Items to Bring to Your Appointment
Please bring the following to your appointment:
- If you are a new patient, print out and complete the forms listed in the Patient Forms
Insurance card & photo ID
Your pharmacy name, address and phone number
Name of your primary care physician (internist, family practitioner, primary care provider)
Contact lens information – brand, prescription, etc.
Eyeglasses
List of current medications
Referral if required by your insurance
Cash, check or credit card to cover any applicable co-pay, deductible and outstanding balances.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Thank you.
About Your Visit
The health of your eyes and your experience in our office is important to us. Please plan on arriving 15-30 minutes early for your first appointment, as there will be insurance/document verification and paperwork you’ll need to complete or update. To help shorten the time you spend in our office, you can also fill out some of the forms online or print and fill out the paperwork in advance and bring them with you to your appointment.
For your initial visit, plan on allowing 60-90 minutes for your appointment. We need time to get to know your eyes, which includes a detailed intake of your medical and eye history and performing a complete eye exam which usually includes dilating your pupils and possible testing. If you have a special problem or have been referred for consultation, additional time may be required for tests, procedures and a more extensive conversation with your doctor.
At times our reception area may appear to be crowded; however, we want to reassure you that patients are being seen according to their scheduled appointments. Please be aware that there are other providers seeing their own patients. Patients who are called in before you, even if they arrive after you, either have an appointment time before yours or are seeing a different provider. In the event that we are unable to stay on schedule, this is due to emergencies, the need for extended services for some patients and other unforeseen circumstances. Please be patient as your doctor will spend the time necessary with you as well.
As mentioned above, dilation is part of a comprehensive exam in order to fully evaluate the retina. Dilation results in light sensitivity and blurred near vision, which gradually improves over several hours. The effects of dilation can last between 3-6 hours. Some may recover sooner while others may be affected for the rest of the day. We recommend bringing a pair of sunglasses. Most people feel comfortable going home alone after dilation. However, if you are unsure, please have someone meet you after your appointment to get you home safely.