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Cost: $64

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    A comprehensive eye exam costs $80 but a $16 discount is given for all patients that pay the same day of service. The discount is given as a courtesy since insurance authorization/processing/filing/collection do not have to be done.

What is included

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    A verbal review of all visual systems, a neurologic check of visual system, a refraction (finding a new glasses Rx), examination of the external eye structures and examination of internal eye structures. This exam does not include treatment, monitoring, follow up of any significant findings during this exam. If medical in nature and further testing is needed like with dry eye, glaucoma or macular degeneration a separate medical exam may need to be scheduled. This next exam can usually be billed to your medical insurance where their copays and deductables will be taken into consideration. If only a small discussion is needed there will not be any exams or extra charges.

Why should I come in for an appointment?

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    An annual exam not only checks your vision for the need af new eye glasses. During the exam a check of the neurologic visual pathways are checked for any unexpected cahnges. The surface structures of the eye are checked for infections, allergies, disease, trauma and physiologic changes. A retinal camera is used to check the internal structures of the eye where possible. When not possible a dilation of the pupils is preformed to give a good view of the internal structures of the eye. Many systemic disease have very definitive ocular signs like diabetes, MS, graves disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

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Cost:$40 to $60

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    REQUIRE a current glasses prescription. If the contacts are for astigmatism, bifocals or an outside glasses Rx it will be the higher $45.

What is included

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    The doctor will discuss with you the available lens options and help you pick the best one. The most common currently is a 2-week or monthly lens. Another good option is dailies and in special instances a RGP are still the best option. If you have not used contact lenses before a class will be required to teach you the techniques to insert and remove the lenses before you can take your first pair home. This class is provided at no extra charge to you. If you are going to use bifocal contacts this adds some new variables to the mix and should be expected to take 3-4 visits to find the best options.

Why should I come in for an appointment?

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    While glasses are a great solution for many people they are not ideal in all situations. When the Rx is very different between the two eye a CL will feel visually more comfortable. Sometimes the enviroment is rough on the glasses and they are constantly breaking where CL would not have that problem. With contact lenses it is possible to not need reading glasses or bifocals if you are of that age. With todays technology there is rarely a patient that has no options in contact lenses

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Cost: Varies starting at $45

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    A problem focused exam for an eye infections are billed through medical insurance and varies depending on the testing and treatment needed.
Non-insured patients can be seen for $45 but extra testing may raise the cost if needed. I will always discuss costs before further testing.

What is included.

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    If an eye infection is suspected the patient will be tested to vision loss and other neurologic signs of more severe problems. If the infection is bacterial in nature or has an open ulcer an antibiotic will be prescribed. If the infection is viral in nature (beside Herpes) there is no medicatino to help and are usually not prescribed. Allergy reactions are confusable with infections and over the counter and prescription drops are available for this.

Why should I come in for an appointment?

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    If there is mucousy discharge, light sensativity, decreased vision or notable pain you should not delay in seeing a doctor. With some minor redness and irritaion it is still recommended to see the doctor. Viral conjunctivitis (the most common for of "pink eye") is very contagious and should be confirmed. The patient should know to take the appropriate precautions to not spread it.

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Cost: Varies starting at $45

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    A problem focused ocular exam for an eye trauma is usually billed through medical insurance. The fees vary depending on the testing and treatment needed.
Non-insured patients can be seen for $45 but extra testing may raise the cost. We will always discuss extra costs before further testing.

What is included.

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    We will check the integrity of all ocular stuctures. If severe trauma is found, and surgery is needed, a referal to a ophthalmologist will be made. Smaller traumas like corneal abrasions, metal fragments imbedded into cornea, small ulcers or lacerations are usually treatable by us. Multiple follow ups are usually included to make sure the healing process proceeds as expected.

Why should I come in for an appointment?

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    When an eye does not heal properly an infection can pass through the normal protective layers. If not treated and monitored this can lead to a severe infection. An untreated eye infection can lead to severe vision loss or blindness. If treated promptly there rarely are any complications or long term vision problems. **Of special interest is trauma from vegatative matter which often has many living organism that are very opportunistic when given a open wound to attack.

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Cost: Varies, starting at $40

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    This is usually a follow up to the comprehensive eye exam. If significant ocular surface issues are found further testing another day could be required. Patients not getting the comprehensive at this location are welcome but may need a little extra time.

