FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I General
| A. |
What is included in my annual eye health and vision exam?
During your annual eye health and vision examination we will evaluate the health and function of the following: (Common diseases are in parenthesis)
• Eye muscles (Strabismus, otherwise known as "lazy eye")
• Pupils
• Intraocular pressure (Glaucoma)
• Cornea
• Crystalline lens (Cataracts)
• Retina (Macular degeneration, Diabetes, and other retinal problems)
• Optic Nerve head (Glaucoma)
• Refraction (Prescription)
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| B. |
How often should I get my eyes checked?
Infants should have their eyes checked before the age of 2.
Children should have their eyes checked again prior to entering school.
Adults should have an annual eye exam.
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| C. |
Am I a good candidate for Laser Vision Correction?
Candidacy for refractive surgery is dependent upon many factors. The best way to find out if you are a candidate is to schedule a FREE refractive surgery consultation with ECC so our doctors and staff can thoroughly examine your eyes and discuss the benefits and risks of refractive surgery with you and your family.
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| D. |
I've had Laser Vision Correction, now what?
Many of the local refractive surgery centers include annual exams as a requirement for their lifetime programs. Even though your vision may be excellent after surgery, regular eye exams are still suggested to evaluate the health of your eye.
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| E. |
Do I have to be dilated?
To adequately examine the retina, optic nerve and macula we need to dilate the pupils of your eye in most cases. Another alternative to dilation available at ECC is the Optomap, which allows us a clear view of the retina comparable to a dilated exam.
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| F. |
When should my child's eyes be examined?
It is recommended that all infants have their eyes checked before the age of 2. Children should have their eyes checked again prior to entering school.
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| G. |
Does my child still need a comprehensive eye health and vision exam if they've already had a vision screening at their school?
Yes. Though vision screening are an excellent way for the school systems to pick up gross abnormalities in your child's vision they are by no means comprehensive enough to find any health issues or mild to moderate vision problems. The only way to accurately detect problems that may affect your child's visual performance is to have a comprehensive eye health and vision exam.
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| H. |
Does ECC treat medical conditions like pink eye or foreign body removal?
Yes, our doctors are therapeutically trained to diagnose and treat most types of ocular disease conditions.
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II Scheduling
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How do I make/cancel an appointment at ECC?
Simple - Call us at the number listed above and we will be happy to reschedule you. You can also e-mail us by hitting contact us your name and phone number and one of our staff will be glad to contact you to schedule your appointment.
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| B. |
How long will my appointment take?
Most appointments range in length from 20-30 minutes. In some instances more complex medical visits may take longer.
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| C. |
Do I need to bring anything with me to my eye appointment?
We would ask you to bring your current vision insurance card, your current medical insurance card (in case something medical is found in the exam) and a list of current medications including dosages. We also ask that you bring any glasses or contacts that you have or currently use.
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III Ocular Diseases
IV Contact
| A. |
How much are your contact lenses?
Our prices are very competitive. The cost depends on the specific contacts that you were prescribed and your prescribed wearing time.
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| B. |
Can I have my CL prescription from my visit with the doctor?
Yes, in compliance with federal law we will provide your contact lens prescription when finalized at no charge.
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| C. |
How long does it take to place and receive a contact lens order?
We have a wide variety of contact lenses in stock. If we do not have the brand or the amount that you need, we can order them and it will typically take 2-7 days to get the lenses in. However, if it would be more convenient, we can even have the lenses shipped directly to your house in most cases.
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| D. |
Why do I have to pay more for a contact lens evaluation?
At your contact lens evaluation you will be examined to see if you are a candidate for contact lens wear. An extra fee is applied which will include the measurement of the corneal curvature (using a computerized corneal topographer or an autokeratometer), a trial of diagnostic lenses, training of proper insertion and removal along with follow up visits with your doctor to ensure proper contact fit and vision.
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| E. |
What is involved in getting contacts lenses?
Contact lenses need to be carefully fitted and matched to your needs and to your eyes, we therefore will need to perform a comprehensive vision and health exam and also take measurements to properly fit you with contact lenses. We will always ensure that you are comfortable about handling your lenses before we prescribe them, and will provide you with comprehensive written instructions as well.
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| F. |
I have astigmatism; can I still wear contacts?
