Preparing for your first visit

Preparing for your first visit

Be prepared to spend 3 hours at your initial appointment. Your first visit includes a detailed history, comprehensive eye and retinal examination, additional diagnostic testing, discussion of your diagnosis and treatment plan with your doctor, and initial treatment if needed.

Thank you for choosing us for your retinal care. To ensure a smooth first visit, please:

• Bring a valid photo ID and your insurance card(s).
• Provide a list of current medications, supplements, and any known allergies.
• Expect your appointment to last up to 3 hours, including pupil dilation and any necessary testing.
• Consider bringing sunglasses and arranging for someone to drive you home, as your vision may be temporarily affected by dilation.

Bring a Guest with You

It’s helpful to have a family member, friend, or caregiver accompany you to your initial appointment. You will receive a large amount of information and having “another set of ears” helps you recall what was discussed during your visit.

The Exam Process

Your first appointment will include a comprehensive eye evaluation, including a detailed exam of your vitreous and retina. You will spend up to 3 hours with us to complete the exam, which includes:

1. Medical History

Before we begin diagnostic testing, you need to provide your medical history, known allergies to medication, and list of medications and their associated dosages, eye drops, vitamins, and supplements you are on. We will also review your past surgical history, family history, as well of any use of tobacco products, or recreational drugs

2. Vision Check

A technician will check your vision with best correction, with your glasses on or contact lenses in place. You will then remove your contacts prior to dilation.

3. Eye Pressure Check

We will gently touch the front surface of each eye with a special device used to measure your intra-ocular pressure. Numbing drops are applied so you will not feel discomfort, only mild pressure.

Fluid inside the eye is produced daily by the ciliary body, “inflating” the eye to maintain its natural round shape. This measurement ensures your eye pressure is within normal range.

4. Dilation

Typically, both eyes will be dilated to let more light in to help your doctor spot any potential issues. It takes 15-30 minutes for your eyes to fully dilate.

5. Imaging

An ophthalmic photographer will take you into a dark room to perform retinal imaging. Imaging is a painless diagnostic exam using a high-resolution camera to take pictures of the back of the eye, detecting damage or abnormalities. The types of retinal imaging we commonly use are:

• OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), 3D imaging technique to view the complex layers of your retina.
• Color photos provide panoramic views of the retina.

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