Your First Eye Care Visit

Your first eye care visit may involve a variety of test and screenings, based on your reason for seeing the eye doctor, so expect it to take between 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Keep in mind that minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.Before your examination by an optometrist (eye doctor), an ophthalmic technician will perform various measurements using machines such as the Autorefractor, OCT, and Fundus. They will also perform simple manual screenings of your visual acuity, visual field, and pupils. Lastly, the ophthalmic technician will ask you about any eye or vision problems you may be experiencing now, may have experienced in the past, or may have a family history of. He or she will also want to know about your overall health, the medication you are taking, and any work-related or environmental conditions that may be affecting your vision. It is important that you answer all questions thoroughly.

Before your examination by an optometrist (eye doctor), an ophthalmic technician will perform various preliminary evaluations using machines such as the Autorefractor, OCT, and Fundus. They may also perform simple manual screenings of your visual acuity, visual field, and pupils. Lastly, the ophthalmic technician will ask you about any eye or vision problems you may be experiencing now, may have experienced in the past, or may have a family history of. He or she will also want to know about your overall health, the medication you are taking, and any work-related or environmental conditions that may be affecting your vision. It is important that you answer all questions thoroughly.

When you meet with the optometrist, he or she will thoroughly examine your eyes and vision using a variety of tools, such as a phoropter, a retinoscope, or slit-lamp. To get a complete picture of your eyes’ health, your optometrist may use eye drops to dilate your eyes and temporarily keep them from changing focus during testing. Once your eye doctor has completed the examination, he or she will make a diagnosis and discuss all treatment options with you. These options may include a prescription for glasses, eye drops or surgery, depending on your vision problem.

There are a few things you should bring to your first eye care appointment, in order to make sure our office staff and the eye doctor have everything they need to make your visit go smoothly:

• If you already wear glasses or contact lenses or take medication relevant to your vision problem, please bring them with you so the doctor can evaluate their effectiveness.
• Just like for any doctor’s visit, make sure to bring your Photo ID or Driver’s License, as well as your current insurance information.
• When you arrive for your new patient appointment you will be asked to complete a few forms, including a brief medical history. If needed, we recommend you refresh your memory about any relevant personal or family medical history before arriving.

Unfortunately, we cannot alleviate the need for you to complete our required new patient paperwork. However, we can make it so you don’t have to do it on a clipboard while sitting in our waiting room. Simply click the button below to download our new patient packet and complete it at your leisure in the comfort of your home. Then just print it out and bring it with you for your appointment.

Download Patient Forms