Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. Where are you located?
- A. Our street address, phone and fax numbers, email addresses, a link to driving directions, and a map of our locations can be found on our Contact Us page.
Top of Page - Q. How can I get to your office?
- A. Our street address, phone and fax numbers, email addresses, a link to driving directions, and a map of our locations can be found on our Contact Us page.
Top of Page - Q. How can I make an appointment?
- A. Call, fax or email us (using the information found on our Contact Us page) or make your reservation online using the Schedule Exam Online button to the right.
Top of Page - Q. What should I bring with me to my appointment?
- A. Your identification, medical and/or vision insurance card, and, to save time when you arrive for your appointment, please fill-out and bring the Questionnaire Intake Form available to the right.
Top of Page - Q. What medical and vision insurances do you accept?
- A. A complete list of all accepted Health Insurance is located on our Insurance Plans Accepted page.
Top of Page - Q. Is it safe to sleep in my contact lenses?
- A. Some lenses are FDA approved for overnight or "continuous wear" of varying amounts of time. While small in absolute numbers, the annual risk of a sight-threatening eye infection is much greater for patients who sleep in their contact lenses (~20/10,000) vs. for patients who take their lenses out every night and clean them (~3/10,000).
As a general rule, we do not advocate continuous wear, though we recognize that for some patients, the convenience is worth the increased risk. In the absence of a compelling reason to bar continuous wear, (such as a history of prior contact lens-related eye infections), we fit patients with the latest, "breathable" silicone hydrogel lenses, and monitor the health of the eye through careful follow-up. It is important to immediately remove contact lenses when the eye is red, painful, or the vision has unexpectedly decreased.
Top of Page - Q. What solution is recommended for cleaning my contact lenses?
- A. Depending on the contact lens material, we suggest one of a number of solutions. One group is the "multi-purpose" solution, with which contact lenses can be cleaned, stored in for disinfection, and rinsed. These solutions must be replaced daily, as their antimicrobial properties, (ability to kill bugs), decreases after use. Another class of solution is hydrogen-peroxide based, which is slightly more time-intensive to use, but has the best "kill rates" for microbes, and is the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. Your doctor will discuss which solution you should use during your contact lens fitting.
Top of Page - Q. Lately in the news I've heard about eye infections from contact lens solutions. What solution was involved?
- A. There has been an increase in the amount of reported cases of fusarium keratitis, (a fungal infection of the cornea), this year. Almost all infected patients were contact lens wearers, and a majority of them reported using Bausch and Lomb's Renu with Moisutreloc. Bausch and Lomb has voluntarily pulled Renu with Moisutreloc from the market, and investigations by the company and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control continues.
Top of Page - Q. What if I use saline solution to clean my contacts?
- A. Saline solution does not contain ingredients to kill microbes. While fine for rinsing lenses, it does not disinfect them. As such, if you soak your contact lenses in saline overnight it is akin to doing your laundry without adding any detergent!
Top of Page - Q. I see fine with my current contact lenses prescribed last year. Why do I need another fitting? Can't I just order more boxes?
- A. Contact lenses are medical devices that need to be assessed on a regular basis. This includes checking the vision through the lenses, overall fit, and underlying health of the eye. Adjustments in any of these three areas are often needed in the absence of symptoms. Once finalized, a contact lens prescription is valid for one year unless otherwise indicated by the doctor.
Top of Page - Q. Why do I need to have my eyes dilated?
- A. Assessing the retina through an undilated pupil is like looking through a keyhole; only a small amount of what's inside can be seen. Dilating the pupil is like opening the door into the eye; the entire "room" inside the eye can now be viewed.
There are many different types of eye disease that can only be seen through a dilated pupil. Thankfully, most are rare in young healthy patients. Yet often we find holes or tears in the retina, which can occur without symptoms in a patient with 20/20 vision. Often, these need to be treated to prevent a more serious retinal detachment from occurring. Diabetics and hypertensives are candidates for yearly dilation, as well as nearsighted or "myopic" patients with a prescription at or above a -6.00. Anyone who suddenly experiences flashing lights in their peripheral vision or floating spots in front of their eyes should come in for an immediate dilation, as this may signal an evolving retinal problem.
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