The eye has three distinct layers. The innermost layer is the retina and contains photoreceptors that detect light and send images to the brain. The middle layer is the uvea. It includes the iris, which determines your eye color, and the choroid, which supplies blood to the retina. The outermost layer is the strong white wall of the eye called the sclera.
Uveitis is inflammation in the uveal tract of the eye. Symptoms of uveitis include pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, floaters, and redness of the eye. Uveitis can affect people of all ages and affect one or both eyes. Uveitis can be caused by many things including trauma, autoimmune diseases, by other diseases affecting the body, or infections from viruses, fungus, or parasites. Many times, the cause of uveitis can not be determined.
Uveitis is diagnosed by a careful eye exam. Your eye doctor may use eye drops, injections of medicine or oral medicines to treat uveitis. Sometimes uveitis can be caused by infections or by other systemic diseases. Your eye doctor may ask about other medical conditions, order other blood tests, x-rays, or work with your primary care doctor to diagnose and treat the uveitis. Uveitis can lead to permanent eye damage and vision loss if not treated. Other eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataract, cystoid macular edema, or retinal detachment can be a complication of uveitis.
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Understanding Your Vision and Medical Insurance
Routine Vision Exam
A routine vision exam usually covers:
- A vision screening
- An eye exam
- A refraction (the test used to determine your glasses prescription)
- A prescription for glasses
Contact Lenses
If you wear contact lenses, there may be an extra fee for a contact lens fitting. Coverage for this varies by plan, so please check with your vision insurance provider.
If a Medical Issue Is Found During Your Exam
During your eye exam, your doctor may identify a medical condition such as dry eye, an eye infection, diabetes-related changes, or another issue that requires medical care.
If this happens, your doctor may recommend one of the following options:
- Return for a separate medical visit.
- The medical visit would be billed to your medical insurance.
- Your routine vision exam would remain billed to your vision insurance.
- This is necessary because vision and medical insurance cannot both be billed on the same day.
- Address the medical issue during the current appointment.
- The current appointment would be billed to your medical insurance instead of your vision insurance.
- You would return another day for the routine vision exam, which would be billed to vision insurance.
- Please note that refraction (the test used to determine your glasses prescription) is not covered by medical insurance.
Your doctor will help you choose the option that best meets your individual care needs.
Questions About Costs
For an estimate of your out-of-pocket cost, please call Patient Financial Services at 414-777-0539. Please note, Medicare and most medical insurance plans do not cover refraction. The refraction service will be billed to you.
