FAQs

DOWNLOAD FORM

The recommended frequency of eye exams may vary depending on age, risk factors, and overall eye health. However, major professional organizations such as the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommend a comprehensive eye exam once every 12 months.

Most eye exams take about 30 minutes. However, the visit may take longer depending on your specific concerns, visual needs, exam complexity, or if you choose to have your eyes dilated.

If you opt for retinal imaging instead of dilation, it provides a comprehensive view of your eye health without adding any extra time to your appointment.

For a comprehensive eye exam, it is recommended to have your eyes dilated or undergo retinal imaging once a year. Just like annual blood work or physical exams with your primary care doctor, this helps detect early signs of eye disease before any symptoms appear. By the time symptoms arise, the condition is often already in an advanced stage and may have caused irreversible damage.

In most cases, you only need one or the other—not both. At our office, retinal imaging is the preferred method because it provides a more thorough and detailed view of the retina, takes just a few seconds, and has no side effects.

Dilation, on the other hand, requires 20–30 minutes for the drops to take effect and can extend your visit by an additional 30 minutes. It also depends on how well your pupils dilate and your ability to tolerate bright lights during the exam. After dilation, you may experience light sensitivity and blurry vision, typically worse at near than distance, for 4 to 6 hours.

Because of its accuracy, efficiency, and comfort, most of our patients choose retinal imaging as the better option for their annual eye health check.

We kindly ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. If notice is given with less than 24 hours, the visit will be marked as a No Show. We completely understand that life happens, so your first missed appointment will be forgiven with no penalty. However, if you miss or cancel a second appointment without proper notice, a $50 deposit will be required to reserve your next appointment. This deposit is non-refundable, but the full amount will be credited toward any copays, glasses, or purchases at your visit. If you do not use the entire credit, the remaining balance will stay on your account for future use.

Important: If you miss your third appointment, the credit is forfeited and we will no longer be able to schedule future visits. At that point, we will mail your records and provide recommendations for other optometry offices.

See an Optometrist for:

• Comprehensive routine eye exams

• Glasses or contact lens prescriptions

• Specialty contact lens fittings

• Dry eye evaluation and treatment

• Flashes, floaters, or sudden vision changes

• Eye pain or discomfort

• Eye infections, allergies, or inflammation

• Foreign body removal (e.g., metal or debris)

• Diabetic eye exams

• Glaucoma evaluation and management

• Macular degeneration monitoring

• Double vision

• Cataract evaluations and surgical referrals

• LASIK or refractive surgery evaluations

See an Ophthalmologist for:

• Any condition you’ve been referred for by your optometrist

• Eye surgeries (e.g., cataract, LASIK, PRK, eyelid procedures)

• Eye injections for conditions such as wet macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy

• Laser procedures (e.g., YAG capsulotomy)

• Advanced trauma (e.g., penetrating eye injury, lacerations, facial fractures)

• Corneal transplants or other complex surgical interventions

• Strabismus muscle surgery

Summary:

Unless you already know you need surgery or advanced treatment, starting with an optometrist is the most efficient and cost-effective approach. They are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage most eye conditions and will guide you through the appropriate next steps if specialty care is required.

Yes! We accept most vision and medical insurance plans, including but not limited to:

Vision Insurance: VSP, EyeMed, Spectera, Avesis, Davis Vision, Superior Vision, Tricare West (Complete), Tricare for Life

Medical Insurance: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, Tricare West (Complete), Tricare for Life

If you do not see your plan listed, please give us a call—there is a good chance we are in-network with your specific insurance.

A routine annual eye exam is $99 out-of-pocket. If you choose to add retinal imaging ($39) or need a contact lens fitting, additional fees will apply.

For medical visits (e.g., pink eye, eye injury, foreign object), exams range from $100–$150 depending on complexity.
Medical exams are usually billed to your medical insurance. The final cost depends on your coverage, deductible status, and the procedures performed. If insurance covers only part of the visit, you may receive a bill for the remaining balance.

