PATIENT INFO
RICHARDSON VISION CLINIC
Your Visit
Find out what you need for your first appointment.
click here
Insurance and Payment
Discover what insurance and payment options we accept.
click here
FAQ
Learn the answers to the most common questions we receive.
click here
-scroll down-
NEW PATIENT FORM
Fill out the New Patient Form and bring it to your first appointment.
Click on the icon below for the printable PDF form.
ARRIVAL TIME
If you are new to our clinic, please arrive at your appointment 15 minutes early to allow time for processing paper work before your doctor can see you.
INSURANCE CARDS
Please bring BOTH your vision and medical insurance cards if you have them. Our billing staff will call and check your benefits for you.
A complete list of prescription and non-prescription medications will be required on the health history part of the office form. This may be brought in as a separate list for us to photocopy if you prefer.
LIST OF MEDICATIONS
EYE DROPS, OINTMENTS, ETC.
Please place any eye drops or ointments that you use in a small bag and bring it along with you. Your doctor will review whether these are appropriate or if a better option is available.
DILATION EXPLAINED
To provide patients with the best care, your doctor will use drops to dilate your eyes on a routine basis. Dilation allows your doctor to better assess the health of the inside of your eyes. In some cases, it also allows the doctor to more accurately prescribe your glasses prescription. This has the effect of temporarily increasing sensitivity to light and causing "fuzzy vision" at near (reading) distance. Therefore, if you want new eyewear or feel you may need to select new eyewear, please come 15 to 20 minutes before your appointment time in order to look at our frame selection.
EYEGLASSES
Please bring ALL pairs of eyeglasses you currently use, including prescription or non prescription reading glasses, sunglasses, etc. We have instruments to compare the optical power of your old lenses with your new exam findings, thus enabling us to determine and explain how your vision has changed over time. We can also evaluate the condition and fit of your current eye wear.
CONTACT LENSES
If you wear contacts, it is best to wear your current lenses to your appointment. It is also very helpful if you bring along your cartons or lens packets that indicate the lens series, power, manufacturer, etc.
INSURANCE
There are many different medical and vision insurance companies today and determining coverage can be complex. Below we have compiled an abbreviated list of the insurances we currently accept. This is not a comprehensive list. If your specific plan is not shown below or you have questions about your insurance coverage, please call us at (503)-357-2020.
AARP Medicare Complete
Added Choice
Aetna
Cigna
Eyemed
First Choice Health Network
HealthNet
LifeWise
Medicare
Moda (ODS)
Pacificsource
Providence Health
RailRoad Medicare
Regence BCBS of Oregon
MedAdvantage
Tricare
Vision Service Plan
...and more
PAYMENT
We will collect your co-payment, deductible and out of pocket fees on the day of your visit, unless other arrangements are made. We accept cash, checks, health savings account, debit cards and most major credit cards.
-
HOW OFTEN DO I NEED AN EYE EXAM?
Patients should receive an annual eye exam. Not only do we update glasses prescription, we also monitor the health of the eye and the entire visual system. Patients with specific complaints or symptoms will require more frequent follow up.
-
WHEN DOES MY CHILD NEED A FIRST EYE EXAM?
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that children receive an exam between the age of 6-12 months. This allows for a comprehensive evaluation that your pediatrician doesn't perform. Furthermore, the AOA recommends another check up at 3 years of age and again before starting school. According to the Vision Council of America, 1 in every 4 children has a vision problem that can interfere with learning and behavior. Eighty percent of everything children learn comes through their eyes. Uncorrected vision problems impact their ability to learn and interact with the world around them.
-
HOW MUCH ARE CONTACT LENSES?
The cost of contact lenses depends upon your prescription and lens type. Insurance plans also cover a portion, if not all, of the cost. Give us a call at
(503) 357-2020, and we will help you find the right fit.
-
HOW MUCH DOES A STANDARD EYE EXAM COST?
The patient portion cost will vary depending on your insurance plan. Please give us a call at (503) 357-2020 to discuss your insurance policy.
-
WHAT IS AN OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIAN?
An optometric physician is an independent primary health care professional who does the following:
*Evaluates and treats vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia (aging eyes) and crossed eyes.
*Examines, diagnoses, treats, and manages diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures.
*Identifies related systemic conditions affecting the eye.
*Prescribes medication to treat eye diseases..
*Performs minor surgical procedures such as removing foreign objects from the eye.
*Provides pre- and post- operative care, especially for cataract and LASIK surgeries.
-
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VISION AND MEDICAL INSURANCE?
In order to understand the complexities of your coverage, it helps to understand that there are two distinct sides of vision care. The first is medical eye care which includes testing, diagnosis, and treatment of eye disease. The second is routine vision check-up. As a general rule, medical insurance pays for medical eye care and Vision Plans deal with routine vision, the exception being that some medical plans will pay for routine eye care. Contact your HR representative or the Customer Service number on your insurance card to determine if vision benefits are available.
