While the Eye Institute aims to improve and restore vision where possible, many people suffer from visual impairments that are not correctable by standard glasses, contacts, medications or surgery and that interfere with the ability to perform everyday activities. In fact, irreversible vision loss affects one out of every 20 people in America.
An important part of the Eye Institute’s mission is to teach patients how to function with low vision. The emphasis is on helping patients make the most of their remaining sight and maintain or regain a higher quality of life.
The professional staff at the Eye Institute Vision Rehabilitation program works closely with patients to create long-range plans for remaining independent. Our occupational therapist helps patients tap into community resources and acquire and use low-vision aids such as:
- Magnification devices
- Adaptive lighting
- Telescopes
- Large-print reading materials
- Talking assistive devices
- Speech-synthesized devices
- Closed circuit television
Because the Eye Institute is a center for research, patients in the Vision Rehabilitation program often have access to the latest low-vision technologies. Several patients in the program recently received the implanted macular telescope (IMT), an investigational vision aid that is actually implanted inside the eyeball.
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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.
