Dental Resources | Fidelis Care
Member

Login to your account, make a payment, see benefits and more.

Members

Manage Your Plan

Helpful Tools

Wellcare By Fidelis Care

Members
Providers

Login to your account, download forms, view auth grids and more.

Providers

Provider Resources

About Our Plans

Helpful Tools

Providers
Shop For a Plan

See plan benefits, coverage areas, get a quote and more.

Shop for a Plan

Our Plans

Helpful Tools

Wellcare By Fidelis Care

Shop for a Plan
AAA
HomeMemberHelpful ToolsHealth ResourcesVision Resources

Vision Care

Don’t take your eyes for granted. Seeing your loved ones and enjoying the beauty of the world are priceless treasures. You owe it to yourself to follow the basics of good vision health, and especially to have regular comprehensive eye exams every year or two.

Optical-Glasses-Vision-Insurance-NYS-Fidelis-Care-2

 

For members with vision coverage, benefits are covered through Davis Vision.

 

 

Childrens-Dental-Health-1-5-year-old-Fidelis-Care

 

 

 

Eye Exam Essentials

How often should I have an eye exam?
  • In general, have a comprehensive eye exam every two years.
  • If you have diabetes, make sure to have an eye exam annually.
  • Children should have their first eye exam between age 3 and age 5. 
  • For more on a child’s very first eye exam, see what this Fidelis Care doctor recommends.
What does a comprehensive eye exam include?
  • An eye test that checks how well you see at various distances.
  • An exam where drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils to check for physical damage and other eye problems.
  • A measure of the pressure inside your eye. High pressure may indicate glaucoma. Low pressure may indicate cataracts.
What eye problems mean you should visit an eye doctor right away?
  • Decreased vision
  • Draining or redness of the eye
  • Eye pain
  • Double vision
  • Floaters (tiny specks that appear to float before your eyes)
  • Circles (halos) around lights
  • Flashes of light

 

 

Children's Eye and Vision

Newborn
  • All babies should have their eyes checked for infections, defects, cataracts, or glaucoma before leaving the hospital.
  • This is especially true for premature babies, babies who were given oxygen for an extended period, and babies with multiple medical problems.
6 months of age
  • As part of each well-child visit,eye health, vision development, and alignment of the eyes should be checked.
1 to 2 years of age
  • Photo screening devices can be used to start detecting potential eyes problems.
3 to 4 years of age
  • Eyes and vision should be checked for any abnormalities that may cause problems with later development.
5 years and older
  • Vision in each eye should be checked separately every year. 
  • If a problem is found during routine eye exams, your child's doctor may have your child see a pediatric eye specialist (ophthalmologist).
  • An ophthalmologist is an eye doctor trained and experienced in the care of children's eye problems.

 

 

 

 

Childrens-Dental-Health-1-5-year-old-Fidelis-Care

 

 

 

 

Childrens-Dental-Health-1-5-year-old-Fidelis-Care

 

Childrens-Dental-Health-1-5-year-old-Fidelis-Care

 

 

Diabetes and Vision Loss

Over time, high blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. To maintain your vision health, practice these five tips to take charge of your disease and protect your eyes from vision loss:

Annual Appointments
  • By scheduling at least once a year, your eye doctor may be able to identify problems early on and effectively treat it. 
  • Frequently, your eye doctor will use special drops to dilate your pupils and check the blood vessels in your eyes for early signs of damage.
Controlling blood sugar levels
  • Through monitoring and routine management of your blood sugar levels, you can slow any damage to the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. 
  • You should also have an A1c blood test several times each year. 
  • Results should be around 7% or less.
Eating for Wellness
  • A healthy diet is one of the most effective way to maintain your overall health - fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
  • If that is a big transformation for you, you can get support and meal plans from a nutritionist. 
  • You can also ask your doctor’s advice about when you should eat, as well as the acceptable caloric intake if you’re take insulin.
Monitoring blood pressure
  • If you have high blood pressure and diabetes, you need to be even more careful about your health, as high pressure has also been linked eye disease.
  • Monitor your blood pressure frequently - for most individuals with diabetes, it should be less than 130/80.
Physical activity
  • Exercise can have a big influence on blood sugar for diabetics.
  • If you use insulin or medication to lower your blood sugar, ask your doctor when you should monitor your levels before and during your workouts.

 

 

Everyday Eye Care

Vision-Healthy Diet
  • Eat a vision-healthy diet, rich in leafy greens, fruits, and fish.
Physical Activity
  • Get regular physical activity. Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity.
Manage Stress
  • Manage stress to lower your risk for conditions like highblood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. These chronic conditions can putyou at higher risk for vision loss.
Quit Smoking
  • Quit smoking or don’t start. Smoking increases your riskof developing certain eye diseases and can make diabetic eye disease moresevere, which can result in vision loss.
Awareness
  • Actively manage your chronic conditions. If you have a condition suchas diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s important to continue the healthylifestyle habits your doctor recommends and to take your medicines as prescribed.
Corrective action
  • Maintaining Eye Health is important—according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) about 11 million Americans over age 12 need vision correction. 
  • Beyond corrective action for vision impaired adolescents, regular eye exams are also an important part of finding eye diseases early and preserving life-long vision health.

 

 

 

Optical-Glasses-Vision-Insurance-NYS-Fidelis-Care-Eye-Exam

 

 

 

Eye Care Resources

Vision Health Initiative (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Vision and Eye Health (New York State Department of Health)

Keep Your Eyes Healthy (National Eye Institute)

Get Vision Coverage

Tell us more about yourself to find qualifying plans including vision coverage.

Our representatives can help you find affordable options and determine estimated costs .

Get Vision Coverage