We collect your medical insurance information for a few important reasons:

• In case a medical condition is diagnosed during your exam (such as dry eye, cataracts, or an eye infection), it allows us to bill your medical insurance appropriately for any necessary treatment or follow-up care.

• For referrals to specialists, should your condition require additional evaluation or procedures, we use your insurance information to ensure a smooth referral process.

• In the event of an eye emergency, having your medical insurance on file allows us to assist you promptly and accurately, with a clear understanding of your coverage and any copays associated with urgent visits.

Even if your visit is routine, having your medical insurance on file helps us support your care more seamlessly.

Vision insurance is typically used for routine annual eye exams, which may include updating your glasses or contact lens prescription, checking your binocularity, and evaluating your overall eye health.

Medical insurance is used when your visit is problem-focused—for example, if you are experiencing symptoms such as:

• Dry eyes

• Eye pain or discomfort

• Foreign body sensation

• Eye infections or allergies

• Sudden vision changes, flashes of light, or floaters

In some cases, like diabetic eye evaluations, coverage may fall under either vision or medical insurance, depending on the specifics of your plan and the nature of the visit.

We are always happy to help determine which insurance is most appropriate for your visit.

At our practice, our optometrist sees patients ages 5 and up.

However, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA), early vision care plays a critical role in childhood development. Their recommended exam schedule is as follows:

• 6 months – First exam

• 3 years – Second exam

• Before school – Around age 5

• Ages 6–18 – Every 1–2 years

If your child is under 5, we are happy to refer you to a pediatric specialist.

In most cases, you will get the greatest value by using your vision benefits toward glasses. Vision plans typically offer a discount for either glasses or contacts, but not both in the same benefit period.
If you are planning to update both, using your benefits for glasses and paying out-of-pocket for contacts often provides the most overall savings.

Exception: Some EyeMed plans may allow split benefits—covering both a frame and contact lenses within the same period. Our team will gladly verify your specific benefits and help you decide what makes the most sense based on your needs and coverage.

Most glasses and contact lens orders are ready within 1–2 weeks.

• Glasses: If your prescription qualifies for in-house processing, we may have them ready as soon as the same day or next day. Otherwise, standard turnaround is typically 7–10 business days.

• Contact lenses: Standard soft contact lens orders usually arrive within 1 week. However, custom or specialty contact lenses may take up to 3–4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the prescription and lens design.

We will always notify you as soon as your order is ready for pickup.

Yes, in select cases. If your prescription falls within the range we keep in stock—typically up to ±4.00 with astigmatism correction up to 2.00 diopters—we may be able to have your single vision prescription glasses ready the same day or next day.

This option is available in select cases and when permitted by your vision plan. If you are paying out of pocket and not using insurance, we have more flexibility with frame and lens combinations, which can make same-day turnaround more accessible.

For bifocals, progressive lenses, or more complex prescriptions, glasses will need to be custom ordered through our partner lab, with an average turnaround time of 1–2 weeks.

Absolutely — we offer free direct shipping to your home for all finalized contact lens orders. This makes it convenient to receive your lenses without needing to stop by the office.

Please note: Contact lens trials cannot be shipped. Trial lenses must be picked up in person, as your doctor may need to evaluate the fit before they are dispensed. This ensures the lenses provide optimal comfort, clarity, and safety before any full order is placed.

Yes! You can easily order your contacts through our website at www.optikaeye.com. Just click the shopping cart icon labeled Shop Online to get started.
​​​​​​​
If you have placed a partial order (less than a full annual supply), our system will automatically send text and email reminders when it is time to reorder. The link in the message will auto-fill your brand and prescription, so all you need to do is select how many boxes you would like — quick and effortless.

Most standard contact lens orders are delivered within 7–10 business days. If it has been over two weeks, we recommend reaching out to our office so we can track your order and provide you with a shipping update or tracking number.

If you ordered custom lenses (such as Biofinity XR or other specialty designs), these typically take longer—up to 4 weeks—as they are made to order.

If you're unsure whether your lenses are custom, feel free to contact us and we will gladly check on the status for you.

