FAQs

What insurance do you accept?

We accept many vision and medical insurance plans. Please visit our insurance page for more details, or call us so we can check your specific plan.

Can I download the patient forms?

Our system uses online forms that are customized for each appointment. If you prefer printed forms, you can download the English or Spanish version from the texts and emails that you will receive.  If you need another language, please contact us and we will provide a translated version.

How much is an eye exam?

A routine comprehensive eye exam is $105. These exams are typically billed to vision insurance when you have routine vision benefits.

Medical eye visits are billed differently and depend on the reason for the visit, the complexity of the condition, and any testing or procedures performed. A typical medical eye check, such as a visit for pink eye or a foreign body sensation, is usually $80 before insurance adjustments. Additional testing or procedures may have additional charges.

If we bill medical insurance, your insurance company determines the allowed amount based on the diagnosis and procedures performed. If your copay is less than the amount allowed by your plan, you may receive a bill for the remaining balance.

Which insurance covers my exam: vision or medical?

There are two different types of insurance that may apply to eye care:

• Vision plans, such as VSP and EyeMed
• Medical insurance, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, or other medical plans

Vision plans usually cover routine vision exams, glasses, and contact lenses. They may include a basic screening for eye disease, but they generally do not cover diagnosis, management, or treatment of medical eye conditions.

Medical insurance is used when your visit is related to an eye health problem, injury, infection, diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, or another medical diagnosis. The doctor determines the appropriate diagnosis and type of visit based on your history and exam.

Because the reason for the visit and the diagnosis determine which insurance applies, we may not know for certain which insurance will be used until the doctor reviews your history and begins the exam.

What is the youngest patient you will see?

For routine eye exams, we can usually examine children once they know their shapes, numbers, and some letters.

For medical eye problems, we can see children who are able to cooperate with the exam and, when needed, take medication in pill form. For younger children or more complex pediatric cases, we may recommend Arizona Pediatric Specialists at 480-835-0709.

Many medical plans include coverage for children's routine eye exams. Please contact us if you would like us to check your child's coverage.

Do you have Spanish-speaking staff or translation services?

Several of our staff members speak Spanish. Please let us know your language needs, including sign language, when scheduling your appointment so we can plan appropriately.

For other languages, we can arrange translated paperwork or video translation services when needed. There is no additional charge for this service, but we need to know in advance of the appointment.

What is your missed appointment policy?

We ask for at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Less than 24 hours' notice is considered a missed appointment.

Patients who miss an appointment may be required to provide a deposit before scheduling future appointments. Patients who miss multiple appointments in a row may be asked to seek care elsewhere.

We do our best to run on time. Patients who arrive 10 minutes or more late may need to be rescheduled. If you are running late, please call us as soon as possible.

How long is my prescription good for?

Your doctor determines the expiration date of your prescription.

Glasses prescriptions are usually valid for one year. In some cases, we may extend a glasses prescription up to two years if there is no underlying medical concern.

Contact lens prescriptions are usually valid for one year. Because contact lenses sit directly on the eye, our doctors generally do not extend contact lens prescriptions without a recheck. If you need a small emergency supply because you are traveling, lost lenses, or tore a lens, please call us and we will do our best to help.

Will you give me a copy of my glasses prescription?

Yes. After a refractive eye exam, we provide a copy of your glasses prescription and document that it was released. We may ask you to sign a copy confirming that you received it.

The glasses prescription includes the information required for the prescription. It does not usually include measurements taken later by the optician for a specific pair of glasses, such as segment height or frame-specific fitting measurements.

Will you take my PD or check glasses I bought somewhere else?

If you purchase eyewear somewhere else, we are happy to help with an outside-eyewear service. This service is $20 and may include PD measurement, prescription verification, segment-height measurements, first adjustment, and basic troubleshooting.

This is not a fee to release your prescription. It is a service fee for measurements, verification, adjustment, and review of eyewear purchased outside our office.

If you have purchased glasses from us before, we may already have some measurements on file. Please call us and we can check.

Do you guarantee your prescription?

Yes. We guarantee prescriptions written by our doctors for 90 days. If you feel your prescription may not be right, we will first verify the glasses, check the fit and measurements, and troubleshoot the issue.

If needed, we will schedule a doctor recheck at no charge. If the doctor determines that a prescription change is needed, we will remake lenses purchased from our office according to our prescription guarantee.

Our prescription guarantee does not cover the cost of remaking glasses purchased somewhere else. If you purchased glasses elsewhere and need us to evaluate them, our outside-eyewear troubleshooting service is $20.

Is there a separate fee for a contact lens prescription?

Yes. A contact lens prescription requires additional testing, measurements, lens evaluation, and doctor time beyond a routine glasses prescription.

The fee depends on the type of contact lens fit. Some insurance plans set a specific copay or allowance, while others apply a discount. We will review your estimated cost before finalizing your contact lens evaluation.

• Spherical contact lens evaluation: $75
• Toric / astigmatism contact lens evaluation: $85
• Monovision contact lens evaluation: $95
• Multifocal contact lens evaluation: $95
• Gas permeable contact lens evaluation: $120
• Medically necessary contact lens evaluation: varies by diagnosis and insurance plan

What are medically necessary contact lenses?

Medically necessary contact lenses are contact lenses prescribed when glasses or standard contact lenses cannot adequately correct vision because of a medical condition. Coverage depends on the diagnosis, the level of vision correction needed, and the rules of your insurance plan.

