FAQs

Office

What are your office hours?

Do you take walk-in appointments?

What type of insurance does your office accept?

Do you offer any discounts?

I don’t know if I have vision insurance, would your office know?

Does my health insurance cover eye exams?

Why do I need to bring in my health and vision cards to my appointment?

What if I haven’t been issued a vision card?

Services

What should I bring to my appointment?

How long should I expect my eye exam to be?

What is the difference between an eye exam and a contact lens fitting?

How often should I have my eyes checked?

What is a dilation and why is it important?

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

Do I still need eye exams after having LASIK?

Eye Conditions

Can Dr. Barit test me for Glaucoma?

How does my blood pressure relate to my eyes?

How should I protect my eyes from harmful UV rays?

My mother had Macular Degeneration, am I a potential candidate?

Does Dr. Barit insert Punctual Plugs for Dry Eyes?

I was exposed to “Pink Eye”, can Dr. Barit treat me?

What are the symptoms for Cataracts?

I have been diagnosed with Diabetes, do I need an Eye Exam?

Children

At what age should my child have their first eye exam?

My child has vision screenings at school, is this enough?

At what age can my child wear contacts?

My son plays sports, can he wear contacts instead of glasses?

Contacts

Are there Bifocal Contacts?

I suffer from allergies and my eyes get dry, can I still wear contacts?

Am I able to sleep in my contacts?

I have never worn contacts, will Dr. Barit teach me how to use them?

Is it true that contacts are cheaper online?

 

Office

What are your office hours?

Monday through Saturday 10AM – 6PM

 

Do you take Walk-In appointments?

Yes, based upon our availability. Currently we can see most walk-ins within an hour or two.

 

What type of insurance does your office accept?

Currently we accept the following vision plans:

AAA
AARP
Aetna Vision
Ameriplan
Ameritas
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna International
Cole Managed Vision
Eyemed Vision
Humana
Medicare
Metlife Vision
Meritain
PHCS
Superior
Texas True Choice
Vision One
VSP (through assignment of benefit)

*We do not make any guarantees of payment on behalf of your insurance company.

*Once we receive your insurance information, we will verify your eligibility within 48 hours.  In most cases, we are able verify your eligibility the same day as your appointment.  However, if your insurance carrier is closed and/or we are unable to reach them, you may be asked to pay for services in full and we will reconcile your account once it has been verified. We suggest that you verify with your insurance carrier about your details of coverage, including copays. 

 

Do you offer any discounts?

If we are not a provider for your vision plan, and you have your vision card with you, we will offer you a $25 courtesy discount.  We will provide you with a medical billing receipt so that you may submit the claim directly to you insurance company.  We do not make any guarantees of payment on behalf of your insurance company.

Check back for our Summer Eye Special, which will be listed on our home page in May!

 

I don’t know if I have vision insurance, would your office know?

There are hundreds of different vision plans and unfortunately there is not a universal directory to look up all of them.  We suggest that you contact your human resources department or health insurance customer service to obtain this information before making your appointment.

 

Does my health insurance cover eye exams?

In some cases, some health insurance plans offer discounts off of routine eye exams or you may have a flexible spending account that you may use towards services and materials of your choice.  In some cases, we may elect to use your health insurance for certain conditions.  Please refer to the details of your insurance details and bring a copy of this to your appointment.

 

Why do I need to bring in my health and vision cards to my appointment?

Not only do we offer routine eye exams, we also offer an array of eye care, which may be covered by your health insurance such as treatment for a scratched Cornea.  We ask that you bring in all of your cards so that we may keep them on file for appropriate billing purposes.

 

What if I haven’t been issued a vision card?

In some cases you may not have a vision card, instead some vision providers offer this information online.  We ask that you bring a copy of your online printout with your coverage details.

 

Services

What should I bring to my appointment?

If you have previously worn glasses we ask that you please bring in your current pair so that Dr. Barit may take a reading from them to compare for any changes in the prescription.  If you’ve worn contacts before, please bring in an empty box if you still have it.  Please bring insurance information and also be prepared to discuss any family eye conditions with Dr. Barit.

 

How long should I expect my eye exam to be?

For routine eye exams, we estimate 30 minutes for your appointment.

