FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A complete eye examination takes 90 minutes. During the examination, you will have your pupils dilated, which give the doctor an opportunity to see fully into the back of the eye and a refraction with our optometrists. The dilating drops have the potential to cause temporary blurred vision and light sensitivity which can impact driving. In the best interest of your health, we suggest setting up alternative driving options and bringing sunglasses after having your eyes dilated.

Not to worry, after a dilation you are able to go back to work or school, the dilation wears off between three to five hours after depending on the individual.

As an operating medical office we need you to bring your most up-to-date list of medications with the dosage amount along with your medical history, including surgeries. Your current medical and or vision insurance card is also needed. For new patients please also bring a photo ID.

If you wear contacts, please come to the appointment wearing your contacts, or bring all contact lens records and your most recent glasses.

After your appointment, you could be given a new prescription to update your glasses lenses and or contacts. Fortunately, you have the opportunity to pick out new glasses in our optical shop. (A Refraction is a non-covered service under Medicare and, therefore, carries a separate charge, payable by the patient on the day of your examination.)

The entire process will take about 60 minutes. After the procedure is completed patients are asked to wait 30 minutes so the doctors can check eye pressure and schedule follow up appointments.

Your doctor will inform you of what to expect after the procedure and if you require any restrictions. For most laser surgeries, restrictions are issued needed post-surgery.

In diabetic retinopathy, damage occurs to the retinal blood vessels which can result in macular edema (swelling) and/or abnormal blood vessel growth which can cause bleeding, scarring, and in extreme cases tractional retinal detachment. The types of retinopathy are called non-proliferative (NPDR) and proliferative (PDR).

Tight blood sugar control is paramount to the prevention and control of diabetic retinopathy and the vision loss associated with it. If NPDR develops, patients should be closely monitored. Macular edema and PDR are treated with laser procedures and intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF).

Risk factors for glaucoma include increasing age, African-American race, family history high intraocular pressure, enlarged cupping of the optic nerve, thin central corneal thickness, and history of steroid use. Possible risk factors include high myopia, hypertension, diabetes, eye injury/surgery, and sleep apnea.

If you have any of the above risk factors, you should have a complete eye examination annually.

For online payments we accept visa, mastercard, and discover. We also accept cash and checks via mail.

• AARP – Secondary to Medicare
• Aetna
• Aetna Medicare PPO
• Aetna Medicare HMO
• Aetna Trinity
• Anthem: Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Central Benefits
• Cigna
• CareSource *Medicaid plan only
• Community Medicine
• Core Source
• EyeMed
• Great-West
• Humana
• HMO
• PPO
• Humana Gold
• Humana Medicare HMO
• Humana Medicare PPO
• Humana Vision
• MedBen
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
• Medicaid
• Medicare (Traditional Part B)
• Railroad Medicare
• MediGold
• NGS/OSU and other plans- Prime Care
• Superior Vision Services
• Tricare for Life
• Tricare North
• UniCare
• United Health Care *Not UHC Medicare or UHC Community Plan
• Vison Care Plan (Humana)
• Vision Service Plan

Routine Vision Benefits are billed if you are having a routine visit. Routine visits would address items such as:

• A healthy eye exam
• An eyeglass prescription update is necessary

Medical Benefits are billed if you are here for medical care, the same as if you were visiting a cardiologist for an evaluation or follow up. Medical care would address such items as:

• Evaluation of an ocular disease, you have been diagnosed of glaucoma, cataract or retina disease/li>
• Complaining of red eyes, tears, flashes of lights, burning
• Follow up of a preexisting condition, such as diabetes
• Ancillary testing is needed

These definitions are based on the guidelines set by insurance companies and vision plans. Northwest Eye Surgeons are contractually obligated to follow them. Northwest Eye Surgeons makes every effort to submit claims correctly to ensure that we are in compliance with our contracted insurance carriers and vision plans AND that you do not receive unexpected medical bills for uncovered services.