Initial Evaluation FAQ
What can I expect from a Functional Evaluation?
The initial evaluation process is typically comprised of three visits. The first two visits are used to thoroughly test visual function of the patient ,and the last visit is a conference with the doctor and patient or parents. At the conference the doctor will give you a comprehensive report that details the results of the testing. The doctor will share with you the recommended treatment, how long the treatment is anticipated to last, and the goals associated with that treatment.
How long should I expect the Functional Exam to take?
The first two appointments are generally 1 to 1 1/2 hours in length. The conference typically lasts about 30 minutes with the doctor (to go over the testing results and recommendations). Another 30 minutes is reserved to go over medical insurance coverage, payment plan options, other financial questions, and scheduling.
Will my insurance cover the Functional Exam?
The vision assessments done at this clinic are not considered routine eye care which means that no, unfortunately, the exam will not be covered by insurance. The good news is that we have several kinds of payment plans and scholarships available that we can extend to help you get a great price!
How much will the Functional Exam cost?
Please give us a call and we’ll give you all the details! We want to give you as accurate and low of a price as possible, and understanding your needs will help us with that.
If vision therapy is needed, what is the typical length of therapy?
The length of vision therapy depends on the diagnosis and severity of the vision problem. At the conference, the doctor will let you know the amount of vision therapy they are recommending. Depending on the severity of the vision problem, length of therapy typically can last between 4 months to a year or longer.
Therapy is typically almost an hour long, once a week, and one-on-one with an optometric vision therapist. Progress evaluations are done every 8 weeks by the doctor to check on the progress of the therapy.
What if I just saw my family eye doctor?
It is very important to have a comprehensive eye exam every year by your family eye doctor. Vision is so critical to so much of what we do. A comprehensive eye exam ensures your eyes are healthy, are free of disease, and that you have the best prescription for your glasses or contact lenses. This is why we ask that all patients coming in for an evaluation be seen by their family eye doctor within the last 2 years. If you have not had an eye exam within the last two years, please do not hesitate to call our clinic and we will be happy to assist you in making sure you get all of the appointments set that you need.
Also, please remember that your family eye doctor is not a specialist in functional or developmental visual problems. Therefore, if you have been told that your vision is fine, or that you have 20/20 vision and therefore have no problems with your vision they are typically speaking from a perspective of the health of your eyes. Many times, they did not have time to do testing to ensure there is no doubling or blurring of vision, headaches, or eyestrain from vision problems associated with poor visual skills development or stress on the eyes.
Do I need to be referred to your clinic?
No referral is needed. We do ask that you be seen by your family eye doctor within the last 2 years for them to check the health of the eyes, but they do not have to refer you to our clinic for you to be seen.
Will I have to be dilated if I was just dilated by my family eye doctor?
A dilation of the eyes is a part of our assessment. There are things that the doctor is looking at that are typically different than your family eye doctor’s dilation.
What training does the doctor have?
Our doctors are all doctors of optometry and have received the designation O.D. They have then received additional training in visual development, strabismus (wandering eye), amblyopia (lazy eye), functional vision, and vision issues related to traumatic brain injury and strokes. The doctors are either board-certified or working on their board certification in Neuro-Visual Rehabilitation/Vision Therapy and Vision Development to receive the designation, FCOVD.
How else can I prepare to be seen at your clinic?
There is a history form to fill out that gives us information about your medical and eye history. You can find it here: http://wavtc.com/online-forms.html. You can find forms for adults and forms in Spanish on our homepage.
How old should my child be for an exam?
It is recommended that children have an exam at the latest before beginning preschool, but Dr. Randall will evaluate infants and older.
What if I need to cancel my appointment or I'm arriving late?
We have a late and cancellation policy where fees may apply or you might be asked to reschedule. Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in and give 2 days’ notice for cancellations. Having late and cancellation fees helps us to have more time to focus on doing our job the best we can so that you have a better experience with us. Thanks for understanding!