Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of FAQs for our patients to review.

What is Optometry?

• Optometry is a healthcare profession focused on eye and vision care. Optometrists, also known as Doctors of Optometry, provide services such as eye examinations, vision correction with eyeglasses and contact lenses, and the diagnosis and management of various eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

What does an Optometrist do?

• Optometrists perform comprehensive eye exams to assess vision and eye health. They can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, diagnose and treat eye conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

What are the most common eye conditions Optometrists treat?

• Common conditions include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye syndrome. Our Optometrists also provide myopia control therapy, such as Orthokeratology (Ortho-K).

Can you treat eye emergencies, such as pink eye or eye injuries?

• Yes, our Optometrists can diagnose and treat many eye emergencies such as infections or injuries. If you have an urgent eye issue, please contact our office immediately.

Do you offer pediatric eye exams?

• Yes, we provide eye exams for children, ages 5 years and up, to assess their visual development and address any potential issues early.

Do I need an appointment for an eye exam?

• Yes, it’s recommended to schedule an appointment for an eye exam to ensure you receive timely and personalized care.

How often should I have an eye exam?

• Our Optometrists highly recommend having an eye exam every year. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, your prescription may change over time, even within a year. Regular eye exams can also help detect eye conditions and diseases in their early stages, or monitor existing eye conditions and diseases.

How long does an eye exam typically take?

• A comprehensive eye exam usually takes about 20-40 minutes, but this can vary based
  on the complexity of your eye health and vision needs.

What should I bring to my eye exam?

• Please bring your current eyeglasses or contact lenses. Before your appointment, we will kindly ask that you complete the patient intake form. This allows us to prepare for your appointment in advance and while you are in the office our doctors can spend the time focusing on your specific needs.

What are common signs of eye problems?

• Common signs include blurred vision, eye pain or discomfort, redness, dryness, excessive tearing, headaches, and sudden changes in vision. If you experience flashes of light, call our office immediately.

What are the signs of a vision problem in children?

• Signs may include frequent eye rubbing, squinting, holding objects very close, difficulty
  reading the chalkboard, and complaining of headaches or eye discomfort.

What are the signs of an eye infection?

• Signs of an eye infection may include redness, itching, discharge, pain, and vision
  changes. If you suspect an eye infection, contact our office and we can schedule you
  with our experienced Optometrists.

Can I buy eyeglasses and contact lenses from your office?

• Yes, we offer a wide selection of frames and contact lenses. Our trained opticians will help advise what frames and lens options are best for your specific lifestyle and needs. They can also help you with fittings and adjustments.

Should I wear blue light glasses?

• Whether or not you should wear blue light glasses depends on your specific needs and
  lifestyle. Blue light glasses are designed to filter or block a portion of the blue light
  emitted from digital screens, smartphones, and other electronic devices. It’s important to
  note that the effectiveness of blue light glasses can vary depending on the quality of the
  lenses and the specific wavelengths of blue light they filter. We can offer you options for
  quality lenses to protect your eyes from harmful blue light.

How can I protect my eyes from UV radiation?

• Wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays is essential to protecting
  your eyes from UV rays that can harm your eyes. We can help you choose appropriate protective eyewear.

Can I get contact lenses even if I have astigmatism or presbyopia?

• Yes, there are contact lenses designed for astigmatism (toric lenses) and presbyopia (multifocal or bifocal lenses). Our Optometrist can recommend the best option for yourneeds.

What is myopia control?

• Myopia control refers to various methods and treatments aimed at slowing down the progression of myopia, also known as nearsightedness. Myopia typically develops during childhood and can worsen over time, potentially leading to high levels of myopia, which are associated with an increased risk of eye conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts.

What are some common methods for myopia control?

• Common methods for myopia control include orthokeratology (Ortho-K) and atropine eye drops, multifocal contact lenses and glasses, increased outdoor time, and lifestyle modifications like reducing prolonged near work activities.
• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): This involves wearing specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight that reshape the cornea. These lenses are removed in the morning, allowing the individual to see clearly without glasses or contact lenses throughout the day. Ortho-K has been shown to slow myopia progression in some cases.
• Atropine eye drops: Low-dose atropine eye drops are sometimes prescribed to children to slow the progression of myopia. They work by relaxing the eye’s focusing mechanism,
  which can help reduce the growth of the eyeball.

Our Myopia Control Clinic offers these methods. Our experienced doctors will recommend the most suitable myopia control method based on your individual needs and circumstances.

How do I get started with myopia control?

• To get started with myopia control, call our office to schedule an appointment with one of our Optometrists. They will evaluate your eye health and provide personalized advice on myopia control, as each individual’s situation is unique, and treatment plans should be tailored accordingly.

Can I use my medical insurance through my employer for my routine eye exam?

• Most patients who have a medical plan through their employer have a medical and vision plan. They are separate. You would use your vision insurance for routine eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses. Your medical insurance would be used for non-routine visits, such as eye infections, eye injuries, and appointments for ocular conditions and diseases, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration appointments.

What vision insurances do you accept?

• Our office is in-network with VSP and EyeMed Blue View.

What if I do not know what my vision insurance is?

• Unfortunately, there is no single system to use to find out what vision insurance you have. The best way to find out what vision plan you have is to review your benefit packet from your employer or ask your HR department at work.

How do I know what my insurance covers for glasses and contacts?

• Every plan is different. Our opticians specialize in understanding what benefits you have for eyeglasses and contacts. At the end of your eye exam, we set aside time for our opticians to review your coverage with you.

Can I use Medicare for my annual eye exam?

• Yes. If you have traditional Medicare insurance you can use it for your annual exam. However, traditional Medicare only covers the medical evaluation of the exam with the doctor. It does not cover the refraction (prescription check). The refraction would be an out of pocket cost.
• Medicare Advantage plans differ from traditional Medicare insurance and supplemental plans. Most Medicare Advantage plans cover the refraction but have a copay for the visit.
• Our office accepts traditional Medicare insurance and most Medicare Advantage PPO
  plans.

What if I do not have insurance?

• We accept private pay patients. To make an effort to help out those without insurance, we offer discounted package pricing for eyeglasses.

Do you accept Health Saving, such as HSA and FSA?

• Yes! Many do not know they can use their HSA or FSA towards optical needs. HSA and FSA can be used towards exams, glasses, contact lenses, and eyecare products.

What payment methods do you accept?

• We accept various payment methods, including cash, credit/debit cards, Care Credit,
  and insurance.