Question 1

Does your office accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

Most of our patients are VSP members. We provide an itemized receipt for our patients to file their reimbursements through their insurance. 
 
          ****We are an out of network provider for all insurances at this time****
 
VSP patients can expect a payment within 10 business days of mailing in their claims.

Always check your insurance for specific details, but most insurance plans will reimburse ~$45-65 per eligible exam.

Question 2

Why does your office only accept Cash or Debit for payment?

Accepted Answer

As a small business, we strive to keep our operation cost low to continue providing affordable eye care for our patients. 
 
By eliminating 3-5% merchant fees from credit card companies, we are able to continue pass the savings onto our patients while still providing quality care. 
 
Please note: we accept Cash or Debit ONLY, thank you for your understanding!

Question 3

Do I need a Costco membership to have an eye exam? (No)

Accepted Answer

No. Costco membership is NOT needed for an eye exam. Please spread the word!
 
At the door, just let them know you have an eye exam scheduled at Bayside Family Eyecare.

Question 4

Can I order glasses or contact lenses from your office?

Accepted Answer

At Bayside Family Eyecare, we provide eyecare *services* only. 
 
We do not own or sell any optical material such as glasses or contact lenses.

Our patients are given a copy of their prescription at the end of the exam to purchase their materials at the optical of their choice.

Question 5

Do you provide myopia treatment such as Orthok (overnight contact lenses)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, OrthoK is one of the ways you can control myopia in young children. 
OrthoK treatment involves a specialty fitted rigid contact lens that is worn at night while the patient sleeps to flatten the cornea.

Another method involves using a medication eye drop called Atropine at night to relax the eye muscles that focus at near.

There are other methods such as a soft contact lens and reading glasses, please feel free to ask your doctor which method might be best for your child's myopia range.

*Please note: Our office setup and equipment  is best suited for patients age 8 yrs and older. We do not have the pediatric setup which requires more toys and instruments to keep the young patient's focus and attention to conduct a delightful exam.

Question 6

Do you provide LASIK/PRK consultation and post op care?

Accepted Answer

Yes, LASIK or PRK are great options for most patients with healthy corneas! All of our doctors have extensive experiencing in co-managing LASIK patients; some have personally had refractive surgery done on themselves or a loved one. 
 
Many patients are very happy with their surgical outcomes and enjoy stable results for years. We have over 15 years of experience in providing post op care for our patients who have decided to do LASIK or PRK.

Not every patient is a good candidate and we are diligent in guiding our patients with care in their decision by discussing pros/cons of refractive surgery. 
 
Ask your eye doctor at your appointment to see if you're a good candidate for refractive surgery today!

Question 7

What is astigmatism? How do I know if I have it?

Accepted Answer

Astigmatism is very common and it describes the shape of your eyes as being oval instead of a perfect sphere. It is not a serious eye condition and simply requires correction with glasses or contacts. 
 
Your doctor will determine if your eye shape will result in astigmatism in your glasses or contact lens prescription.

Question 8

What is a comprehensive eye exam?

Accepted Answer

Our comprehensive eye exam includes your vision exam (glasses) as well as a thorough health check of the FRONT and INSIDE of your eyes. We primarily do this through the use of Optomap Retinal Imaging and/or dilation when necessary.
 
Doctors perform retinal health checks to examine for conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. If you are looking for a comprehensive eye exam, either Optomap retinal photos or dilation is necessary.
 
The Optomap Retinal Imaging is extremely quick (milliseconds per image), safe and without side effects, meaning you can rest assured your vision will be unaffected by the time you leave the office. 
 
In regards to dilation, your doctor may use eye drops to enlarge your pupil (the black center of your iris) to examine the internal structures of your eyes.
 
Note: Your eyes need 20-30 minutes to dilate. It is not painful, but side effects include: mild stinging for 10 seconds, light sensitivity and blurry near vision for 4-6 hours.

Question 9

What is the youngest age for an eye exam at your office?

Accepted Answer

At Bayside Family Eyecare, our youngest patient must be at least 8 years old due to the  limitations of our exam instruments and office setup.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) guidelines for infant eye exams as early as 6 months old, 3 years and right before a child starts kindergarten or first grade at 5 years old.

There are many excellent pediatric Optometry offices in the Bay Area!

Lincoln (age 3) playing with an early model of the phoropter in a children's museum in Seattle.

Question 10

What is glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Glaucoma is an eye disorder that damages the optic nerves so you have permanent side vision loss and are left with tunnel vision or blindness if undetected early.
 
It is not the same as cataracts (very common eye condition due to aging where surgery can be performed to restore your eye health/vision). Your eye doctor will screened or monitor for signs of glaucoma at your comprehensive eye exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does your office accept insurance?