How Much is an Eye Exam Without Insurance?

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Vision Definition Magnifier Shows Eyesight Or Future GoalsOverview: Eye Exams & Costs

The average cost of an eye exam is about $95. However, they can vary from about $50 to $250.

Unfortunately, about 30 million people in the United States don’t have health insurance. Additionally, many insurance plans do not include vision benefits.

An annual eye exam will help keep you up-to-date with your vision care. Routine eye exams will help detect vision problems such as eye strain, astigmatism, myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and other age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration. They can also help monitor your overall health and detect symptoms of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health problems.

However, there are still several options for people who don’t have insurance but need an eye exam. You can go to your local eye optometrist or visit an eye doctor in a large chain store such as Wal-Mart, Target, or Costco.

Many retail vision providers will charge less than $100, while independent eye doctors may charge more. An eye exam’s average cost without insurance is around $200 for a new patient and $100-$150 for an established patient.

Sign Up NOW for “Take A Hike”

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This fall, Edward-Elmhurst Health invites you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends.

The Conservation Foundation is partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming, and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! When you complete and track 6 hikes during the challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award* (includes either a commemorative pin or a walking stick with a commemorative medallion).

Start your collection now — we’ll offer a new design each year!
*Supplies are limited.

The Offer is valid while supplies last. Read more

Five Things You May Not Know About Fragile X Syndrome

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Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder. Because of changes in their genetic material (specifically the FMR1 gene), people who have FXS do not make a protein called FMRP, which is needed for normal brain development. People who have other fragile X-associated disorders also have changes in the FMR1 gene, but usually make some of the FMRP protein.

Watch a video about the causes of fragile X syndromeexternal icon

Signs and symptoms of FXS include:

  • Developmental delays (not sitting, walking, or talking at the same time as other children the same age);
  • Learning disabilities (trouble learning new skills); and
  • Social and behavior problems (such as not making eye contact, anxiety (fear, worry), trouble paying attention, hand flapping, acting and speaking without thinking, and being very active).

Having FXS is associated with an increased chance of intellectual disability, particularly in males, and of having autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

As part of CDC’s work to educate people about the condition and to celebrate fragile X awareness month, here are five things you may not know about FXS.

#1 FXS is genetic, but there isn’t always a family history.

FXS means that a particular part of a person’s FMR1 gene is much larger than usual. This part of the FMR1 gene ranges in size from person to person and can become bigger from one generation to the next. Therefore, many people with FXS have no family members with FXS symptoms. In some people who do not have FXS, this part of the FMR1 gene is a little larger than usual. These people are said to have a “premutation” in the FMR1 gene. FMR1 premutations run in families, and women with a premutation may give birth to children with FXS. Some people with a premutation have symptoms of fragile X-associated disorders, such as tremors and, in women, early menopause, although these symptoms are most commonly due to other causes. Read more

HOW TO RECOVER FROM A PANDEMIC EATING DETOUR

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Chef Lynn Dugan shared that it’s possible that many of us are trying to return to healthier eating habits in the post-pandemic transition.

We may desire weight loss or just a return to a better balance in the foods we consume. Of course, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and health.

We are all unique with different bodies, goals, backgrounds, and tastes! And as a registered dietitian/nutritionist, I am trained to tailor a healthful eating plan that is as special as you are. 

That said, there is a place for all of us to start.

 

These are key to helping you return to a lifestyle of good nutrition:

  1. Include healthful foods from all food groups (see Fundamentals of Good Nutrition: USDA MyPlate).
  2. Learn how to read Nutrition Facts Panel (See Know What You Eat: the Nutrition Facts Label)
  3. Hydrate optimally (a place to start is 8 cups of water daily. Check out this article for more information)
  4. Avoid distractions while eating
  5. Take time to enjoy your food. 

These foundational steps will lead you back on the path of good nutrition. Please let the recipes and nutrition tips on www.myplate2yours.com be your guide to a healthy lifestyle! Read more

Is Your Flat Apple Fitness 2021 Activity TrackerUp To Date?

