FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Cary Vision Care accepts most medical and vision insurance plans, including: Aetna, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Cigna, Community Eye Care, Davis, EyeMed, Medcost, Superior Vision Services, Tricare, UMR, United Health Care (medical only, not vision), and Vision Service Plan (VSP). We also accept traditional NC Medicaid, Healthy Blue, United Healthcare Medicaid/March Vision, Medicare and most Medicare Advantage Plans.
We are out of network for Alliance Health, AmeriHealth Caritas, Carolina Complete, Wellcare, and Spectera/United Healthcare Vision.
Patients are responsible to know their insurance plan and benefits. Prior to your appointment, we will verify insurance coverage and eligibility for services. If we cannot verify coverage or eligibility, we will notify you. We will be happy to file a claim with your insurance company.
There should be no discomfort with the screening tests or eye examination. Please let us know if you have any concerns.
Many people ask if we do the “puff test” (eye pressure check for glaucoma). We do not do this test. We now check your eye pressure with a special device called the iCare tonometer that does not require the air puff or anesthetic drops.
We understand that your time is valuable. We will do our best to be on time and we appreciate it when you are also. First time patients are asked to complete the registration forms online to save time.
Plan for 60-90 minutes for screening tests, eye examination, contact lens fitting and training if new contact lens wearer, and selection and fitting of eyeglasses. Patients with special eye care needs, e.g. eye diseases or hard-to-fit contact lenses, may require more time.
New patients will generally need to have their eyes dilated so that your doctor can examine the inner structures of your eyes and become familiar with your unique eyes. After your first visit, providing that you have no eye diseases or chronic medical conditions that affect the eyes, you may not need to have your eyes dilated at every annual examination. Our state-of-the-art Eidon Ultrawide Retinal Exam takes detailed retinal photos that may make annual dilated eye exams unnecessary.
Yes! We have a large selection of contacts lenses for patients with astigmatism. Our doctors specialize in challenging contact lens fittings. They will fit you with trial contact lenses and do follow-up exams to find the most comfortable lenses with the clearest vision for you.
Yes! If you wear contacts, you can try a multifocal contact lens that provides vision near, far, and in-between; another option is monovision contacts, in which one contact lens is prescribed for near vision and the other for distance vision. If you only need help with reading, you may be prescribed a contact lens for one eye or both eyes. Many of our patients with changing vision needs have been pleased to find that, with a specialized contact lens fitting, they can now read without wearing glasses.
The American Optometric Association recommends the following schedule for infants and children:
First eye exam at 6-12 months of age.
At age 3 years.
Before 1st grade.
Every 2 years between the ages of 6 and 18.
People with risk factors should have their eyes examined more frequently. Risk factors for infants and young children include:
Infants born prematurely or with low birth-weight.
Infants whose mothers had rubella , STD or AIDS-related disease during pregnancy.
Family history of crossed eyes or eye disease.
Family history of high refractive error (i.e. nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism).
Risk factors for school-aged children include:
Reading and/or learning difficulties.
Complaints of headaches or tired eyes.
Squinting.
Needing glasses for nearsightedness at an early age.
Family history of high refractive error.
Our doctors participate in InfantSEE, a no-cost public health program created by the American Optometric Association and The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. Infants aged 6-12 months will receive a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment at no cost, regardless of income.
Sources:
“When to Have an Eye Exam.” www.eyetopics.com
“Protecting Your Baby’s Windows to the World” Brochure. InfantSEE. American Optometric Association.