Do
you perform Lasik surgery?
Can my ___-year old child wear contact lenses for sports?
What's the difference between an optician, an optometrist
and an ophthalmologist?
How long does it take to
do an exam?
Do dilating drops hurt? How long will
my eyes stayed dilated?
Can I bring someone with me to
my appointment?
Do I have to be referred by my primary
care physician?
Insurance confuses me. Do you have
someone there who can help?
What happens when I bring
my child in for an appointment?
How frequently should
I have my eyes tested?
Can I make appointments through
your web site?
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Do
you perform Lasik surgery?
The doctors at Sight Eye Clinic do not perform
Lasik laser vision correction at this time. We do pre-op evaluations to check
for suitability for surgery and we can answer most, if not all, of your questions
related to vision correction surgery. We do refer to leading Lasik surgeons in
the area and in Canada. You may also complete your post-op regimen with us if
it is more convenient than travelling back to your Lasik surgeon.
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Can
my ___-year old child wear contact lenses for sports?
There is no set age
limit, young or old, for contact lens use. For a child to wear contact lenses
they must be physically and emotionally mature enough to insert and remove the
lenses on their own. They must also be able to take meticulous care of the lenses
in order to avoid harming their eyes. Contact lenses are an excellent option for
athletes. Parents are usually the best judge of their child's maturity level for
contact lenses. Most children who get contact lenses are 12 or older. Exceptions
are made based upon the individual.
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What's
the difference between an optician, an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?
An
optician is someone who is trained to fit spectacles, repair frames and
grind lenses. This requires two years of opticianry training plus certification.
Mr. Steve Borgman, our optician, was trained at Ferris State University and has
30 years of experience.
An optometrist has completed college and four
years of optometry school. They are trained to prescribe spectacles and contact
lenses and to diagnose many eye conditions.
An ophthalmologist is a
medical doctor specializing in eye care. He has completed college, medical school,
an internship and an ophthalmology residency. He is trained to prescribe glasses
and contact lenses, diagnose and treat medical conditions and diseases of the
eye, and perform surgery on the eyes and the areas surrounding the eyes (lids/brows).
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How
long does it take to do an exam?
A complete eye exam on a new patient usually
requires about a 1-1/2 hour visit. An established patient may take slightly less
time. If there is a complicated medical/surgical problem, your visit can be longer.
Problem-focused appointments for a specific condition are usually shorter and
more narrow in scope. We always strive to make your visit as short as possible
as your time and convenience are important to us. Your proper care remains our
highest priority.
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Do
dilating drops hurt? How long will my eyes stayed dilated?
Dilating drops
do sting the eyes briefly (a matter of seconds) and most often we instill a numbing
drop first. Dilation length varies some by invidual. Most dilations last 3-4 hours.
Some people can stay dilated much longer. We do offer reversal drops to shorten
this dilation significantly. If children need to be dilated, they are dilated
with much longer lasting drops to enable us to accurately prescribe glasses, as
well as look in the eyes. Their dilation lasts 8 or more hours.
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Can
I bring someone with me to my appointment?
Yes. Parents should accompany
their minor children. Adult and elderly patients may want their spouse, child
or a friend to accompany them. This can be helpful in remembering the details
of the appointment or instructions given during the appointment. It may also be
useful to have someone else along to help ask questions. Some patients like to
have someone to drive them home if their eyes have been dilated. For patients
with limited ability to speak English, please bring an interpreter.
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Do
I have to be referred by my primary care physician?
No, unless you have
an eye problem of a medical nature, such as an eye infection or a feeling of something
in your eye. In such cases, call your primary care physician. Possibly you will
be referred to our office by phone.
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Insurance
confuses me. Do you have someone there who can help?
Yes. Dialing 396-5933
will put you in touch with our insurance personnel. They are experienced and will
be able to answer your insurance questions.
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What
happens when I bring my child in for an appointment?
A trained ophthalmic
technician will obtain a history of the reasons for the appointment as well as
background medical information. Your child's eyes will be tested, using preschool
symbols for younger children. The doctor then will check your child's eyes. Dilating
eye drops may be used. Many children are apprehensive about a first-time eye exam.
We'll make every effort to put your child at ease.
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How
frequently should I have my eyes tested?
It is recommended that children
have their vision checked at around age 3. This may be done at the primary care
physician's office. During the school years, an indication of decreased vision
warrants an exam. After age 40, eye examinations are recommended at 3 to 5 year
intervals.
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Can
I make appointments through your web site?
No, since an appointment requires
interaction regarding the nature of possible eye problems, insurance information,
and the determination of a time suitable to you and the office.
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