Choosing an eye doctor is mostly a practical decision. Does this office take my insurance, can they see my whole family, and will I be able to understand what they tell me?
Here are the questions worth asking any practice in Santa Maria, and how we answer them.
Do they take your insurance?
This is usually the first real filter, and it is worth confirming before you book rather than after.
We accept Medicare and CenCal/Medi-Cal for patients of all ages. CenCal eyewear benefits may also apply depending on eligibility and coverage.
If you are not sure what your plan covers, call and ask before the appointment. We cover the detail in does CenCal/Medi-Cal cover eye exams and glasses and what Medicare covers.
Can everyone in your family go there?
Some offices see adults only, or send children elsewhere.
We see children, adults, and seniors. That matters practically, because it means one trip instead of three and one set of records rather than several. It also means the exam is matched to the patient: a child's exam looks at focusing and eye teaming, while an exam after 60 is watching for cataracts, macular changes, and glaucoma. See family eye care.
Will you be able to communicate comfortably?
Our entire staff is bilingual in English and Spanish. Not one person at the desk, the whole team, including the optical.
In a community where many families are more comfortable in Spanish, that changes what a visit is actually like. More in bilingual eye care in Santa Maria.
Is there an optical on site?
We are both an optometry office and an optical office. If glasses come out of your exam, you can choose frames and have measurements taken in the same visit rather than starting over somewhere else.
Measurements matter more than most people expect, which is why we use iTerminal 2 to capture five measurements rather than relying on pupillary distance alone. See personalized eyewear and lenses.
What happens if something medical turns up?
This is the question people forget to ask, and it is the one that matters most over time.
Plenty of what we find is medical rather than refractive: diabetic changes in the retina, elevated eye pressure, dry eye disease, changes related to blood pressure. Those need monitoring and comparison over years, not a new prescription.
We have OCT imaging, retinal photography, visual field testing, and Diopsys visual electrophysiology in the building, and Dr. Prewett has been certified for the treatment and management of glaucoma since 2001. When something needs surgical care, we say so and help arrange the referral. See medical eye care and optometrist vs. ophthalmologist.
Do they keep records you can compare against?
Most of the conditions we watch for progress slowly and without symptoms. What makes them findable is comparison, which only works if your history lives in one place.
A practice you return to is worth more than a slightly cheaper exam somewhere new each time.
About this practice
Dr. John R. Prewett has been in practice for over 30 years. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry and completed postgraduate work in the therapeutic management of ocular conditions, and has experience in low vision.
The office is independent rather than corporate, with about 20 staff, and it is busy. If you are an optometrist rather than a patient, see practicing medical optometry at an independent practice in Santa Maria. We also run a dedicated dry-eye clinic, which not every general practice does. See dry eye treatment.
Practical details
Address: 1429 S. Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: 805-925-9575
Hours: Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday.
Common questions
Do I need a referral?
Generally no, though some plans have their own requirements. Call and we will check.
What should I bring to a first visit?
Insurance cards, photo ID, a current medication list, and your current glasses. See what to expect at your first visit.
How far in advance should I book?
We are a busy office, so call sooner rather than later, particularly if you need a specific time.
Book an exam
Request an appointment or call 805-925-9575.
