Your Visit
You should allow 30-60 minutes for your examination. The length of time can vary depending on the complexity of your situation, whether or not you wear contact lenses, if you should decide to select eyeglasses at the time of your visit, or whether or not the doctor chooses to perform a dilated eye examination. (See "Dilation" below).
We strive to stay on schedule to minimize your wait and you can normally expect to be seen within five minutes of your appointment time. You can help us stay on schedule by arriving five minutes ahead of your appointment if you've been here before, or 10-15 minutes early if you are a new patient so that we can obtain the background information we need from you. Keep in mind that traffic on Hamilton Boulevard can be quite slow at times, especially during the afternoon hours, so please allow ample driving time.
Dilation
A dilation consists of using eyedrops to "dilate", or enlarge, the pupil in your eye so that the doctor can more thoroughly examine the inside of your eyes for possible medical eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and retinal detachments. A special type of dilation called "cycloplegia" is sometimes used to more fully assess the focusing system of children and young adults. Whether or not you will need to be dilated will be determined by the doctor during his examination of your eyes, but as a general rule, adults over age 40 are usually dilated and children under 18 are usually not dilated. When dilation is necessary, the doctor usually uses mild dilating drops so that normal activities can be resumed with little difficulty. It is normal for the drops to produce some sensitivity to light as well as some blurred vision for close work (e.g. reading, computer) which can last two to four hours. Most people are able to drive home from their visit and perform their normal tasks with little difficulty. However, individual responses to these medications can vary, and if you are concerned about your ability to function after receiving the drops, we can arrange to schedule a return visit at a more convenient time to finish this part of your examination.
What to Bring With You
Please remember to bring with you any eyeglasses you currently have, even if you rarely wear them, wear them only for reading or if even if they are only over-the-counter reading glasses. Bring along your vision insurance card (if you have one) as well as your medical insurance information. You do not normally have to bring records from your previous doctor, unless you have an ongoing eye problem that requires continued care.
Contact Lens Wearers
If you currently wear contact lenses, we ask that you wear your lenses to your examination. Also, please remember to bring with you any eyeglasses you have, even if you rarely or never wear them. In addition, if you wear soft disposable contact lenses, please bring any boxes or individual lens packaging with you so that we will know exactly which lenses you are wearing, including the type of material, the design of the lens, and the prescription strength. Please take note of which brand of contact lens solutions you are currently using so you can let us know.
Payment
Payment for services is expected at the time of your visit. If you have insurance coverage, any co-payments or fees for non-covered services or materials not covered by your insurance are also due at the time of your visit. For your convenience, we accept cash, check, Visa and MasterCard.
Questions
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 610-481-9200.
