- Eye Society & General Optometry
- Exams & Services
- Insurance
- Crazy Questions (the ones you’re too afraid to ask!)
Eye Society & General Optometry FAQs
- What is an optometrist?
- What does an optometrist examine and/or diagnose?
- Which solutions can optometrists provide me with?
- Do Eye Society’s optometrists contribute to any non-profit organizations?
- Can Eye Society’s Optometrists assist me with my eye surgery?
- What procedures does Eye Society’s optometrists provide for patients with Dry Eye?
What is an Optometrist?
As primary eye care providers, doctors of optometry examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eyes and associated structures as well as diagnose related systemic conditions.
Some optometrists, like Dr. Mago, complete a postgraduate one-year clinical residency to gain specialist certification.
Optometrists may also take part in pre- and postoperative care for patients having eye surgery. Dr. Mago participates in co-management of Lasik, make sure to ask for a consultation if thinking about laser surgery.
What does an Optometrist Examine and/or diagnose?
Optometrists examine the internal and external structure of the eyes to diagnose eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts and retinal disorders; systemic diseases like hypertension and diabetes; and vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. They also determine the patient’s ability to focus and coordinate the eyes, to judge depth and to see color accurately.
To summarize, optometrist can:
- Diagnose and treat Conjunctivitis
- Diagnose and treat glaucoma
- Remove foreign bodies from the eye
- Diagnose and monitor retinal changes from diabetes and blood pressure
Which solutions can Optometrists provide me with?
Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, low vision aids, vision therapy and medications to treat eye diseases as well as perform certain surgical procedures.
Optometrists help patients get proper eyewear for those who have low vision from eye diseases such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa.
Do Eye Society’s optometrists contribute to any non-profit organizations?
Yes, Dr. Mago works along side of The Lighthouse for the Blind, and Prevent Blindness America as well as the Illinois Vision coalition to help get proper eyewear for those who have low vision from eye diseases such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa.
Can Eye Society’s Optometrists assist me with my eye surgery?
Yes, our doctors co-manage various eye surgeries such as Lasik and Cataracts. Make sure to ask for a consultation if you are thinking about eye surgeries.
What procedures does Eye Society’s optometrists provide for patients with Dry Eye?
Dr. Mago performs puntal occulsion for patients with dry eye.
Exams & Services
- How often should I have an eye exam?
- Why am I offered other services when all I want is prescription for glasses and/or contacts?
- What is eye dialation, how long does eye dialation last, and are there any risks?
How often should I have an eye exam?
It’s safe to say that every person should consider getting an eye exam every year, but if you’re in good health and have no specific eye related conditions (including wearing prescriptive contact lenses or glasses), an exam every 2 years is sufficient.
Individuals with eye related conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachments, amblyopia (lazy eye), macular degeneration or major health related issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, HIV, (something funny) should definitely have an exam every year as all of the conditions above have potential to cause damage that will affect your vision permanently.
Individuals who wear contacts are required to receive an eye examination and contact lens evaluation every year.
Contact lenses are considered medical devices and an exam with the contact lens evaluation ensures that there is no irritation or damage being done to the surface of the eye from allergies, dry eye, extended usage, improper storage or changes in fit.
Also, contact lens design and technology is constantly changing and we like to share that knowledge with our patients! Think of it as an oil change for your eyes, but that’s done on a yearly basis.
Why am I offered other services when all I want is a prescriptions for glasses and/or contacts?
When you schedule an appointment for comprehensive eye exam, we do just that.
We take the health of our patient’s eyes very seriously, and though we cannot mandate you to accept any procedure we’d like to administer to you, we want to present you with your options.
A comprehensive exam entails a thorough check up of the exterior, anterior, interior of your eye, and refraction. We check the:
Exterior of the eye to see if you have any inflammation, allergy related symptoms or icky stuff on your eyelids.
