As we approach the end of the year, it’s a great time to take stock of your health goals and prioritize any medical checkups you may have missed. One essential appointment that should be on everyone’s year-end to-do list is an eye exam. Beyond just vision correction, an eye exam is a vital part of preventative health care, helping to catch early signs of eye disease and other health conditions. Here’s why it’s so important to schedule your exam before the year closes—and how it can benefit your wallet.

Detecting Early Signs of Eye Conditions

Our eyes change over time, even if we don’t notice it immediately. Regular eye exams can help detect early signs of common eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Since these conditions often progress without noticeable symptoms, an annual exam can be key to catching them in their earliest stages, where they’re more manageable or even treatable. By getting your exam now, you’re taking a proactive step toward protecting your long-term vision.
 

Keeping Up with Vision Changes

Whether you wear glasses or contact lenses or have perfect 20/20 vision, your eyes may change over the course of a year. Vision shifts can happen gradually, leading to eye strain, headaches, and even safety concerns when driving. Your optometrist can assess these changes and ensure you’re seeing as clearly as possible, making your daily activities more comfortable and reducing the risk of accidents.
 

Take Advantage of Year-End Insurance and FSA Benefits

A significant financial benefit of scheduling your eye exam before year-end is the ability to maximize your health insurance benefits and flexible spending account (FSA) contributions. Here’s how:
 

• Maximizing Insurance Benefits: Many insurance plans offer coverage for an annual eye exam and a portion of vision correction costs, such as prescription lenses or contacts. These benefits often don’t roll over to the next year, so if you haven’t used them yet, scheduling your eye exam now ensures you don’t lose out on this valuable coverage.
   

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): If you have an FSA, it’s crucial to know that these funds typically expire at the end of the calendar year. That means any money left in your account will be forfeited if not spent. Your FSA can be used for a variety of vision-related expenses, including your eye exam, glasses, contact lenses, and even treatments for specific eye conditions. Scheduling your appointment now allows you to use those remaining FSA funds before they expire.
   

By prioritizing your eye exam before the end of December, you’ll not only take care of your vision health but also make the most of your financial resources. It’s a win-win: You’re investing in your health and avoiding out-of-pocket expenses in the future.
 

Start the New Year With Clear Vision

Beginning a new year with an updated prescription and clear vision can improve productivity, mood, and confidence. Whether it’s enhancing your work performance or simply making daily tasks easier, seeing clearly makes a positive impact on all aspects of life. Plus, if you’re thinking of getting new glasses or contact lenses, starting fresh in January with a new look can be a great morale boost.
 

Schedule Your Eye Exam with Dr. Krietlow & Associates Today

As the year winds down, consider adding an eye exam to your list of priorities. By taking care of this important health checkup now, you’ll step into the new year with a clear vision and peace of mind.
 

Reach out to Dr. Krietlow & Associates to schedule your year-end eye exam and make the most of your benefits and FSA funds. Visit our office in Blaine, Minnesota, or call (763) 296-8400 to book an appointment today.