What is a Flex Spending Account?

A Flexible Spending Account, also known as a flexible spending arrangement, is a tax-free way to pay for medical and health related expenses not covered by your health or vision insurance. FSAs allow you to set aside a portion of earnings to pay for qualified expenses. These accounts are great for lowering your taxable income and in turn saving you money, but if you don’t use your FSA dollars by the deadline you will lose them for good. Some employers do have a grace period, but it is best not to wait. As the year comes to an end, time is running out to use your FSA dollars before they expire, so don’t forget to use some of that flex money to care for your eyes. We have very few openings left for this year, so make an appointment now with one of our amazing eye doctors to put your FSA dollars to work.

Frames and Lenses – You need your glasses to see, but they can also be fashion accessories, or a type of jewelry for your eyes. If you already have a “safe” pair for everyday use, now may be a good time to pick a more daring pair of designer frames to add to your collection, or a back up pair to use in case of miss-placement or damage.

Prescription and Non-Prescription Sunglasses – Protect your eyes against harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses year round. Some people don’t know that even non-prescription sunglasses qualify for flex spending, so now is the time to get those designer sunglasses you have been eyeing.

A Year’s Supply of Contact Lenses – Whether you wear daily or extended-wear disposable contact lenses, they typically have a shelf life of up to four years as long as they are stored properly. So it is a great idea to use your FSA to buy a year’s supply of contacts, which enables you to save even more with manufacture rebates and/or bulk discounts.  If you’re concerned about your prescription changing during the year, don’t be – we will let you return your unused/unopened contact lenses for a new prescription, if it changes.

Contact Lens Solutions and Eye Drops – Although we don’t think about it as a big expense the small things can add up over the course of a year. If you have a few dollars left in your FSA, why not stock up on products like solution, enzyme cleaners and dry eye drops? Your eyes will thank you for it later.

Children’s Eyewear – If your child wears prescription eyewear getting them another pair could help avoid an unexpected expense or trip to the doctor in the event they lose or break their current pair. And even if your child doesn’t need glasses to see it is extremely important to protect children’s eyes with sunglasses. We have a great selection of eyewear for children, which are affordable, durable, and stylish.

Computer Lenses – Suffering from eyestrain, headaches or blurry vision after a long day on the computer? Computer lenses could help. Even if you don’t normally need eyeglasses, your eyes could benefit from the protection and functionality that these specialty lenses have to offer. Benefits include better focus; reduced eye fatigue, and protection against harmful blue light. These lens options will help you maintain your eye health when your work just won’t let up.

       

Out with the old, in with the new

We’re moving inventory to make way for new glasses, sunglasses and accessories!
We have more than 50 frames we are offering at a discount of up to $200.
These include both men’s and women’s frames and a variety of brands,
including Kate Spade, RayBan, Juicy Couture, Fossil, and Silhouettes.

Our Optical Shop is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 am – 5 pm,
and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am – 6 pm.
We close daily from 1:00pm-1:45pm

No appointment is necessary – stop by anytime!

Please note: the discount cannot be combined with other offers or filed with insurance.

Out with the old; in with the new. We’re moving inventory to make way for new glasses, sunglasses and accessories this Summer. We have more than 50 frames and sunglasses we’re offering at up to 50% off right now. These include men’s, women’s, and children’s glasses and a variety of brands, such as Nicole Miller, Juicy Couture, BMW, and Silhouettes. Come shop!

Our Optical Shop is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 am – 5 pm, and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am – 6 pm. No appointment is necessary – stop by anytime!

Please note: the discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer nor filed with insurance.

Join Us For A Memorial Day Sale And Trunk Show!

Thursday, May 25, from 2 pm – 7 pm

Stop by and shop 50% off frames.* Meet the representatives from OGI Eyewear and Maui Jim, and browse an extended inventory of two of our most popular brands.

True to our trunk shows, we’ll offer more than just eyewear. LuLaRoe Consultant Christina Sandridge will be here with lots of fun, colorful prints for Spring. If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out LuLaRoe, now’s your chance!

We will have food, games, raffles, and more. Feel free to bring the kids. Mark your calendars; we hope to see you all there!

*Some exclusions apply. Contact us for details.

Ray-Bans have long been associated with “cool.” Created in 1937, this iconic American brand was made famous by celebrities like James Dean, the young John F. Kennedy, Jack Nicholson and, yes, Tom Cruise (in the good ol’ Risky Business/Top Gun days). Crozet Eye Care started selling Ray-Bans last year in our Optical Shop and have had a hard time keeping them on the shelves!

Fans love Ray-Bans not only for their classic styles like Wayfairs and Aviators, but also because of the quality. If you’re going to invest in a good pair of sunglasses, it’s important they don’t break or scratch the first (several) time(s) you drop them. The lenses are twice as durable and 12 times more scratch resistant than common lenses. And, they’re resistant to UV light, sweat, moisture, and much more, offering complete protection for your eyes.

Ray-Bans can now be customized for maximized fit, comfort, and style. The options for frame and lens styles and colors seem endless. That’s why it’s important to personally come in to our Optical Shop at Crozet Eye Care and try them on to see what works best for you. Because of the many options, we can’t possibly carry them all. But, we will work with you to decide what  you like best and custom order a pair for you. (For our Hoos fans, they even carry orange and blue!)

As with any of our sunglasses, no appointment is necessary and no prescription is required. Just stop by during office hours and shop!

Change is in the air!

Autumn usually brings to mind pleasing thoughts of football, pumpkin spice lattes, leaves changing colors, and cooler weather. For our contact lens wearers, there is another thing to look forward to as we head into this Fall season.