Anterior of the eye to see if you have any scratches, dryness, swelling, or decreased oxygen levels from contact over usage. (Basically making sure your eyes aren’t suffocating and are well oiled.)
Interior of the eye to see if you have cataracts or retinal problems. The eyes are the reflection of your health. We also offer a quick and painless procedure known as Optos to take pictures of the inside of your eyes. It’s a photo shoot for your retina, ready for your close-up?
Refraction a.k.a YOUR actual prescription.
What is eye dialation, how long does eye dialation last, and are there any risks?
When you come in for an eye exam, you may need to have your eyes dialated depending on your age, eye health, ethnic background, and the reason you need an eye evaluation.
Eye dialation drops widen your pupils, which allows more light into the eye. As a result, your eye doctor will have a better view of the back of the eye and be able to properly diagnose important eye and health issues.
There are no serious risks or long-term harmful effects associated with using eye dialation drops. That said, your vision will be blurry and extra sensitive to light for up to a few hours, which can affect your ability to drive a car or work.
At Eye Society, we recommend that you remain seated and relaxed in our office until your vision returns to normal. You may also want to consider having a friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment, or order a ride share service.
Insurance
- Routine Eye Exam vs Medical Exam: What’s Covered?
- Why can’t I give you my insurance information when I come in for my appointment?
- What do you mean by Verify and Authorize my insurance?
- What insurance information do you need?
- Which insurances do you accept?
- If my insurance is out-of-network can I still receive services at your office?
Routine Eye Exam vs Medical Exam: What’s Covered?
Routine eye exam coverage is designed to pay toward an eye exam that looks for but finds no medical problems.
Medical insurance pays toward eye exams that are medical in nature. Examples include:
- Cataract
- Dry Eyes
- Floaters
- Eyelid stye
- Loss of vision
- Eye infection
- Glaucoma
- Diabetes
Unfortunately, medical insurance does not cover the testing needed to determine your eyeglasses prescription.
Why can’t I give you my insurance information when I come in for my appointment?
When it comes to helping patients, time is of the essence. Just the way you found us online, many other patients have done the same and we must make every consideration to ensure that we stay on time for your and our other patient’s appointments.
Once you call to schedule and we have access to your insurance information, our staff immediately searches, finds, check, verifies and authorizes the appropriate insurance to have ready for your appointment.
This allows us to relay to you whether there is or isn’t coverage for the services you are requesting. We also take the extra step to explain to you your benefits once you come in for your appointment so there are no surprise totals at the end of your visit.
What do you mean by Verify and Authorize my insurance?
Another tricky question, but when it comes to insurances there’s always room for error. We have been making people happy since we first opened our doors, and we’ve seen a lot of unfortunate reasons that lead our patients to be responsible for their visit, even when think they’ve enrolled in an insurance plan. (Damn, those HR people!)
This is why we take the extra effort to ensure you know what you’re responsible before we render services. In order to do this we use an online provider portal or call your insurance directly to see if your coverage is active, if you have any deductibles and if they’ve been met, and what copays you will be responsible for.
Some insurance benefits must be authorized, and by scheduling with us, this implies that you are giving us consent to access the benefits to be utilized at our office and then billed accordingly.
In the event that you cancel an appointment with us and are unsure when you will reschedule, we can cancel the authorization, freeing your benefits to be used at a later time.
Remember we, like your insurance company, cannot guarantee coverage and we will bill you once any deductibles and/or coinsurances have been applied from your insurance company.
What insurance information do you need?
Insurance can be difficult to understand for patients and healthcare providers, but at Eye Society we have made ourselves the best experts we can be to make your visit as pleasant and seamless as possible.
If we happen to come across something we’re not familiar with, we roll up our sleeves and do all the dirty work for you.
Our staff will help bring clarity to all the uncertainties your insurance might bring to you as long as you provide us with all the necessary information we might need.
The information usually needed is as follows:
- Your full name and/or the Full name of the primary member for the insurance.