What is included.

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    Dry eye can have many possible causes. Improper tear quanity, quality, rates of production or drainage may need to be corrected. Testing will be done to help find the best solution for your specific problem. Some common treatments are education on OTC eye drops, nutritional supplements, perscription eye drops or punctal plugs. Sometimes the enviroment and medications need to be discussed to verify they are not the cause.     Allergic eye reactions can be another cause of ocular surface discomfort. Sometimes a change in enviroment or medications can help offer relief. In other cases various OTC and prescription medicated drops may be needed to resolve the issue. Extensive esting will be done to find the best solution to your ocular surface issues.

Why should I come in for an appointment?

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    Many people live with uncomfortable eyes when a solution is very simple. With a thourogh examination of the tears, lids and cornea a solution can be found for most people. Why would you continue to suffer?

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Cost: $30 to check in Visual accuity is down. Normally monitored annually in the comprehensive exam.

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    If previous exam found some cataracts and there is a change in vision before your next exam you can come in to have the current state of the cataracts evaluated. To effectively evaluate the state of the lens a dilation is usually required.

What is included.

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    Visual accuity is evaluated possibly using contrast testing. The results of the visual acuity are the largest determinate if you are ready for cataract surgery. Dilation of the pupil is done to get a better view of the lens. The dilation usually lasts for 3-4 hours at which time bright lights are more difficult to handle.

Why should I come in for an appointment?

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    the loss of vision due to cataracts is usually gradual to the point you don't even notice the changes. It is not all that uncommon to have patients vision deteriorate to the point they could not pass the vision part of the driveres test. When the vision and cataracts are bad enough a refereal to a ophthomologist can be made for surgery.

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Cost: starting at $25/visit but usually covered under your medical insurance

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    Often used to monitor progression more frequently then your annual exams. There are various monitoring tests that can be performed. Other visits may be to check the pressure of the eye to verify medication effectivity.

What is included.

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     Checking of interocular pressures, visual fields, angle visualization, corneal thickness measurements and neural imaging are some of the common procedures during one of these visits. If needed various eye drops can be prescribed. When results don't meet expectations a referal may be recommended to a glaucoma specialist. It is usually recommended to see a consistant doctor when following glaucoma, if needed a measurement or test can be run and forwarded to your primary eye care provider.

Why should I come in for an appointment?

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    This is one of those scarey diseases that you have no symptoms until it is to late. Monitoring and treating this disease when younger can help to make sure you do not have to deal with vision loss in you later years. An acute case of glaucoma can happen from an infection, trauma or genetic variant. This is not common but is the reason we always need to have Interocular pressures with every visit.

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Cost: Varies starting at $45

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    Often used to monitor progression more frequently then hte annual exams.

What is included.

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    Observation after dilation, amsler grid comparisons, discussion of use of supplements and retinal imaging are used to monitor for changes. There is very limited option for the dry form but significant help if it converts to the wet form. It is very important to monitor frequently to catch the change over as soon as possible.

Why should I come in for an appointment?

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    Due to the limited treatment options for "dry" age related macular degeneration(ARMD) periodic monitoring should be started. If already diagnosed with higher risk dry ARMD it is important to monitor and catch the change to wet as soon as possible. When the conversion to wet happens a referal to a retinal specialist is made and they have treatment options. The sooner the change is caught the better the prognosis is for keeping usable vision.

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Currently accepted plans

    Here is a list of the plans we able to file the claim for you.

• Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Minnesota
• Davis Vision
• Medica
• Spectera
• Superior Vision
• Avesis
• NVA-National Vision Administrators
• MES vision
• Optum Health

Insurance that we can not take

    Most of the insurances on this list will not in the forseeable future be allowing us to file a claim with them. Most of them are run by Walmart's competitors.

• Eye Med
• Health Partners
• VSP-Vision Service Plan (in network benefits)

Insurances we are working to add

    These insurances should be able to be added in the summer of 2011

• Preffered One
• Ucare of Minnesota
• BadgerCare of Wisconsin
• VSP-Vision Service Plan (out of network benefits)
• Aetna
• Cigna

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Currently accepted plans

    At this time we are not accepting any medical insuarnce plans
We are looking to resolve this and hope to be taking most of them by the summer of 2011.