RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—As part of its ongoing response to serve member needs during the pandemic, VSP Global announced it will extend access to essential medical eye care services for VSP Vision Care insured members and their covered dependents through June 30, 2021. The company first expanded the supplemental medical eye care services in April 2020 for detection, treatment, and management of ocular and vision conditions, enabling members to see VSP network doctors in-person or remotely for conditions like conjunctivitis, eye trauma, and sudden changes to vision, as VMAIL reported at the time.

VSP members can also use their routine coverage for lost or broken glasses or replacement contact lenses to meet immediate eyewear needs by contacting their VSP network doctor.

“By extending access to essential medical eye care to more of our members, we’re helping connect them with their VSP network doctor for critical eye care when they may need it most,” said Kate Renwick-Espinosa, president, VSP Vision Care. “This helps alleviate demand on other medical professionals and emergency rooms which are under great strain right now.”

According to the American Optometric Association, eye doctors who treat eye emergencies directly help divert up to 10 percent of patients away from emergency rooms and hospitals. Stories of essential medical eye care provided by VSP network doctors throughout the pandemic are posted here.