- Your date of birth and/or the primary member’s date of birth
- The name of your vision insurance
- The name of your major medical insurance
- The ID, Group Number, and 800 number on the back of your primary card. (please bring the card in so we can scan in it into your file.)
- Your social security number
- The last four of the primary’s social security number.
Which insurances do you accept?
This is a simple yet tricky question. It depends solely on the service you are seeking. We accept many Medical and Vision insurance plans (listed below) but the rule for insurance follow as such:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EyeMed Vision Care
- HFS
- Humana
- Medicare
- Optum
- Spectera
- Superior Vision
- UniCare
- VSP
If you’re coming into our office for a routine and comprehensive eye exam then we will need your Vision Insurance.
Keep in mind there are occasions where some patients will have vision coverage through their Major Medical Insurance, although it is uncommon. We will always try to figure what insurance coverage you have for the reason of your visit.
If my insurance is out-of-network can I still receive services at your office?
We often hear people say, “a friend referred me, your online reviews are awesome, and I like your selection. But can I still receive your services if my insurance is out-of-network?”
The answer is: Absolutely! But! Before you pick up that phone to schedule an appointment or schedule online, please be aware that you will be paying for the services and/or materials completely out of pocket.
We will gladly give you any documentation such as receipts to submit for potential out-of-network reimbursements.
Crazy Questions (Questions you’re too afraid to ask)
My frame broke. Why can’t I put my current lenses in a different frame that I have or might choose to purchase from you?
Science, Math, and Magic… ok, well maybe there is no magic involved, but there is definitely the other two.
Whenever we edge lenses with your prescription into a frame, we are taking into account the specific parameters of the frame measurements combined with your prescription, a center height, and your pupillary distance.
No two frame shapes are alike and if we attempted to edge the lenses to fit into a different frame it would change the lens parameters and could affect your vision, that opens a whole other can of liability for us, especially if it has you seeing unicorns.
I added Transitions to my lenses but they wont get dark when I’m in my car, why?
The actual terminology of the treatment is photochromism and Transitions is one of the best brands in delivering the technology.
Photochromic lenses darken on exposure to ultraviolet light. Since all windows in houses and cars have a UV blocking treatment on them, the lenses will not get dark.
Transition lenses have gotten a lot of bad rep since they’ve first been released. Everyone remembers that one family member who’s had them and the traumatizing horror of seeing the lenses never turning back clear. The times have changed and so has the technology!
Transitions brand is now on their 7th generation of photochromic lenses and they darken to tint of a sunglass and return back to a crystal-clear clarity once they are no longer exposed to UV.
Will wearing glasses cause my vision to get worse?
Absolutely not.
While there still isn’t a definite reason to why people are Myopic (Nearsighted) or Hyperopic (Farsighted), the two major hypothesis that doctors have agreed, which are:
The actual reasoning to why some people think that they’re vision has gotten worse is because they did not realize how bad their vision was to begin with. A lot of people live day-to-day without proper correction and their eyes work harder to keep what they see in focus. Once they get glasses and their vision is corrected, the same environment they saw without correction seems worse because they have now been accustomed to seeing everything clearer.
- visual stress
- heredity
My Optometrist has found that I need glasses. If I eat enough carrots, will my vision go back to 20/20?
No. At some point even Bugs Bunny is going to need glasses.
Carrots are a good source of beta-carotene, although good for the eyes, the body will eventually turn into vitamin A.
Too much vitamin A can be toxic and eating too many carrots can turn you orange! (Which the latter of the two isn’t a bad thing if your life goal is to become an Oompa Loompa).
Schedule an Appointment
If you are a Chicago resident and have any of these symptoms or suspect that you may be suffering from one of the mentioned conditions, you need to see our optometrists in Chicago immediately.
Contact Eye Society at (312) 640-2405 (Streeterville) or (312) 631-3247 (Loop) to find out how our eye doctors can further assist you or to make an appointment.