Eye Exams

Medical Eye Exam

Managed care companies separate eye exams into medical and vision exams. Your medical insurance will cover your Medical Eye Exam.

A medical eye examination consists of:

• an evaluation of your existing medical eye problem and treatment options
• an in depth exam to determine the cause of a new medical eye problem and treatment options

When necessary, special tests such as visual fields, ocular photography, and ultrasonography are performed in the office. Occasionally, additional testing will be required at the hospital or other locations.

Children are excellent patients. Our staff is skilled in working with children, and the office is equipped to make your child’s visit pleasant.

The medical eye exam is to evaluate the eyes when medical problems exist such as diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eyes, infections, inflammations, and any other non-refractive problems. In our office, if you are being evaluated for a medical eye problem and an evaluation for glasses or a change in your prescription (refraction) is necessary for diagnostic purposes, this can be done as part of your medical exam and will be covered by most managed care companies. However, Medicare does not pay for a refraction.

Medical exams may require a referral from your family doctor, if the managed care insurance is an HMO.

Vision Eye Exam

Managed care companies separate eye exams into vision and medical evaluations. Your Vision Benefit plan will cover the Vision Eye Exam.

The vision exam consists of:

• an evaluation to determine if glasses are needed or a change in prescription is indicated
• a screening evaluation to determine if you have an eye disease

Patients are eligible for vision exams every one or two years, depending on the insurance provider.

Children are excellent patients. Our staff is skilled in working with children, and the office is equipped to make your child’s visit pleasant.

The vision exam is to evaluate patients without known medical eye problems. Therefore, patients must use their medical insurance, not Vision Benefit insurance, when being evaluated for medical eye problems such as diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, and any other non-refractive problems.

If your appointment is for a vision exam and you have a known medical problem, or a medical problem is detected during your exam, you will have to schedule a follow-up appointment to have the medical problem evaluated.

If a follow-up medical exam is necessary and your managed care insurance is an HMO, a referral from your family doctor is required.