Medically necessary contact lenses are non-elective lenses prescribed when glasses cannot provide adequate vision correction due to certain medical eye conditions. In these cases, contact lenses are considered the standard of care and may be eligible for insurance coverage—depending on your vision plan.

You may qualify if your vision cannot be corrected to a functional level with glasses, but can be significantly improved with contact lenses.
Common qualifying conditions include:

• Keratoconus – A progressive eye condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape. Coverage often applies when glasses cannot correct vision to 20/30 or better.

• Aphakia – When the natural lens of the eye is missing due to surgery, trauma, or a congenital condition.

• Anisometropia – A significant difference in prescription between the two eyes, typically 3.00 diopters or more, causing visual imbalance.

• High Ametropia – Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness, typically over –10.00D or +10.00D, making glasses less effective.

• Significant visual improvement with contacts – If your vision improves by at least two lines on the eye chart with contacts compared to glasses, even if you do not have keratoconus.

Not all insurance plans cover medically necessary contacts, so it is important to verify your specific benefits. Our team is happy to help determine your eligibility and work with your insurance provider to maximize coverage.

Glasses prescriptions are typically valid for 1 year, you are welcome to purchase as many pairs of glasses as you wish.

Contact lens prescriptions are valid for 1 year and include both the expiration date and the authorized annual supply. Because contact lenses sit directly on the eye, our doctors do not extend these prescriptions without a recheck to ensure your eyes remain healthy and stable.

If you have already ordered your full annual supply and need more lenses, we will need to confirm with the doctor before releasing additional boxes. That said, exceptions can be made in cases like a torn lens or temporary travel needs.

When you purchase contacts through our office, you automatically receive our Platinum Guarantee, which allows you to exchange any unopened, unused, undamaged, unmarked, resellable boxes for credit toward an updated prescription or a different brand of contacts. This ensures you can take advantage of annual supply savings, maximize your insurance benefits, and qualify for the highest manufacturer rebates. If your prescription changes before you use all your boxes, we will accept returns for credit as long as the boxes meet the above criteria.

Please note: Boxes that are opened, marked, or damaged are not eligible for return.

While your prescription may technically still be valid, once it is within 60 days of expiration, state law limits how much we can dispense. We are only allowed to refill enough contact lenses to last until the expiration date—not beyond it.
Additionally, a contact lens fitting is more than just checking your vision. It ensures that your lenses still fit properly, your eye health remains stable, and that your current lenses are still the safest and most comfortable option for your eyes. Even subtle changes in the eye's shape, tear quality, or lens tolerance can impact both comfort and long-term eye health.

According to Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-1976, a soft contact lens prescription within 60 days of expiration may only be refilled with the exact quantity necessary to get you through the expiration date—not for a full supply or an extension beyond that period. You can view this law directly through Arizona’s official legislature site: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01976.htm

Yes. A contact lens prescription requires additional testing and doctor time beyond a regular eye exam, which is why a contact lens fitting fee is required—even if your prescription or brand has not changed.

Some vision insurance plans allow this fee to be taken from your contact lens allowance, while others do not. If you were not previously charged, it is likely the fee was simply covered differently or not disclosed.

Plans vary: some have a set fee, others offer a percentage discount. We follow your plan’s billing rules to ensure transparency and compliance.

Yes — we stand behind the precision and quality of our prescriptions with a 90-day Prescription Guarantee. Should you experience any concerns with your vision during this time, we are happy to offer a complimentary doctor recheck.
With a 99% success rate, most of our patients see clearly and comfortably with their initial prescription. However, if you have any concerns, the first step is a personalized troubleshooting session with our optician, who will assess your experience and verify your lenses.

If your eyewear was purchased through our office, we will take care of any necessary adjustments at no cost to you. If your glasses were purchased elsewhere, we recommend starting with the original point of purchase, as their policies may vary.