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Just a reminder …

Tracker sheets should be returned to Sunset Knoll Recreation Center at 820 S. Finley Road in Lombard (Attention: Flat Apple 2021, Joe McCann).  Sheets are DUE BY AUGUST 7.  If you need another Tracker Sheet, Click Here.

There were a variety of opportunities to earn “tickets” throughout the duration of the program. In August, winners will be drawn using these tickets. There were several ways to earn tickets:

  1. Registered participants can log their physical, SEL, and foodie activities on their Activity Tracker Sheet.  A copy of the activity tracker can be found at the end of this note. Additional copies can be downloaded at  https://healthylombard.com/activity-tracker-2021/Every 300 minutes of physical activity counts for one raffle ticket.  Participants log as many hours as they wish, but please note the max number of tickets earned for completing the activity tracker is ten (3,000 minutes).
  2. Registered participants may earn tickets by posting a “Healthy Selfie” on THEIR Facebook including the hashtag #HealthySelfie.  Or email it to jay@healthylombard.com. Participants may earn a total of 10 tickets by submitting “Healthy Selfies.”
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HOW TO TREAT POISON IVY AND POISON OAK RASHES IN KIDS

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Scott A. Norton, MD, MPH, MS, the former Chief of Dermatology at Children’s National, wrote for the Rise and Shine Newsletter that with summer just around the corner, it is important to know how to treat poison ivy and poison oak rashes. The best prevention is to teach your children how to recognize poisonous plants and stay away from them. The American Academy of Dermatology and American Academy of Pediatrics offer information on how to identify these plants and treat a rash if one occurs.

About five to 10 percent of people are not allergic to poison ivy and will never get a rash from poison ivy. Many other people mistakenly believe that they are not allergic to poison ivy because they have not yet had a noticeable reaction, such as a rash. The explanation is that people rarely develop a rash or any type of skin reaction the first time they encounter poison ivy, however, most people will break out in a rash after subsequent exposure. The urushiol oil contained in the leaves and stems of poison ivy and poison oak causes the rash. It may be carried by pets or clothing that were exposed. If a rash develops, it usually appears one to four days after exposure and should heal in two to three weeks. The rash will often form in streaks on exposed skin, a result of the individual brushing through the plants. Read more

Importance of Diet for Good Oral Health: What Foods to Eat for a Healthy Mouth

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Shen Chao,  at Joshua Hong DDS, asks,  “Do you reach out to those candies every time you open your fridge? Or do you spend your Sunday afternoon at a grocery store scanning shelves for more candies to stock up for the following week?”

We’ve always heard about the importance of good food for oral care throughout our school life and even while we’re adulting. Advertisements are doing a great deal in influencing our diet decisions. We frequently give in to temptations, and sugary treats is the first thing we binge on. It’s difficult to resist these temptations because who doesn’t want treats like these after a hard day’s work? However, the constant treats could be doing more damage to your teeth than you can imagine. A regular oral health check-up can be lighter on your wallet and help you in overcoming dental anxiety.

 

Here are 4 foods that are bad for your mouth and why you should stop eating them:

  1. Carbohydrates – Starchy foods like carbohydrates team up with bacteria that begin the decay process and eventually destroy the teeth. They linger in your mouth, breaking down into simple sugars that bacteria feed on.
  2. Sugary and Sticky Foods – Sugary and sticky foods can lead to the accumulation of plaque above your gum line and eventually give rise to gum disease. Consuming sugary drinks, eating a lot of sticky candies and cookies can eventually result in tooth decay.
  3. Acidic Foods – Acidic foods could be detrimental to your health. The alkaline diet has got everyone talking, from celebrities to health gurus, they all are selling the benefits of cutting acidic foods out of your diet. Acids and toxins, coupled with stress, can create massive inflammation in your body and it makes your body work a lot harder to deal with the effects of the inflammation caused.
  4. Teeth-Staining and Carbonated Drinks – Carbonated drinks are very bad for your teeth and there are some drinks that will erode your tooth enamel and cause stains over time. While you’re getting a gumgasm from having your favorite soda, your tooth enamel is slowly eroding, exposing the protective layer of your teeth. Tonic drinks and fruit juices are not different if that’s what you’ve stocked up in the fridge. Once your tooth enamel is damaged, you are at a higher risk of developing cavities.

