Before you call
You do not have to decide before you call
The same doctors see you in the same exam rooms. What changes is the reason for the visit, and which plan pays for it.
Tell the front desk what you notice, and they book the visit that fits. If you come for a routine exam and the doctor finds a problem, the doctor explains which part is routine and which part is medical before we bill it.
Routine exams go to a vision plan
Medical visits go to medical insurance
You see the plan for each part before you pay
Routine or medical
The two visits side by side
Many visits are both. Each part is billed to the plan that pays for it.
| Question | Routine visit | Medical visit |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Routine visitA check of how you see, for new glasses or contact lenses, and a look at the health of your eyes. | Medical visitA problem with your eyes, a check on an eye disease, or a follow-up visit. |
| Examples | Routine visitBlurry reading, a glasses update, a yearly check, a contact lens fitting. | Medical visitA red or irritated eye, dry eye, a glaucoma check, an eye exam for diabetes. |
| Who pays | Routine visitYour vision plan, or you pay yourself. | Medical visitYour medical insurance. Ask us to check whether your Medicaid plan covers it. |
| How long it takes | Routine visitAbout an hour for a full exam. | Medical visitUsually shorter. It depends on the problem. |
| What happens next | Routine visitA plan for your glasses or contacts, and the date for your next check. | Medical visitA plan for the problem, and a follow-up visit when it needs one. |
| Glasses prescription | Routine visitYes. You get a copy, and it is yours. | Medical visitIf you need one, you get a copy too. |
| What to bring | Routine visitYour glasses, your contact lenses and your vision plan card. | Medical visitYour medical insurance card, and a list of your medicines and eye drops. |
A visit that is both
How a mixed visit goes
- 01
Step 1: You come for a routine exam
We check how you see and the health of your eyes.
- 02
Step 2: The doctor finds something to look into
The doctor tells you what was found, in Spanish or in English.
- 03
Step 3: The doctor says which part is which
The routine part goes to your vision plan and the medical part to your medical insurance.
- 04
Step 4: You get a plan and a copy
You leave with the next steps and a copy of your prescription.
- Sudden vision loss, flashes of light, a curtain over your vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury needs care now. Call our office right away or go to an emergency room. If you can't reach us, call 911.
Questions about the two visits
Can I have both on the same day?
Yes. Many people do. The visit is one appointment, and each part is billed to the plan that pays for it.
How do I know which one to book?
Call us and say what you notice. The front desk books the visit that fits and checks your plan first.
Do I need a medical visit for dry eye or glaucoma?
Usually yes, because the doctor is looking into a problem or checking a disease. Medical insurance pays for that part.
Ready to book a visit?
Send us your name and number, or call. We will find a time that fits your week.