Astigmatism is a common vision condition. It's caused when the front surface of the eye, called the cornea, is not perfectly round. As a result, light is focused differently in the eye, leading to blurred vision. Contact lenses that correct astigmatism are called torics, and they come in both soft and gas permeable contact lens materials. In addition, small amounts of astigmatism may be corrected with a regular, non-toric gas permeable contact lens.
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| G. |
What are disposable contact lenses?
Disposable contact lenses are spherical or toric contact lenses, which are designed to be worn for a certain time period; weekly, bi-monthly or monthly. These contact lenses should be discarded when the lens wearing time has elapsed, as advised by your eye care professional.
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| H. |
I have dry eyes; what about contact lenses for me?
Great improvements have been made in contact lens materials. In the past, many dry eye patients could not tolerate contacts. Now, they can be fit with numerous new types of contacts, especially ones that contain the newest polymers. These molecules attach to water, allowing the lens to resist deposits and function better. In addition, a regimen of warm compresses and artificial tears are beneficial to the contact lens wearer with dry eye.
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| I. |
Can children wear contact lenses?
As soon as the need for vision correction is identified, contact lenses are a viable option. With proper care and lens maintenance, infants, young children, teens, and adults of all ages can wear contacts effectively.
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| J. |
I haven't worn contacts before; will ECC show me how to insert and remove my contacts?
I haven't worn contacts before; will ECC show me how to insert and remove my contacts? An ECC technician will instruct you on insertion and removal of your contacts before you take them home. Written instructions will also be provided to ensure proper technique is continued.
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V Glasses
| A. |
What brands of frames does ECC carry?
Our office carries a wide variety of frames for the entire family. We carry Daniel Swarovski crystal frames, Flexon, Marchon, ProDesign, Kaoli, Calvin Klein, Chesterfield, Giorgio Armani, Kate Spade, Nike, Neostyle including sunwear such as, Kaenon, Maui Jim, Panoptics (for the sports enthusiasts), Kate Spade, Gucci, CK, and finally, children's eyewear. See our optical products for a more detailed listing of our eye wear.
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| B. |
How do I know if I need bifocals?
Usually if your arms are too short or you feel that you need brighter light to see it's a good sign that you're are in need of bifocals or progressives.
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| C. |
Is an appointment needed to pick out eye wear?
No, our optical is open during our normal office hours and one of our knowledgeable opticians is available to assist you.
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| D. |
How do progressive lenses differ from bifocals?
Bifocal lenses have two focal powers: distance and near while progressive lenses have all powers; distance, intermediate and near.
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| E. |
What is anti-glare coating?
Anti-glare, also known as anti-reflective coating, is applied to your lenses as a final step in the lens manufacturing process. AR reduces light reflections on the surface of the lens and thus allows more light to penetrate the lens. This reduces eyestrain and fatigue giving the patient more comfortable and productive vision. It also helps eliminate halos and ghost images from oncoming car lights in the evening thus allowing safer driving for those in need. It is also helpful for people who spend a great deal of time on a computer.
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| F. |
How often should I get a new pair of glasses?
Glasses are recommended as a back-up to contact lens wearers to allow the eye to "breathe" and are also recommended to be replaced if parts are no longer operational on the current pair. If your prescription has changed it's recommended to either replace the lens w/the correct prescription and/or replace the frame to a more updated style available in our office if desired. Sunglasses are "a must" in our sunny Colorado climate to protect your eyes from the harmful UVA (linked to the formation of cataracts, macular edema and age related macular degeneration) and UVB (a true cause of corneal sunburn).
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| G. |
What is the best way to clean & care for my eyeglasses?
The best way currently is to use your liquid dish detergent with warm water and rub w/fingers to remove and oil and dirt, than wipe with an optical cloth. Never use paper towels, Kleenex or fibrous cloth as this can cause your lens to permanently scratch. Also keep your lens from hair spray which can damage A/R coatings.
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| H. |
How long does it take to get my glasses?
Our labs always do their best to get the glasses/lenses returned in a timely manner. We usually allow 5-10 days from order placement, while A/R coating will take the longest due to the process of this procedure. Our labs will consistently perform quality control prior to releasing the frame/lens to us where we also perform a quality control before dispensing them to you.
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| I. |
Do you guarantee my purchase?
We need to see you back to our office within 30 days of receipt of your new lenses if you are having any visual trouble at all. Your new frame is covered by a manufacturer's warranty for 2 years from date of purchase and lenses are 1 year to 2 years depending on the coatings applied to the lenses.
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