Making small diet changes can go a long way in preventing your teeth from being completely damaged.

Read more

How Coffee can Help you Live a Healthy Life

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Karim Mohamed, the founder of TheUniversalHome.com, a place where every member of the family finds what he is looking for shared with Healthy Lombard that healthy life is the goal of many, but a few who strive to achieve it. Lots of tools and plans we put in place with the intention of living a healthy life, but when it comes to implementation not so many survive. A healthy life may be synonymous to some of us as a boring life, untasty food, hard life, lots of exercises, sleeping early, missing the fun, waking up early before the sun. But the truth is a healthy life is actually a productive life, a fruitful life, a life with the minimum amount of suffering and misery physically and mentally, a life where you achieve your goals and reach your potential.

This is the life that deserves the struggle and the patience you put until you properly set everything in place and get used to the new style of living. By putting in the effort and being patient for the results, success will be your ally and life will be a great journey.
So how is coffee related to this concept? How could this element be a part of the process that could potentially change your life for the good? Coffee could be your ally or your enemy, it all depends on how you consume it, so let’s figure out how coffee can help you live a healthy life, and what are negative habits you should avoid when drinking coffee.

Health Benefits of Coffee
Coffee contains caffeine, antioxidants, and other active substances that have lots of health benefits for your body. Coffee can help you live longer, recent studies have found a correlation between coffee drinkers and longer lives since coffee reduces some common diseases that cause death such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease. Studies have also found that people who drink coffee are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes because, as the theory goes, coffee can help you process glucose better. Read more

How Much Sleep Do Kids Need?

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Carla, the Founder of All Things For Kids, shared with Healthy Lombard that most parents would agree that establishing healthy sleep habits is absolutely essential for growing kids. But how much do you really know about sleep? How much sleep do kids really need, and what’s the impact if they miss out on an hour or even half an hour?

Most that establishing healthy sleep habits is absolutely essential for growing kids. But how much do you really know about sleep? How much sleep do kids really need, and what’s the impact if they miss out on an hour or even half an hour?

Kids need different amounts of sleep, depending on how old they are, to support their mental and physical development. Sleep allows our bodies to absorb new information and solidify long-term memories. While we rest at night, our bodies work on muscle development, tissue growth, and organ repair and our brains eliminate disease causing-toxins.
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Children’s Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Lurie Children’s Health shared that among the most talked-about consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is the toll taken on mental health, both in children and adults. Mental health experts were concerned about repercussions from the very beginning, but inevitably, given the stakes of contending with the virus and the unfamiliar territory we’ve all found ourselves in, it has been difficult to manage proactively.

Now a year into the pandemic, hopefully with the worst of its acute consequences are behind us, we’re eager to understand parents’ experiences monitoring and managing their children’s mental health. Recently, we polled 1,000 parents across the US, focusing our inquiry on how parents contextualize the impact of the pandemic on mental health, what choices they regret making, and what they’ve done to constructively address challenges. For parents who live with multiple children, we asked them to focus their responses on the child they are most concerned about with respect to mental health.

We began by asking parents to describe their general feelings about the pandemic’s effects on mental health. Not surprisingly, a majority of parents are distressed by the situation. Seventy-one percent believe the pandemic has taken a toll on their child’s mental health, 69 percent say the pandemic is the worst thing to happen to their child, and 67 percent wish they’d been more vigilant about their child’s mental health from the beginning. Read more