time!

On a more serious note, not every eye care provider, especially the steeply discounted places, will perform a detailed, comprehensive eye exam; and very few can do them on the advanced, state-of-the-art Zeiss equipment that makes up our exclusive ClearVu Experience. So we encourage everyone to do their research prior to choosing where to have their eye exams done and find out in advance what will be checked and tested.

Best of luck in the new school year to all the students out there!

Helpful Hints for Selecting Eyewear

Posted on August 5, 2019

Now that you’ve scheduled back to school eye exams for the kids – what do you do if they need glasses?

Children’s eyes can change rapidly, so be sure your child has an up-to-date eyeglass prescription for the best possible vision and comfort before investing in new glasses.

There is no shortage of children’s eyeglasses and it’s important to keep factors like fit, quality, and fashion in mind. It can be difficult figuring out which glasses your child will be willing to wear — and if they will last longer than the ride home. Here are some shopping tips to help you choose stylish and durable glasses your child will love.

Choose a modern, attractive style

Eyeglasses have become a staple in the fashion world and kids frames are no exception. Ray-Ban, Candies, Lily Pulitzer, and others offer styles from classic to trendy, perfectly sized, and designed for any cool kid on campus. For a more sporty look, Nike, Oakley, and Puma all offer superior durability along with stylish design. And with a wide range of color options and modern shapes to select from, you can match your team colors in style.

Select the perfect lenses

Children’s lenses should be made of polycarbonate. These materials are significantly more impact-resistant than other lens materials for added safety. There are a few ways to enhance your look and at the same time protect your eyes. One option is photochromic lenses, which darken automatically in sunlight outdoors in a range of colors to choose from. Another choice is anti-reflective coating, which not only enhances cosmetic appearance (no glare on lenses in those school photos), but they can reduce eye strain caused by digital device use.

Purchase a “backup pair”
Because children can be tough on their glasses, it’s a good idea to purchase a second, or backup, pair of eyeglasses for them — especially for those with a strong prescription who cannot function without his or her glasses.

We would love to see you and share with you what makes us special. With our one-of-a-kind kids package, all-digital eye care experience, exclusive frame designs, and personalized service, we are passionate about providing the best care to allow you to see and be seen!

Back to School Eye Exams are Due!

Posted on July 12, 2019

It’s hard to believe it’s already back to school time, and you may already be busy prepping all the essentials like fresh supplies, the latest tech, and new clothes. But there is one thing you may have forgotten and we want to help you check it off the list – an annual eye exam!

Studies show kids learn better when they can see their best and regular eye exams are especially important for growing kids. Vision changes often go unnoticed without them, which could negatively affect a child’s performance in school.

Our friendly and helpful independent optometrists specialize in children’s eye care, offering stress-free, but thorough eye exams utilizing our exclusive ClearVu Experience, which generates an ultra-precise prescription that can be up to 25 times more accurate than using traditional equipment.

Here are some helpful children’s eye care tips from the American Optometry Association:

Be aware that pediatric eye exams are most likely covered by your health insurance plan. Most insurance plans recognize a comprehensive eye exam as an essential benefit and cover this expense, including glasses for children.
Keep an eye out for signs of poor vision and eye health issues. If you see your child covering one eye, holding a book close to their face, leaning down close to homework, or complaining of headaches or other mild discomfort, there’s a chance they have a vision problem and they may not even know it.
It’s essential to monitor the use of digital devices to help reduce eye strain. The AOA recommends following the 20-20-20 rule (taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes by looking at something 20 feet away). We also offer special lens coatings that can help filter the light generated by digital devices, which is available to adults as well.
Proper eye protection for sports and outdoor activities is extremely important, as are quality sunglasses that offer UV protection. We carry a wide variety of high-quality brands of sunglasses and safety glasses, available in both prescription and non-prescription.

To help kids succeed and ease the cost of eyeglasses, we offer FREE HD lenses with the purchase of any frame in the store for students 17 and under? These digitally crafted lenses come complete with UV protection, scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coatings. This is a $240 value, absolutely FREE!

You can click here if you would like to learn more about our exclusive ClearVu Experience and if you’re ready to schedule your family’s yearly eye exams, you can do so here or give us a call at (260) 469-3937. If you’ve recently had exams but are ready for a fresh pair of specs, just stop in any of our 5 Fort Wayne locations with your prescription.

We look forward to helping your kids, and you, see better this school year!