Frequently Asked Patient Questions
Q. What should I bring to my appointment?
Having your eyes examined every year is essential to maintaining your visual health. Before you leave for your next appointment make sure you have these items.
- Current set of glasses and/or contacts.
- A list of your medications.
- Vision insurance information.
Q. Is the doctor employed by Costco?
No. The doctor is an independent doctor of optometry who chose to locate her practice at Costco, which her my landlord. We make no income from selling glasses or contacts, only from providing comprehensive exams and treating ocular disease.
Q. Will I receive a quality exam?
We provide a thorough exam with the most advanced diagnostic instruments to evaluate your vision needs and uncover any other ocular conditions that may go undetected, if not regularly monitored. The doctor received her optometry degree after the same four years of college and 4 years of optometry school that all doctors receive and was licensed to practice after passing multiple board examinations.
Q. How much does an eye exam cost?
A comprehensive eye health and vision exam starts at $100.00. A basic contact lens exam starts at $155.00. If you have astigmatism or need bifocal correction and want to wear contact lenses, there is a modest additional cost. Please understand we can never know exactly how much an examination and other testing will cost until you have been examined in the office. For example, if you have a medical eye problem such as pink eye or cataracts or diabetic retinopathy the exam and testing are more expensive than a routine vision examination for glasses or contact lenses and we may be able to bill your medical insurance for the medical examination and treatment plan. Vision insurance only pays for a routine eye examination for glasses and contact lenses. Medical insurance may pay for your examination depending on the reason you are presenting to the office and the medical findings during the examination.
Q. Why does it cost more for a contact lens exam?
We do additional testing with contact lens patients to measure the curvature of the eye to ensure that we prescribe the lens that optimizes fit and comfort. We also do an evaluation after you have worn the lenses for a given period to make sure there are no complications.
Q. Aren’t all contact lenses the same? Shouldn’t I just buy the cheapest ones?
They are not all the same. The contact lens companies spend millions of dollars every year to improve their lenses and regularly introduce new and better technology. It's best to keep current and wear the latest and best lenses. Right now the companies are introducing new lens materials that allow much more oxygen to pass through, making them healthier to wear and enabling people to wear them in comfort for 14 hours or more per day. We recommend these new materials to most patients to increase comfort and promote better health of the eyes.
Q. Will my contact lens prescription allow me to buy any brand of lens I want?
Your prescription is for a specific brand of contact lens that is determined during the examination which best for your vision and ocular health.
Q. Will I receive a written prescription after the exam? Will the prescription be accepted anywhere?
We will supply a written prescription to you before you leave the office if it was able to be determined appropriately. The prescription is valid anywhere in the U.S.
Q. I had an eye exam a little over a year ago, and my vision seems fine. Why do I need another exam?
We think it is important that all of our patients receive an annual eye exam. Your vision can change over a 12-month period. A regular check-up enables us to uncover any sight-threatening ocular conditions that can develop, unnoticed by you.
Q. What is the OptoMap and do I need this procedure?
This procedure is highly recommended. Retinal diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and tumors can be detected during a retinal exam. Early detection is crucial. Optomap takes just a few seconds to scan the retina. There is no need for dilation. There is an additional fee of $40.00. In most cases, these tests are not covered by insurance because they are preventive in nature.
Q. Will you accept my insurance plan?
For the convenience of our patients, we accept some vision plans for whatever portion of the examination cost the plan covers. Please let us know your insurance company so that we can confirm your coverage.
Q. Does Costco make high quality glasses? Because they cost less, will they last as long and let me see well?
Costco will custom-make your glasses in one of its ultra-modern optical labs, using top quality lens and frame materials, which the company constantly seeks to upgrade. Because of Costco’s buying power and operating efficiency, you receive top-quality glasses at an everyday low price.
