Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Optometry?

• Optometry is all about taking care of your eyes and helping you see better. Optometrists, who are also called Doctors of Optometry, do a lot of things to help your eyes. They do eye exams to check how well you can see and if your eyes are healthy. They also give you glasses or contacts if you need them, and they can help if you have problems like glaucoma or cataracts.

What do Optometrists do?

• Optometrists provide thorough eye examinations to determine if vision correction is needed which then they will prescribe glasses or contact lenses. They also make sure your eyes are healthy and treat most ocular conditions that affect your vision such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.

Which eye problems do Optometrists usually help with?

• Optometrists can help with common eye problems like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Our Optometrists offer myopia control management to help control nearsightedness. Common medical conditions treated by Optometrists are glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and dry eyes.

Can Optometrists help with emergencies like pink eye or getting something out of your eye?

• Yes, our Optometrists can help with eye emergencies like pink eye or if you get something stuck in your eye. If it’s an emergency, you should call our office right away.

Do Optometrists check kids’ eyes too?

• Yes, Optometrists can check kids’ eyes starting at age 5 to make sure they’re seeing well and their eyes are healthy.

Do you need to make an appointment for an eye exam?

• Yes, it’s a good idea to make an appointment so we can make sure we have enough time to take care of you.

How often should you get your eyes checked?

• Our Optometrists encourage our patients to have their eyes checked once a year. This allows them to determine if your vision has changed and to identify any eye conditions early and monitor existing eye conditions. You should see an Optometrist every year just as you would your primary care doctor.

How long does an eye exam take?

• An eye exam usually takes about 20 to 40 minutes, depending on your specific needs.

What should you bring to your eye exam?

• It is helpful if you bring your glasses and/or contacts lenses, especially if you are a new patient. We also encourage our patients to complete the intake forms we provide in advance. Doing so will help our office and doctors to prepare for your appointment and spend your time in the office on your specific needs.

What are some signs that you might have eye problems?

• Blurry vision, eye pain, redness, dryness, or headaches could mean you have an eye problem. If you have symptoms of sudden loss of vision or flashes of light, you shouldcall our office right away.

What signs should parents look for in kids to know if they might have eye problems?

• If kids rub their eyes a lot, squint, hold things very close, have trouble seeing things far away, or complain about headaches or eye pain, they might have eye problems.

How can you tell if you have an eye infection?

• If your eye is red, itchy, has discharge, hurts, or your vision changes suddenly, you might
  have an eye infection. If you think you do, call our office, and we can help.

Do you sell glasses and contacts?

• Yes, we have a large variety of eyeglasses from different designers and contact lens brands to choose from. Our experienced team can help you find the right ones for your daily needs. We can also adjust and tighten glasses, as well as replace nose pads.

Should you wear blue light glasses?

• Deciding if you should wear blue light glasses depends on what you do and how you live. These glasses are made to help block some of the blue light that comes from screens like phones and computers. But not all blue light glasses work the same way, so it’s important to get good ones. We have good quality glasses that can help keep your eyes safe from too much blue light.

How do you protect your eyes from the sun?

• It’s very important to wear sunglasses that block all UVA and UVB rays to keep your eyes safe from harmful UV radiation. We can assist you in finding the right protective sunglasses for you.

Can you wear contacts if you have astigmatism or need reading glasses?

• Yes, there are special contacts for those conditions, such as toric, multifocal, and bifocal lenses. Our Optometrist can help determine which contact lenses will be the best option for you.

What is myopia control?

• Myopia control is about trying to slow down nearsightedness from getting worse, especially in
  kids. The most impactful time to control myopia is during childhood before it gets worse. If not
  treated there is an increased risk of serious eye problems like retinal detachment, glaucoma,
  and cataracts.

What are common treatments for myopia control?

• Methods to control myopia include Orthokeratology (Ortho-K), atropine eye drops, multifocal contact lenses and glasses, spending more time outdoors, and making lifestyle changes such as reducing extended periods of close-up work.
• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) requires wearing special rigid contact lenses overnight to
  reshape the cornea. These lenses are taken out in the morning, providing clear vision
  without glasses or contacts throughout the day. Ortho-K has been proven to slow down
  myopia progression in some cases.
• Atropine eye drops, when used in low doses, are sometimes given to children to slow
  myopia progression. They work by relaxing the eye’s focusing mechanism, which helps
  to slow down the growth of the eyeball.

Our Optometrists specialize in myopia control and can provide the mentioned treatments. They will determine which options are best for each patient based on their individual needs and lifestyle.

How do you start myopia control treatment?

• Give us a call! We will schedule a consultation with one of our optometrists who will perform a thorough evaluation of your eye health. Since treatment varies for each patient, they will review your specific needs and prescribe the best treatment options just for you.

Can you use your insurance for eye exams?

• Most likely, yes. Your medical insurance has most likely assigned you to a specific vision plan. These vision plans typically cover eye exams with a copay and benefits to usetowards eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• If you do not know what vision plan you have, you can call your human resource
  department or review your benefits packet to determine what vision plan you have been
  assigned to.
• When you need to be seen for a non-routine appointment, we would then use your medical insurance. Non-routine appointments would be visits for infections, eye injuries, and ocular conditions such as glaucoma, etc.

What vision insurance do you accept?

• Our office is in-network with the following vision plans: VSP, Eyemed, and Spectera.

How do you know what your vision insurance covers for glasses or contact lenses?

• There are several plans out there that vary. Our experienced opticians are experts in reviewing a variety of vision insurance benefits. They will take time to explain what benefits your specific plan offers and help you maximize your benefits towards eyeglasses or contact lenses.

What if you don’t have insurance?

• No problem, we offer discounts for those without insurance to help make eye care more affordable. We also offer discounted pricing towards eyeglasses.

Will Medicare cover your eye exam if you do not have vision insurance?

• If you have regular Medicare, you can use it for your yearly exam. But, Medicare only pays for the medical part of the exam with the doctor (checking the health of your eyes), not the part where they check your prescription. You’ll need to pay for that part yourself, but not to worry because we offer affordable costs for the prescription check.
• Medicare Advantage plans are different from regular Medicare and supplement plans. Most of them cover the prescription check, but you might have a copay for the visit.
• Our office is in-network with regular Medicare and most Medicare Advantage PPO plans.

Do you take Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)?

• Yes, you can use HSA or FSA towards eye exams, copays, eyeglasses and contact lenses, and eye drops and eye care supplements.

What kinds of payment do you accept?

• We take cash, credit/debit cards, Care Credit, and insurance.