Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an Ophthalmologist?
- What is an Optician?
- What is an Optometrist?
- What types of surgery does Dr. Jones perform?
- What types of Insurance do you take?
- What if I don’t have insurance and need glasses?
- What does my insurance pay?
- Is there a cancellation fee if I do not cancel my appointment within 24 hours?
- What is a Refraction?
- Do I need a referral?
- What is a cataract?
- So how do you know if you have a cataract?
- What is an Ophthalmologist?
An ophthalmologist is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy (M.D. or D.O.). Such a physician is licensed to practice medicine and surgery, and specializes in all aspects of eye and vision care. The specialist’s education typically includes four years of college, four years of medical school, one or more years of general hospital experience in treating diseases and three or more years in hospital-based eye residency program. In diagnosis and treatment, the ophthalmologist uses and prescribes medicines, glasses, contact lenses, and performs surgery.
- What is an Optician?
An optician is licensed to fit, adjust, and dispense glasses and other optical devices on the written prescription of a licensed physician or optometrist.
- What is an Optometrist?
An Optometrist is a doctor of optometry (O.D.). Such a professional is licensed to practice optometry and specializes in determining the need for glasses and screens the patient for abnormalities of the eye. The optometric education consists of 2-4 years of college and 4 years in an optometric college. The optometrist treats visual disturbances with glasses and contact lenses and may also prescribe exercises for muscle imbalances.
- What types of surgery does Dr. Jones perform?
Dr. Jones performs cataract surgery, minor procedures i.e.: skin lesion removals in the area of the eye, Styes, and other procedures. Dr. Jones does not perform Lasik surgery.
- What types of Insurance do you take?
We take almost all insurance plans EXCEPT: Medicaid, Humana Gold and Health Ease. We accept Spectra Vision plan, but most other plans are not accepted although, Doug Stewart, our Optician, will be happy to discuss options with you.
- What if I don’t have insurance and need glasses?
Call our Optician, Doug Stewart, and ask him about any specials he is currently running. Often he is able to accommodate your needs.
- What does my insurance pay?
Every insurance plan is different and it depends on what has been negotiated by your plan administrator. However, most plans do cover eye exams with a medical condition i.e.: cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, etc. If your only complaint is needing glasses you will probably need to check with you insurance company. Most plans will allow one routine visit every one to two years. Call the number on your insurance card to verify your benefits.
If your plan has a co-pay that amount will be printed on your card in most instances. The Specialist price is the one you will be responsible to pay us.
Medicare and some other insurance plans do not cover a refraction. It is an essential part of an eye examination, but it is NOT a covered service by Medicare or some other insurances. Our office fee for a refraction is $30.00 and this fee is an addition to any co-payment. In an effort to keep costs down, we would appreciate payment at the time of service.
Note to Spectera Insurance patients:
If your exam reveals a medical condition, then we will file with your medical insurance instead of your vision plan.- Is there a cancellation fee if I do not cancel my appointment within 24 hours?
There is a $35.00 cancellation fee for appointments that have not been cancelled.
- What is a Refraction?
Refraction is a process of determining the eye’s refractive error, or need for corrective spectacle and/or contact lenses. It is an essential part of an eye examination, but it is NOT a covered service by Medicare or some other insurances. Our office fee for refraction is $30.00 and this fee is in addition to any co-payment. In an effort to keep costs down, we would appreciate payment at the time of service.
- Do I need a referral?
If your insurance plan requires a referral we recommend you contact your Primary Care Provider (PCP) and request a referral. If you are coming to see Dr. Jones for a routine exam your insurance may not require a referral. However, if on examination Dr. Jones discovers a medical problem that needs additional testing you may not be covered. For this reason, we suggest you get a referral for all of your eye appointments.
- What is a cataract?
- Patients frequently ask Dr. Jones, “What is a cataract and can it be removed by a laser?” Cataracts are a common and curable cause of blindness. Some say if we live long enough, most of us will develop a cataract. Luckily, it is also one of the most curable forms of vision loss. Dr. Jones wants to debunk a few myths about this common problem, and to remind people they don’t have to live with vision loss from cataracts.
A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, which blocks the passage of light needed for vision. They form slowly and cause no pain. Some stay small and don’t affect vision much. If it becomes large or thick it usually can be removed by surgery.
Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness around the world. However, in most cases, vision loss from cataracts is reversible. New techniques developed over the past decade have made cataract surgery one of the most successful procedures available in terms of restoring quality of life to patients.
There are no drugs or exercises that will make a cataract disappear, and contrary to popular myth, cataracts are not removed using lasers. Cataract surgery is most often done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. The patient generally goes home the same day, and because the incision is so small, most patients can resume their normal activities quickly. The cloudy natural lens can be replaced with an artificial lens to give the eye proper focusing power. In most cases, the improvement in the patient’s vision is profound. For some of them, it really is like a miracle.
- So how do you know if you have a cataract?
- According to Dr. Jones, some people notice a gradual, painless dimming of vision, or distortion or ghost images in either eye. When my older patients mention sensitivity to glare or bright light, or trouble driving at night, I suspect a cataract. Or, if a patient needs frequent changes to her glassed prescription, I’ll evaluate her for cataracts.
One myth that Dr. Jones what to dispel is the notion that a cataract has to be “ripe” before it is removed. That is just not true. The best time to have a cataract removed is when it starts to interfere with the things you like to do, he asserts. It is a great procedure, but it is still surgery. For some people, cataracts don’t particularly affect their quality of life, so they do not need cataract surgery. Dr. Jones reminds you, the only person who can really decide when it is time to have the cataract removed is the patient.