The number of optical stores available to UFT Welfare Fund-eligible members has increased by almost 900 nationwide with the addition of Visionworks to the UFT Welfare Fund network.

On May 1, Visionworks’ 869 retail locations around the country became available to UFT members in need of eyeglasses. These are in addition to the 3,100 UFT network locations already available to members, bringing the total network size to nearly 4,000.

“This is a great network expansion,” said Geof Sorkin, the executive director of the UFT Welfare Fund. “Now members outside the tri-state area, in particular, have more options.”

To find the new stores, members can visit the website of General Vision Services, the UFT Welfare Fund’s optical benefit administrator, and search for optical stores based on their ZIP code.

The network expansion is the latest enhancement to members’ optical benefits this year. Effective Jan. 1, the UFT Welfare Fund’s optical benefit became available yearly, rather than every two years. In addition, the benefit credit increased from $175 to $250, and the number of providers in the network expanded from roughly 1,500 to more than 3,000.

When members use their Welfare Fund optical benefit with an in-network provider, they don’t have to file any paperwork.

For more information, visit the General Vision Services website for UFT members or call 212-729-5395. You can also contact the UFT Welfare Fund at 212-539-0500.