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FAQ

FAQ

Q. Do you take new patients?

Yes. All of our doctors accept new patients. You do not need a referral from any other doctor for an appointment with one of our doctors. Please call either our Clyde Office (452-5816), our Waynesville office (456-2015) or our Canton Office (648-2483) to make an appointment.

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What is the difference between an ophthalmologist, an optometrist, and an optician?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specializing in eye care. They have completed college, medical school, an internship and an ophthalmology residency. Ophthalmologists are trained to prescribe corrective lenses, diagnose and treat diseases of the eye, and perform surgery on the eyes and areas surrounding the eyes (lids/brows).

An optometrist has completed college and four years of optometry school. They are trained to prescribe spectacles, fit contact lenses, and to diagnose many eye conditions.

An optician is trained to fit glasses, repair frames, grind lenses, and assist with contact lens fitting and instruction.

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Q. How often do I need an eye exam?

During each office visit our established patients will be told by the doctor when to return for their next eye exam. The length of time between visits will vary depending on your eye health or if you experience eye problems prior to your return date you may need to be seen sooner than planned.

Generally, adults age 20 – 60 who do not have a history of eye disease and are not diabetic should have a complete eye exam every two to four years. Seniors over the age of 60 who do not have a history of eye disease should have a complete eye exam every one to two years.

If you have a family history of certain eye problems or become diabetic you will need to have more frequent eye exams.

Any time you notice visual changes, have eye pain or discomfort, experience flashes of light in your vision, have wavy or distorted vision, burning itchy eyes, or excessive tearing, please call our office.

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Q. At what age should my child have their first eye exam?

We do eye exams on children of all ages. Your child’s pediatrician should screen your child on a regular basis for eye problems, especially if there is a family history of eye problems. If you notice your child has an eye that turns in or out you should take your child to an ophthalmologist for evaluation. Any time you or your pediatrician note a problem, please call our office for an appointment. Otherwise, when your child is 4 – 5 years old they should have their first comprehensive eye examination.

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Q. What should I bring to my appointment?

Please bring your current most recent insurance cards, your driver’s license or photo ID, a list of your medications including the strength and dosage, your current glasses and/or contact lenses. If you are a new patient please bring your completed forms which were mailed to you or you may access the forms under our forms section.

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Q. Why are my eyes dilated as part of the exam?

Dilation involves placing drops in your eyes to enlarge the pupil size. Through an enlarged pupil the doctor can more thoroughly exam the back of the eye and can better detect eye disease or abnormality.

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Q. How long will my eyes stay dilated?

The length of dilation can vary by individual. Typically dilation lasts 3-4 hours or longer. Reversal drops to shorten the time of dilation are available to most patients upon request. Children may stay dilated 8 or more hours depending on the type of dilating drops used.

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Q. Should I drive after being dilated?

Some patients do drive after being dilated, but due to reduced vision and sensitivity to light, we recommend you have a driver. Please bring sunglasses if you have them. If you do not have sunglasses we can supply disposable sun protection (wrap around plastic mydriatic glasses).

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Q. Do you accept my routine vision care plan?

Opticare Vision Plan is accepted by all our doctors for professional services only.

The Superior Vision Plan is accepted by Dr. Causby and Dr. Dickey for both professional and optical services.

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Q. Why do I need to make an appointment for the optical shop services?

Patients who have appointments for optical shop services or those who have an appointment with a doctor that day will be served first. By making an appointment to order glasses, have glasses repaired, or adjusted you assist our optical staff with distributing the work load, reducing the length of time our patients usually have to wait. Patients who walk-in without an appointment will be placed on a wait list to be served after those who do have an appointment.

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Q. How much will new glasses cost?

Mountain Eye Associates’ optical shops carry designer frames and lenses for the discriminating consumer, an excellent selection of high quality value priced frames and lenses, and eyeglasses for those on a strict budget.

Our licensed opticians stay up-to-date on the latest technology in all types of lenses available, including the progressive lenses. Many options are available for you to choose from such as Transitions® variable tint, computer lens designs, anti-reflective coatings, and glare reduction lenses. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding products and associated quality and price.

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Q. How much is an eye exam? Why are my charges different than they were last visit?

The cost of your eye exam will be determined by several factors such as:
Are you a new or established patient?
Are you having a complete eye exam or an exam that is single problem focused?
Are you being seen for a routine healthy eyes screening exam or do you have medical

problems affecting your eyes?
Is your exam in-depth and comprehensive or short and brief?
Are special tests required in order to diagnose or treat?
Depending on the individual patient needs, exams range in price from $60 to $198. Additional fees will apply should any special testing be indicated.

We will gladly file your insurance for medical eye problems. We do not accept any commercial vision care plans, however we do have our own in-house vision care plan for routine exams and glasses. Please check with your employer or with our receptionist to see if you are eligible for this plan which is at no cost to you.

Payments for copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and non-covered services are expected at the time of service.

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Q. What is an eye refraction?

A refraction is testing used to determine the best corrective lenses to be prescribed for a patient to obtain the sharpest and clearest vision possible at both distance and near. A refraction is the only way to determine if your vision can be improved with glasses or contact lenses.

Medicare does not pay on this portion of an eye exam because Medicare guidelines consider a refraction “a noncovered service”. Medicare patients are responsible for paying for this service. Our charge for a refraction is between $44.00 and $57.00 depending on the complexity. There are more details on this subject in the forms section on this web site.

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