Crozet Eye Care is offering 20% off on non-prescription sunglasses PLUS free shipping to your home if you order a 12-month supply of contact lenses- this applies to any brand. More good news for those of you who wear Acuvue® Oasys® lenses: Acuvue is now offering these contacts in six- and 12 month packages. No longer do you have to remember to order new lenses every three months (this option will no longer be available). Save 20% by ordering a 12-month supply, and also enjoy the Crozet Eye Care benefits mentioned above. 

Start the season off right by ordering your contacts now! 

If you redeem the discount for the non-prescription sunglasses, we would love to see your new Fall eyewear, so please tag us on your Facebook pages in your new shades!

Hope to see you soon! 

Do you remember back in May when the temperatures were warm, we were planning trips to the beach, and I talked about the importance of protecting your eyes with quality sunglasses? While the lazy days of summer may be distant memories, that certainly doesn’t mean it’s time to stop thinking about protecting your eyes.

Believe it or not, sunglasses are just as important in the winter! While we may not think the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays feel as strong in the winter, they are often even more intense this time of year. “Winter glare,” the intense reflection from snow and ice, can interfere with your vision.  Sunglasses provide protection for your eyes from the ever-changing light conditions that winter weather can bring, while also serving as a wind block, protecting your eyes from drying, and keeping them comfortable. Regardless of the temperature, exposing your eyes to UV rays without the proper protection can lead to serious damage. So, don’t pack those sunglasses away with your shorts and t-shirts just yet!

Remember, there is a large difference in the quality of sunglasses on the market. We highly suggest purchasing even non-prescription sunglasses (perfect for contact wearers!) from a reputable optical shop to ensure quality. Here are a few suggestions for your future sunglass purchases:

• Look for lenses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation
• Buy lenses that screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light;
• Gray lenses are preferable, as they do not modify color, but brown and green are good choices, too.

Good UV radiation protection doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive. We carry a wide variety of sunglasses that offer 99-100 percent UV protection across the price spectrum from makers such as Vera Bradley, Tommy Bahama, and Gucci.

If you would like to know the amount of UV blocked by your current sunglasses, we have a piece of equipment that will measure it. Just stop by any time during business hours. I will measure your glasses, and I’d love to show you what we have to offer.

A few weeks ago Anne posted about one of our favorite rimless frame lines – Silhouette Eyewear.  We love this line for a multitude of reasons, though providing our clients with the best vision is obviously our first and foremost goal.  Fortunately for the fashionista inside us, Silhouette offers a way to achieve great vision in a super stylish way!  

Don’t just take our word for it though.  Check out our latest commercial  to see our clients showing off some of the fun, versatile and stylish options the Silhouette line has to offer.  As you can see in the commercial, Silhouette offers a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors for both adults and children in regular and sunglasses.  There is definitely something for everyone!

For a look at the full line of frames and the chance to win a free pair of Silhouette frames stop by to see Anne before August 31. We’ll be giving away a pair to one lucky client!  

To view our commercial click here.  

This week’s hot weather reminds us that summer will be here before we know it.  For most of us this means more time outdoors and protecting ourselves from the sun’s UV (ultra-violet) rays will be on all our minds. Unfortunately, most people think only about the protection of their skin and completely disregard the safety of their eyes. In fact, a survey conducted by the American Optometric Association (AOA) found that only one-third of Americans said UV protection is the most important factor they consider when purchasing sunglasses.

Did you know that over-exposure to UV can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, or, in some cases, skin cancer around the eyelids?  If this is news to you, you’re not alone. The same AOA survey found that only 35% of adults are aware of the health risks to eyes associated with spending too much time in the sun without the proper protection.

So what can you do to protect your eyes this summer?  Below are a few tips from the AOA to help prevent eye and vision damage from UV radiation exposure:

1) Wear protective eyewear anytime the eyes are exposed to UV rays, even on cloudy days.

2) Look for quality glasses or contact lenses that offer protection, blocking 99-100% UV-A & B radiation. Cheap sunglasses without 100% UV actually do more damage to your eyes than going without sun wear altogether.

3) Purchase grey-colored eyeglass lenses. These lenses reduce light intensity without altering the color of your world, providing the most natural color vision. Brown or amber lenses provide the same eye protection, but give more contrast for low-light situations or for persons with visual impairments.

4) Don’t forget protection for children of all ages, who typically spend more time outside than adults and are a greater risk for damage.

Stop by our Optical Shop any time during business hours Monday through Friday to check out our large selection of exceptional quality sunglasses from premium brands like Ray Ban, Maui Jim, and more.  I’d love to help you find the perfect pair that protects your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays, as well as makes you look and feel great!

In more than 30 years of experience as an optician, I’ve seen a lot of eyewear trends come and go.  I’m amazed at the incredible options that are now available to eyeglass wearers and am proud that we are able to offer more than 600 frames in the Crozet Eye Care Optical Shop.

Carrying such a wide variety of frames assures that I can always help you find the perfect frames for your visual, stylistic and budget needs.  Whether you’re searching for a trendy look from designers like Kate Spade and Juicy Couture, a classic look from Silhouette or something for the kids like our fun Disney line – I can help you and your family find frames you will look and feel great in.

In addition to carrying the highest quality eyeglass frames, we also offer the latest lens technologies available on the market, as well as a large variety of prescription and non-prescription sunglasses. Our full-service Optical Shop can fill all prescriptions – even if it didn’t come from our optometrist – and we’re always happy to help with repairs and adjustments.

So if you’re ready for new glasses or sunglasses, stop by and see me. No appointment required – just drop by whenever you’re ready to shop! I look forward to helping you pick out the perfect pair.