Q: What is an Ophthalmologist?
A: An Ophthalmologist is a physician (medical doctor) who specializes in the diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases.
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Q: How is an Ophthalmologist different from an Optometrist and an Optician?
A: An Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor with specialty training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. An ophthalmologist's training consists of college, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 4 years in a residency program specializing in medical and surgical eye care. An Optometrist prescribes glasses and contact lenses and treats many eye diseases. An Optician is a specialist in the fitting and production of glasses.
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Q: What services does your office provide?
A: Our comprehensive services include routine eye exams where we check the eyes for glasses; the use of diagnostic tests for eye diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma; medical, laser, and surgical treatment for eye diseases and conditions; cosmetic services such as laser vision correction, eyelids, facial rejuvenation, Botox, tattoo and vein removal; examinations for and fitting of contact lenses; and fitting and dispensing of glasses and sunglasses. Surgical services include small incision cataract surgery with lens implants (intraocular lenses), glaucoma surgery, combined cataract and glaucoma surgery, corneal transplantation, oculoplastic surgery and Botox injections.
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Q: What is a refraction?
A: A refraction is a diagnostic procedure using lenses that determine the refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, etc.) of the eye. It is an important part of your eye exam, although because it is not related to a medical condition, it is not paid for by Medicare or some other insurance companies.
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Q: Do you perform LASIK and other refractive surgery procedures?
A: Our Visx S4 and WaveFront technology allow our patients to receive the most up-to-date refractive surgery available.
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Q: Can I get my new glasses at your office?
A: We are pleased to offer full service eye care at our office location. The Optical Shop is a part of our office. We provide professional and courteous service; we stock a complete range of frames from designer frames to budget. Bill Valentine and Diane Durrant, optician, co-managers, have a knowledgeable staff to serve you.
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Q: Will you file my medical insurance?
A: We file Medicare, Medi-Cal and most private insurance plans, including secondary insurance. At the time of your visit, you should be prepared to pay your deductible, the insurance co-payment, and for the refraction and other non-covered services. Our office accepts cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards.
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