Examples may include keratoconus, aphakia, high prescriptions, significant anisometropia, or other conditions where contact lenses are the accepted standard of treatment. We will review your exam findings and insurance benefits before ordering.

Is it better to use my insurance benefits for glasses or contacts?

It depends on your prescription, your lens needs, and your insurance plan. If you wear progressive lenses, it is often better to use your benefits for glasses because the lens benefit can be more valuable.

If you wear single-vision lenses or have a separate contact lens allowance, we can help compare your options so you can use your benefits in the way that makes the most sense.

When is Optomap covered by insurance?

Coverage for Optomap depends on your insurance plan and the reason the image is taken. Some vision plans cover retinal imaging in full or in part. Others consider it an optional screening benefit.

If the doctor orders retinal imaging for a medical reason, it may be billed differently than a routine screening. Medical coverage depends on your diagnosis, your plan rules, and whether your deductible or copay applies.

A routine Optomap screening is not covered by Original Medicare.

I have Medicare. Why was my visit covered last year but not this year?

Original Medicare does not cover routine eye exams for glasses or contact lenses. Medicare may cover medical eye care when the visit is related to a medical diagnosis, eye disease, injury, diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, or another covered condition.

Because coverage depends on the reason for the visit and the diagnosis documented by the doctor, a visit that was covered one year may not be covered the next year.

Medicare also has an annual Part B deductible, which may affect what you owe. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your routine vision benefits may be different from Original Medicare.

What is your eyewear warranty?

Most frames include a one-year manufacturer warranty for defects in materials or workmanship. Manufacturer warranties do not cover normal wear and tear, accidental damage, misuse, stripped screws, attempted repairs, outside adjustments, loss, or unavailable cosmetic parts.

Most anti-reflective lenses include a one-time scratch warranty. Some premium coatings may include a longer warranty. A small processing fee may apply because manufacturers typically cover the lens replacement but not shipping or processing costs.

Replacement parts such as screws, nose pads, temple tips, decorative pieces, and logos may not exactly match the original color, finish, or design. Some parts are discontinued or unavailable from the manufacturer.

We will always try to help with repairs and replacement options, but manufacturer warranty approval and exact part availability are not guaranteed.

What if my new glasses do not feel right?

If your new glasses do not feel right, please let us know within 90 days. We will inspect the glasses, verify the prescription, check the fit and measurements, and make adjustments as needed.

Progressive lenses can require an adaptation period. Sometimes the issue is the prescription, but often it is related to lens design, frame fit, segment height, reading distance, or how the glasses sit on your face.

If the doctor determines that a prescription change is needed, we will remake lenses purchased from our office according to our prescription guarantee.

I do not like the frame I chose. Can I change it?

In many cases, yes. If you choose a different frame within 30 days, you will pay any difference in frame price. There is usually no lens charge for orders less than 30 days old, as long as the lenses can be remade into the new frame under our policy.

Some VSP Premier Edge purchases may have additional restyle options for eligible Featured Frame Brands. Eligibility and restrictions depend on the plan, frame brand, and VSP rules.

Safety glasses and certain special orders may not qualify for frame changes.

Can I reuse my own frame?

Sometimes. We can reuse a patient-owned frame if it is in good condition and appropriate for new lenses.  Older frames have higher risk of damage during normal handling or lens insertion.  You'll be asked to sign a liability release for breakage during the manufacturing process.

What types of repairs do you do?

We perform many common eyeglass repairs and adjustments, including screw replacement, nose pad replacement, basic adjustments, laser welding, solder repairs, and some spring hinge repairs.

Repair options depend on the frame material, condition, parts availability, and whether the frame has been previously damaged or repaired. Some repairs are temporary and some frames cannot be safely repaired.

You can learn more on our glasses repairs page.

Will you special order a frame for me?

Yes. If we can order the frame from one of our vendors, there is a $12.95 shipping fee. If you decide not to purchase the frame after we order it, there may be an additional fee depending on whether the frame can be returned or whether it is something we can reasonably sell in the office.

Do you have safety frames and sports goggles?

Yes. We carry safety frames and sports eyewear, including options from Leader, Uvex, Guardian, and Wiley X.

Safety lenses must meet specific requirements and are usually ordered from an outside laboratory. Some insurance plans have restricted safety-frame kits, while others allow a broader frame selection.

Please let us know if your employer or insurance plan has specific safety eyewear requirements so we can help you choose the correct option.

Can I use insurance for non-prescription sunglasses?

Sometimes, depending on your plan. Some plans allow certain non-prescription eyewear benefits, such as ready-made sunglasses, blue-light glasses, post-LASIK benefits, or technology eyewear benefits.

Many plans require prescription lenses in order to use a frame benefit. We can review your specific benefits before you order.

A $12.95 shipping fee may apply if we need to special order a frame under this type of benefit.

What is your refund policy?

Prescription lenses are custom-made and cannot be reused once they are in process. Most prescription orders are final once lab work has begun.

We usually offer full credit toward another purchase. If you upgrade the lens design, material, coating, or options, the difference will be charged appropriately. There is no refund for downgrades once lenses have been made.

Outright refunds, when available, are generally limited to 100% of the frame price and 50% of the lens price. If your purchase was billed to insurance, the refund or exchange may also be limited by your insurance plan's rules.