The answer to this question is dependent on factors such as new vs. existing patient, age, complexity of case, and patient needs. We typically book most new patients for 30-40 minutes, but many of our existing patients who do not need to be dilated every year will only require a 20-30 minute appointment. If you feel you will need extra time due to special circumstances, please inform the staff when you are making your appointment so they can try to accommodate your needs.

Our physicians dilate patients on an “as needed basis.” Typically, most patients will be dilated the first time we see them, so if you’re a new patient to our clinic (or it has been several years since we last saw you), then please expect to be dilated. However, if you’ve had a dilated examination in the last 1-2 years and there are no specific health concerns requiring dilation, then we may elect to order dilation in 1-2 years.

If you are over the age of 60, have history of diabetes, glaucoma, or other eye diseases, please anticipate you will be dilated at least once yearly.

Our physicians feel that nothing replaces dilation. Many times photos can miss changes in the back of the eye (the retina) that are more easily found on dilation. Not only that, but a photo only shows the eye in two dimensions, while using our microscopes allows for us to see things in 3D, ensuring there are no elevations or depression in the roundness of your eyes.

If it’s your first examination (or you’re a new patient, or it has been a few years since we last saw you), please expect to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. This will allow for you to fill out our paperwork and have any other questions answered prior to your time with the doctors.

During your comprehensive vision examination, you can expect for your doctors and staff to go over your medical and ocular history, assess your visual clarity, determine a glasses prescription (if necessary), assess your binocular vision, measure eye pressure, and assess the health of the front and back of the eye after dilation.

A contact lens fitting and evaluation is not typically included in a comprehensive vision examination, but is considered a separate service. Often times we can perform this service on the same day as your examination provided you have worn contact lenses before.

During this part of your vision assessment, our doctors will discuss your contact lens history, wearing habits, cleaning regiment, and overall contact lens health. In addition to this, our doctors will assess your eye health in relation to your current or new contact lenses, which can differ from patients who do not wear contact lenses.

Finally, if your doctor deems it necessary, you may be switched to a different brand or type of contact lens. This can be due to comfort, visual demands, or desired wearing schedule and is all tailored to your specific visual needs and health. Our goal is to provide you with the best chance for visual success and comfort, while maintaining your ocular health.

Pediatricians have a lot on their plates. They’ve got to know so much about so many different things. Unfortunately, most pediatrician offices are not equipped to handle a comprehensive vision examination for a young patient in addition to the regular physical examinations they already perform.

We recommend children have their first eye examination between 6-12 months. This appointment is specifically meant to determine if their vision and ocular health are developing on track where it should be for that age range. Afterwards, we recommend the next examinations to be between 2-3 years old, then right before they start school. Afterwards, annual examinations are recommended to monitor for changes. Children’s eyes can change very quickly in just a six month period as they grow! The Affordable Care Act generally provides vision benefits for all children under 18 years of age. Please consult your insurance plan for this benefit.

While we do provide services to walk in patients, it is recommended to call ahead to schedule an appointment if possible. This would allow for us to make sure the optician is available to speak with you directly and give you the direct attention you need. However, if you just happen to walk in, one of our staff members will be sure to help you out with a smile!

While it is not required, it is recommended to call ahead and have an appointment made. This way our optician can make sure to set aside the proper amount of time to make sure you’re seeing well out of the new glasses and any adjustments that need to be made can be done so in a timely manner.

If you are unable to call to schedule and happen to swing by on the way home from work or school, we have no problem working you into the schedule, there may just be a short wait until the optician or a staff member can assist you.

Generally for all primary eye care examinations or contact lens fittings/evaluations, an appointment is required. On rare occasion when we have a cancellation, we may have an appointment slot open up the same day and walk in patients can be seen.

If you are having an eye emergency, then we always try to work patients into the schedule to make sure their eye emergency is taken care of quickly and efficiently.

Dilation is one of the most important components of an eye examination. Dilating eye drops specifically relax the muscles in your iris (the colored part of the eye) to allow for the doctor to look through your pupil (the black hole in the middle of the eye). This allows us to view the retina, optic nerve, and many other structures in 3 dimension (3D). While we can view parts of the retina without dilation, we can see so much more with dilation. The difference is like trying to look through a keyhole vs. opening the door to look into a room.

Why dilate? There are many times that we’ll find issues or changes in the retina. Patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and many other conditions can have subtle changes that need to be viewed on a more frequent basis. Even patients who are normally healthy can sometimes have unknown problems in their retina that they’re unaware of, such as retinal holes or freckles.

It’s recommended to have a contact lens evaluation every year because so many things can change in a short amount of time. Sometimes patients feel that their lenses are the same as they’ve always been, but don’t realize how much they dislike their lenses. Often I’ll have patients who have worn the same lens for several years switch to a newer material and they come back saying they didn’t realize how uncomfortable their old lenses were!

Patients often don’t realize their prescription has changed in one eye and they aren’t seeing optimally because they’re compensating for it with their other eye!

It’s often hard for patients to try to determine if they’re having an eye emergency or if it’s really nothing and will just go away on its own. The problem is, most often patients will err on the side of waiting until it goes away, but finding that it’s something more serious that won’t go away on its own, and can lead to significant and sometime irreversible loss of vision that could have had a more favorable outcome if seen earlier!

​Red/Pink Eyes – These are considered ocular emergencies when associated with contact lenses. While sometimes patients can have red eyes from overwearing or sleeping in their contacts that resolve on their own, the alternative is far worse and devastating. Corneal ulcers, herpetic eye infections, acanthamoeba, and many other complications can occur that can be blinding if not taken care of as soon as possible.

​ Flashing lights or increased floating spots – Sometimes patients will have a small flash of light in their vision that occurs once and then never again. Sometimes there will be a new floater or two in your vision. These are often times not a major concern, but when you notice a large increase in floaters or consistent flashing lights, that’s when you should be concerned that something may be wrong. Retinal holes, tears, or detachments are very serious conditions that require immediate treatment to prevent blindness.

There are many other ocular emergencies, so if you are having symptoms, please call us immediately and speak with one of our staff members. Often times they can determine how urgent something is based on your symptoms and how soon you need to be seen, whether same day or in a few days.

Please bring your most recent set of glasses, pictures or a written copy of your contact lens prescription (or the boxes with the powers listed), copies of medication lists (including supplements, dosages, etc.), and all insurance cards. While some vision plans do not provide insurance cards, we do ask that you bring your medical insurance card for us to have on file. Current insurance cards are a must if you are planning on having our office courtesy file claims paperwork with your insurer.

Vision plans typically only cover annual glasses/contact lens examinations. They do not provide medical coverage for conditions like eye infections or allergies, diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eye disease, or headaches. These are medical conditions that, as network providers, are required to be billed to your medical insurance plan.

While we may not be billing your medical insurance on the day of your exam, if you require acute care during the year for an eye infection or other eye emergencies, we prefer to keep your medical insurance information on file so we can try to determine your medical insurance coverage prior to your arrival at the clinic. This helps you to remain educated and informed for your own benefit.

Current insurance cards are a must if you are planning on having our office courtesy file claims paperwork with your insurer.