If that is not an option, we do offer an expert diagnostic service for outside glasses at a $25 fee. While we are happy to help identify the issue, our prescription guarantee does not extend to remaking lenses that were not dispensed by our office. We encourage patients to review the return or remake policies of external vendors before purchasing.

We offer a 90-day contact lens fitting period, which includes trial lenses, follow-up visits, and any necessary adjustments to ensure you are fully comfortable and satisfied before finalizing your contact lens prescription.
If it has been more than 90 days since your fitting and you have missed your follow-up visits, we will need to perform a new contact lens fitting. This will be an out-of-pocket cost ranging from $75 to $120, as your vision and prescription may have changed during that time.

When you purchase contacts through our office, you automatically receive our Platinum Guarantee, which allows you to exchange any unopened, unused, undamaged, unmarked, resellable boxes for credit toward an updated prescription or a different brand of contacts. This ensures you can take advantage of annual supply savings, maximize your insurance benefits, and qualify for the highest manufacturer rebates. If your prescription changes before you use all your boxes, we will accept returns for credit as long as the boxes meet the above criteria. Please note: Boxes that are opened, marked, or damaged are not eligible for return.

• Unopened, undamaged boxes of contact lenses purchased from our office can be exchanged for credit toward a new prescription or different brand.

• Opened boxes or lenses purchased elsewhere are not eligible for return or exchange.

(e.g., if your vision feels blurry or the prescription seems off)

We stand behind the quality of our eyewear with a Patient Satisfaction Guarantee for both single vision and progressive lenses. Our optical uses only premium lens technology, and fewer than 1% of our patients experience adaptation issues with our progressive designs.
If your vision does not feel quite right, we are here to help:

• One-time complimentary remake: We will gladly remake your lenses once at no additional charge using the same frame, to help you adapt comfortably to your new prescription.

• Prescription lenses are custom-made: As each pair is uniquely crafted, we are unable to offer refunds on lenses beyond 60 days for non-adapt cases, as they cannot be reused or resold.

• No credit for downgrades: If you request to switch to a simpler lens (such as from progressive to single vision), the price difference is not refundable once lenses are made.

• Refund policy: If, despite our best efforts, you are not satisfied with your glasses within 60 days, we offer a 100% refund on the frame (as long as it is in like-new, undamaged, and resalable condition) and 50% refund on the lenses.

We are committed to making sure you see your best and feel confident in your eyewear. Our team will always go above and beyond to resolve any concerns you may have.

In most cases, your prescription is accurate. Fewer than 1% of our patients experience difficulty adapting to our premium progressive lenses, but if you are having trouble, here are a few possible reasons:

• Incorrect seg height: If the segment (where your reading power begins) is set too high or too low based on how your glasses sit on your nose, it can cause discomfort. You may find yourself lifting your head to read (seg too low) or tilting down to drive (seg too high). Often, this can be fixed with a simple nose pad adjustment.

• Peripheral blur: Progressive lenses require you to point your nose toward what you are reading to center the object in the lens. This issue is rare with the high-quality lenses we offer but may occur more often with online or third-party lenses.

If you purchased your glasses from us:

• Our opticians will troubleshoot and make any necessary adjustments.

• If the issue is not resolved, we will schedule a prescription recheck with your doctor at no charge.

• If needed, we will remake your lenses at no cost—either with adjusted progressives, lined bifocals, or single vision lenses, depending on your preference.

Please note: There are no partial refunds for downgrades, and we will remake lenses one time per pair in the original frame.

We are committed to ensuring you love your experience and products. Here is a quick overview of our refund and exchange policies:

All professional services—including eye exams, contact lens fittings, diagnostic testing, and prescription rechecks—are non-refundable as they involve time already spent and expertise already delivered.

Contact Lenses: No refunds on contact lens purchases, however the credit is not lost on unopened boxes!

• Exchanges are welcome for any unopened, undamaged, and unmarked boxes of contact lenses purchased through our office. We will gladly apply the full value as credit toward a different brand or an updated prescription.

• Upgrade notice: If your new lenses are priced higher, you will simply pay the difference in cost.

