The Eyes Have It: Protect Them with Routine Eye Exams

Eye exams are a great way to keep an eye on your health. Along with making sure you get the right prescription for glasses or contact lenses, they can be a real ‘eye opener’ when it comes to your health.

Your eyes aren’t just windows into your soul, they're windows into what’s going on with your body. During an eye exam, your eye doctor will check for eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Your eyes can also reveal early signs of other health conditions, including:

• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke

How often do you need an eye exam?

If you DON’T wear glasses or contact lenses, or have risk factors for eye diseases, the American Optometric Association  recommends this schedule for eye regular exams:

If you have a family history of eye diseases or trouble seeing things clearly, you may need to get an eye exam more often.

Where can you get an eye exam?

Go to an eye doctor or specialist for your eye exam. As a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas member, you may have access to vision care benefits. Check your benefit booklet for vision benefit details. You can also call the customer service number on your BCBSTX member ID card.

Are there vision discounts on materials and services?

BCBSTX is pleased to offer members savings on vision-related offerings through the Blue365^® member discount program.

As a member, you can save on:

• Eyeglasses
• Contact lenses
• Accessories
• Laser vision correction
• More

Visit Blue365 to start enjoying exclusive deals. First-time users will be asked to sign up. Be sure to have your member ID card handy when you do sign up.

No referral is needed and there is a no limit on the number of times you can get discounts on purchases. Many locations have convenient evening and weekend hours. Simply present your member ID card to use the discount.

Sources: Why Eye Exams Are Important,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024; Facts About Vision Loss,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Blue365 is a discount program only for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas members. This is NOT insurance. Some of the services offered through this program may be covered under your health plan. You should check your benefit booklet or call the Customer Service number on your member ID card for specific benefit facts. Use of Blue365 does not change monthly payments, nor do costs of the services or products count toward any maximums and/or plan deductibles. Discounts are only given through vendors that take part in this program. BCBSTX does not guarantee or make any claims or recommendations about the program’s services or products. You should consult your doctor before using these services and products. BCBSTX reserves the right to stop or change this program at any time without notice.

Hearing services are provided by Start Hearing, Beltone^TM, HearUSA and TruHearing^®. Vision services are provided by ContactsDirect^®, Croakies, Davis Vision^SM, EyeMed Vision Care, Glasses.com, Jonathan Paul Fitovers, and LasikPlus^®. The relationship between these vendors and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is that of independent contractors.

Originally published 9/15/2015; Revised 2020, 2022, 2024