Comprehensive Eye Exams - Brenart Eye Clinic

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOUR LAST EYE EXAM?

At Brenart Eye Clinic, we offer comprehensive eye exams that cover all aspects of your vision and eye health. We start with questions regarding your daily life and will any explore any symptoms you’re experiencing at home or at work. We will also take record of your vision, medications, and overall health. Then, our optometrists will perform a visual exam to take a look at your eye and eyelids. This is done with magnification and light and may require dilating your pupils. We also record your eye pressure with tonometry, which is an important test to identify patients at risk of developing glaucoma. After these tests, we’ll review all results and discuss any relevant treatment options or corrective lens choices you may need.

Adult should have their eyes examined every 1-2 years, and those with eye or vision issues should visit their optometrist 1-2 times per year. Regular eye exams are essential to promptly detecting conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. Early detection of these conditions allows for the widest range of treatment options and the best chance of slowing or reversing any symptoms.

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEDICAL AND VISION EXAMS:

Confusion between our two exams is common.
Let’s work together to understand the difference.

Routine Exams & Vision Insurance
Vision exams are defined by insurance as routine office visits (usually once a year) performed for the purpose of checking vision, screening for eye conditions and diseases, and/or updating prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses. Most, if not all routine exams entail a refraction, where doctors place a lens in front of the eye and proceed to ask “which is clearer – option one or option two?” This aids in determining if a corrective prescription is necessary, or whether a patient’s prescription has grown worse or stayed the same. Routine eye exams do not treat medical conditions and are covered under vision insurance plans. These plans provide coverage, or discounts towards refractions, glasses, and or contacts. However, if a routine eye exam reveals a medical condition requiring treatment, and/or follow up appointments, this is where medical insurance steps in.

Medical Exams & Medical Insurance
Unlike routine eye exams, which focus on diagnoses like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, medical eye exams focus on diagnoses like conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration and are covered under medical insurance plans. These examinations are performed as “follow ups” to eye complaints or existing medical conditions. Therefore, if you are experiencing eye problems, such as eye pain, discharge, and headaches, but don’t have vision insurance, give your doctor a call. The issue may be medical in nature, meaning medical insurance would cover the visit instead.

Things To Keep In Mind:

Insurance coverage doesn’t necessarily mean full payment for an exam. Many insurance plans have co-payments and deductibles which must be met before your insurance will pay any amount towards your bill.
Before scheduling an appointment, contact your insurance carrier to ensure you have vision benefits, know what they are, and whether our providers are listed under your plan.
While most eye care practices have in-depth knowledge on a variety of insurance plans, knowing the details of your individual plan falls on you. Make sure you are aware of any possible co-payments or deductibles before your visit.

DETERMINE THE EXAM YOU'LL NEED:

Vision Eye Exams are primarily focused on your need for glasses/contact lenses.
Screenings for undiagnosed medical issues are also performed at these exams.
Vision Insurance provides a wellness vision health screening exam.
Medical Eye Exams focus on diagnoses like conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts, macular
degeneration, and diabetes.
Medical Insurance is utilized when your main concern during a visit is a medical reason.

PEDIATRIC EYE EXAMS

Parents should schedule a comprehensive eye exam for their children between 6-12 months and then again at 3 years, before kindergarten, and annually there-after. The school-aged years are so important and we want to make sure our children are seeing as clearly as possible, to give them the best shot at learning. So much of the eye growth occurs during this time, and we can make sure the visual development is ontrack, and if not, there are things we can do to get it back on-track. The time is now!

WE CAN DETECT PROBLEMS EARLY – BEFORE THEY IMPACT DEVELOPMENT

WE TAKE THE OCULAR HEALTH OF OUR PATIENTS SERIOUSLY.

We will not compromise the health of our patients by recommending treatment based on what their insurance will pay. Insurance is not designed to make decisions about what treatment is in your best interest. Together, we will define a plan that ensures you receive the care you deserve and need.

OPTOMAP RETINAL IMAGING

We highly recommend including optomap as part of your comprehensive eye exam. The optomap ultra-widefield digital retinal device helps us make informed decisions about your total eye health and overall well-being.

Examining the retina is challenging and requires looking through your pupil to examine the back of your eye. Traditional viewing methods can be effective, but are more difficult to perform and are carried out manually without any digital record. Optomap captures more than 80% of your retina in one image where traditional methods typically reveal only 10-15% of your retina at one time. This technology enhances our ability to detect the earliest signs of disease that appear on your retina. An optomap only takes seconds to perform, and is not painful, and typically does not require dilation. However, doctor may decide dilation is still needed.

Your retina is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be seen directly. This means, in addition to eye conditions, signs of other diseases (such as stroke, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes) can also be seen in the retina. Early detection is essential so proper treatment can be administered.

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An unhealthy retina cannot send clear signals to the brain which can result in impaired vision and blindness. Most retinal conditions and other diseases can be successfully treated with early detection. Without a comprehensive eye exam, you may not be aware of a potential problem. You may even see clearly now, but because the retina has no nerve endings, you would not feel pain – a symptom which prompts you to see a doctor.

PREPARING FOR YOUR EYE EXAM

WHAT TO BRING:

Identification & Insurance Cards
List of Medications & Supplements
Primary Care Physician Information
Most Recent Prescription Glasses
New Patient Medical History Form
Records Release & HIPAA Forms

The above forms include the HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act) form, the New Patient Medical History Form, as well as the Records Release form. If you are a new patient, please print and fill out the HIPAA and New Patient Medical History forms and bring them to your appointment. We ask that you also plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. If you know that you will need records sent to or from Brenart Eye Clinic, please print and fill out the Records Release form. Additional items you should bring to your appointment (new patient or returning patient) are listed below.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes, you may choose to pay a refraction fee at the time of your visit to still receive a prescription for your glasses and contacts.
You can still utilize your vision insurance on a separate day if you choose. Medical concerns can be addressed at a medical office visit that will be billed to your medical insurance. Your vision exam can be done on a different date and be billed to your vision insurance.
Yes, your medical insurance deductible, copay, or coinsurance will still apply.
You will need to get an insurance referral from your primary care doctor before your appointment before receiving medical care at our office that can utilize your medical insurance. You may also choose to pay out of pocket.