Glasses

• If you are experiencing issues with your glasses, we will remake your lenses one time at no cost within 60 days.

• If, despite all efforts, you remain unsatisfied, we offer:

  • 100% refund on the frame (must be in like-new, unscuffed, unscratched, unbroken, and resalable condition)

  • 50% refund on the lenses, as they are custom-made and cannot be reused

• No refunds for lens downgrades (e.g., from progressive to single vision) once lenses have already been made.

• We will provide tailored recommendations based on your prescription, visual needs, and lifestyle. These may include options such as high-index lenses or digital aspheric designs, which may have higher copays. If you initially opt out of these recommendations and later find that your glasses feel too heavy, thick, or visually uncomfortable, we are happy to offer a one-time lens remake. In that case, you would simply cover the difference in cost for the upgraded lens materials. This allows you to enjoy the comfort and performance of enhanced optics while maintaining the full value of your original purchase.

We always do our best to ensure a great outcome and support your investment in high-quality eyewear.

Absolutely. We are happy to create prescription lenses for your own frame. If you have a specific style in mind from one of the premium brands we carry, we can also special order any model or color — even if it is not currently displayed in our optical.

If you are bringing in your own frame, here are a few important things to know:

• Condition matters: We recommend using frames that are in excellent condition, ideally less than 2 years old. Older frames are more likely to have hidden wear and tear, which can increase the risk of breakage during lens installation or adjustment.

• Material fatigue is real: Metal frames may develop stress points over time, making them more fragile, even if they look intact. Acetate (plastic) frames can become brittle, warped, or lose their original shape, which may impact lens fit and long-term comfort.

• Waiver: If you were seen in our clinic for an eye exam, you likely already signed a waiver as part of our Notice of Patient Privacy Rights, Protections, and Responsibilities—which every patient reviews and signs annually before their exam. This waiver includes acknowledgment of the risks associated with using personal or outside frames for new prescription lenses.

If you have not been seen in our clinic before, we kindly ask that you sign a waiver releasing us from liability in the rare event that a personal frame is damaged during the lens manufacturing or fitting process. While we take every possible precaution, previously worn or older frames may not always withstand the pressure required during these steps.

We want you to love your glasses just as much as we do. If your frame does not feel quite right, we are here to help.

Step 1: Complimentary Fit Check & Adjustment
Small issues—like a frame sitting crooked, sliding down your nose, or feeling too tight—can often be resolved with quick, in-office adjustments. Stop by anytime for a complimentary evaluation and fitting as many times as you like.

Step 2: Frame Restyle (within 30 days)
If, after adjustments, you still are not satisfied with your frame, we are happy to help you choose a new one. We will:
Restyle and refit you in a new frame of equal or lesser value at no additional charge. If your new selection is higher in price, you will simply pay the difference.

Please note: We custom-make your prescription lenses to fit the frame you choose. If you switch to a new frame, we will remake the lenses once as part of our satisfaction guarantee. However, no partial refunds are issued for downgrades, as we absorb the cost of new materials and labor during the remake.
Our goal is to ensure your eyewear looks, feels, and performs exactly how it should—every step of the way.

We do not sell extended warranties (with an exception of kids under age of 10), but every frame purchased from our optical includes a complimentary one-year warranty that covers any manufacturer defects in materials or workmanship.

If your frame is damaged due to accidental misuse—such as being sat on, stepped on, or physically broken—this is not covered under the warranty. However, we are always happy to inspect the damage and perform minor repairs whenever possible.

Our goal is to support your eyewear investment with the highest level of care and service. Please feel free to bring your glasses in so we can assess and advise on the best solution.

Yes! For children under 10 years old, we offer an optional 1-year, one-time replacement warranty for just $30. This covers both the frame and prescription lenses.

If the warranty is used:

• $30 copay to replace the frame

• $30 copay to replace the lenses

• If both are needed, the total would be $90 ($30 for the warranty, $30 for the frame, $30 for the lenses)

Please note: This warranty allows for one replacement within the year and cannot be used more than once.