Not every eye visit is about glasses. Many of the conditions we manage are medical, which means they are about the health of the eye rather than the sharpness of your vision.
That distinction also determines how the visit is billed, which is worth understanding before you arrive.
Vision care and medical care are different visits
A routine vision exam answers: what is your prescription, and are your eyes healthy? This is usually what a vision plan covers.
A medical eye visit addresses a diagnosed or suspected condition: diabetes affecting the retina, elevated eye pressure, dry eye, an infection, a sudden change in vision. This is usually billed to medical insurance.
The same person can need both, sometimes in the same year. It is not an upsell. It reflects what the visit was actually for.
We accept Medicare and CenCal/Medi-Cal. If you are unsure which applies to your situation, call our office and our team can help you sort it out beforehand.
What we manage
Diabetic eye disease
Diabetes can affect retinal blood vessels before you notice any change in vision. Annual exams with imaging are how those changes get found early. See why diabetic eye exams matter.
Hypertensive retinal changes
High blood pressure leaves signs in the retinal vessels. What we see can be useful information for the doctor managing your blood pressure. See how high blood pressure affects your eyes.
Glaucoma
Dr. Prewett has been certified for the treatment and management of glaucoma since 2001. Monitoring combines eye pressure, optic nerve imaging, and visual field testing. Elevated pressure on its own is not a diagnosis: see what eye pressure means. See glaucoma monitoring.
Macular degeneration
We evaluate and monitor age-related macular changes, using imaging to document the central retina over time.
Dry eye disease
A medical condition with measurable causes, and one of our specialty areas. See dry eye treatment.
Low vision
When vision cannot be fully corrected with a prescription, low-vision care focuses on function. See senior and low-vision care.
How systemic health shows up in the eye
The eye is the only place a doctor can look directly at blood vessels and nerve tissue without surgery.
That is why an eye exam sometimes turns up the first sign of a broader health issue, and why we ask about your medications and health history. Diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and autoimmune conditions can all leave evidence we can see.
When findings are relevant to your other doctors, we can coordinate.
When we refer
Some conditions need care beyond optometric scope, including most eye surgery.
When that is the case we tell you plainly, help arrange the referral, and stay involved in the follow-up where appropriate. Knowing when to refer is part of the job. If you are wondering which kind of doctor you need, see optometrist vs. ophthalmologist.
Common questions
Why was my visit billed to medical insurance?
Because the visit addressed a medical condition rather than a routine prescription check. If you have questions about a specific claim, call our office.
Do I still need a routine exam if I am being monitored?
Often yes. Monitoring a condition and updating a prescription are different purposes.
Do you accept Medicare?
Yes, and CenCal/Medi-Cal for patients of all ages. See what Medicare covers and CenCal/Medi-Cal coverage.
My primary care doctor asked for an eye exam. Can you send results?
Yes. Tell us at check-in and we will make sure the findings reach them.
Schedule a medical eye visit
If you have diabetes, elevated eye pressure, or a change you cannot explain, do not wait for your next routine exam.
Request an appointment or call 805-925-9575.
