Now that your appointment is scheduled, you may be wondering what comes next. At Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, we want you to feel prepared and confident before you arrive.
Play Video
Play Video
Before Your Appointment
Completing these steps ahead of time can help save time during check-in.
1
Confirm
Double-check the date, time, and location of your appointment. A few days before your scheduled visit, you may receive a text message, email, and phone call confirming your appointment.
2
Complete Forms
You will receive a link to complete important paperwork and pre-registration information before you arrive. Fill out any pre-registration forms you receive before your visit.
3
Upload Documents
Provide your current insurance cards and identification when prompted through our secure portal.
4
List Medications
Bring a current list of medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements.
5
Prepare Questions
Write down any questions or concerns you want to discuss with your eye care team.
6
Plan for Dilation
Be prepared for the possibility that your eyes may be dilated during your exam. Bring sunglasses to wear after your visit, and consider arranging a ride home. Some patients feel comfortable driving after dilation, but you should not drive if your vision feels blurry, unsafe, or uncomfortable.
7
Clear Your Schedule
Leave room in your schedule for a thorough eye exam/testing (estimate 2-3 hours).
What To Bring To Your Appointment
A valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license.
Your medical & insurance card
A current list of medications & supplements used
Your current eyeglasses or contact lenses, if applicable
A list of questions or concerns you would like to discuss
Insurance Cards: Vision vs. Medical
Bringing the right insurance cards helps our team verify your benefits, file your claim correctly, and reduce delays or billing surprises. Different types of eye care are billed differently. We recommend bringing both your vision and medical insurance cards, especially if this is your first visit.
Routine Eye Exams
If you are scheduled for a routine eye exam with an Optometrist, please bring your vision insurance card. Vision benefits are typically used for routine exams, glasses prescriptions, and contact lens fittings.
Medical Eye Care
If your appointment is for anything other than a routine vision exam, please bring your medical insurance card. Medical insurance is generally needed for visits related to eye disease, symptoms, specialty testing, emergency eye concerns, diabetic eye exams, glaucoma evaluations, eye pressure checks, cataracts, retina care, surgery consultations, or follow-up care for a medical eye condition.
If you are scheduled for a routine eye exam with an Optometrist, please bring your vision insurance card. Vision benefits are typically used for routine exams, glasses prescriptions, and contact lens fittings.
If your appointment is for anything other than a routine vision exam, please bring your medical insurance card. Medical insurance is generally needed for visits related to eye disease, symptoms, specialty testing, emergency eye concerns, diabetic eye exams, glaucoma evaluations, eye pressure checks, cataracts, retina care, surgery consultations, or follow-up care for a medical eye condition.
Specialized Medical Eye Exams
For the following eye exams, your eye doctor will typically recommend dilation and additional testing. Please allow extra time for your appointment, bring sunglasses, and plan for the possibility that your vision may be temporarily blurry or light-sensitive afterward.
Cataract Evaluation
If you are scheduled for a cataract evaluation, please prepare for your eyes to be dilated to check the health of your retina and other parts of your eye. Your visit may include vision testing, a review of symptoms such as glare or trouble driving at night, an eye pressure check, and a slit-lamp examination.
Glaucoma Evaluation
If you are scheduled for a glaucoma evaluation, please prepare for your eyes to be dilated to look for changes that can affect the optic nerve and peripheral vision. Because glaucoma may not cause noticeable symptoms, testing is especially important for patients with elevated eye pressure, a family history of glaucoma, or other risk factors.
Diabetic Eye Exam
If you are scheduled for a diabetic eye exam, please prepare for your eyes to be dilated to examine the retina and optic nerve for signs of diabetic retinopathy, swelling, bleeding, or other eye concerns. Retinal imaging or optical coherence tomography may also be recommended when a closer look is needed.
Dilated Eye Exams
Whether you are scheduled for a routine vision exam or a medical eye visit, please arrive prepared for the possibility that your doctor may recommend dilation. Not every appointment requires it, but the need for a closer look is not always clear until your doctor reviews your symptoms, medical history, vision changes, eye pressure, and initial exam findings. Dilation gives your doctor a better view of the inside of your eye, including the retina and optic nerve, and can help identify concerns that may not cause noticeable symptoms early on.
Dilation uses eye drops to temporarily widen your pupils. For several hours afterward, you may experience blurry near vision, difficulty focusing on small print, and increased sensitivity to sunlight or glare. Bring sunglasses to wear after your visit, and consider arranging a ride home or having a backup transportation plan available. Some patients feel comfortable driving after dilation, but you should not drive if your vision feels blurry, unsafe, or uncomfortable.
Related Articles
When Was Your Last Eye Exam
Knowing when you last had an eye exam can help you stay proactive about changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