If you would also like a contact lens fitting in addition to your eye exam please estimate 45 minutes for your appointment.

If you would like a dilation, please estimate an additional 15 minutes. 

If it is your first time trying contacts, please estimate at least 60 minutes for your appointment.  In some cases, it may take longer depending upon your comfort level of putting them in and taking them out of your eyes.  Don’t worry, we are very patient with everyone.

 

What is the difference between an eye exam and a contact lens fitting?

The eye exam is to check the health of your eyes and also includes a prescription for glasses.  A contact lens fitting is an additional service in which Dr. Barit fits you with a free pair of contacts which you will try for a week.  At your follow-up appointment, he will make any necessary adjustments, and he will give you a separate contact lens prescription.  A contact lens prescription is not the same as a prescription for glasses and it is required by state law to have a routine eye exam before or at your contact lens fitting.

 

How often should I have my eyes checked?

For the health of your eyes and to update your prescriptions, Dr. Barit recommends that you have your eyes checked annually. A prescription for both glasses and contacts is only valid for one year.

 

What is a dilation and why is it important?

Dilation is an installation of drops in the eye to relax the pupil, providing a much larger view of your retina.  Many eye conditions such as Retinal Detachment, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy can be detected through this procedure, thus an important component to your eye exam.  Typically distance vision is minimally affected, however there will be some light sensitivity.   We will provide disposable sunglasses if necessary.  Your eyes may remain dilated for approximately 4 hours.

 

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

If you are considering LASIK or would like more information, Dr. Barit can talk to you and provide you with literature on this procedure.  In most cases, your prescription should remain constant within the past two years to be considered as a candidate, among other considerations.  If you decide to go through with LASIK, Dr. Barit can provide your pre- and post- operative care, while referring you to an Ophthalmologist to perform your surgery.

 

Do I still need eye exams after having LASIK?

YES!  Although your vision may have been corrected, it is not an immunization for eye diseases.  Annual Eye Exams are an important health check up and help to detect symptoms and early stages for many diseases which can cause blindness.

Eye Conditions

Can Dr. Barit test me for Glaucoma?

Yes.  As part of your Comprehensive Eye Exam, you will have an “Air Puff Test” which screens for Glaucoma.  Dr. Barit will also speak with you about your family history and examine your retina for symptoms.  A Dilation is highly recommended for the most thorough view.

 

How does my blood pressure relate to my eyes?

Many diseases or symptoms that affect your eyesight are related to your circulatory system and your blood flow.  For example, if you are a smoker or have Diabetes, this may cause your blood pressure to rise which may also affect your vision.  In the most severe cases, it may also cause blindness.  Please discuss any symptoms with Dr. Barit; he may also elect to perform a blood pressure test if necessary.

 

How should I protect my eyes from harmful UV rays?

Dr. Barit highly recommends that everyone wears sunglasses with UV protection when they are outside.  Harmful UV rays may increase the risk of certain types of Cataracts and potentially damage the Retina.

 

Does Dr. Barit insert Punctual Plugs for Dry Eyes?

Yes, in severe cases of Dry Eyes, Dr. Barit can treat Dry Eyes with Punctual Plugs.  This procedure should be covered by most health insurance plans.

 

I was exposed to “Pink Eye”, can Dr. Barit treat me?

Yes, Dr. Barit can evaluate your condition and prescribe antibiotics for the eye if necessary.  This procedure should be covered by most health insurance plans.

 

My mother had Macular Degeneration, am I at risk?

Yes, with any hereditary eye conditions, you are a potential candidate.  The good news is Macular Degeneration can be detected and it is most helpful to check every year so that it can be caught in its earliest stages.  Dr. Barit recommends a dilation for the most thorough view.

 

What are the symptoms for a developing Cataract?

Imagine driving in fog at night and suddenly turning on the high beam lights.  What you see in a distance is glare, distorted images, and a decrease in color saturation.  This happens with developing cataracts.  You may also experience a decrease in reading vision especially with moderate to severe cataracts.

 

I have been diagnosed with Diabetes, do I need an Eye Exam?

Yes.  Diabetes affects your circulatory system, which can affect your vision.  It is advised that all Diabetics have their eyes examined at least once a year and in some severe cases, more often.  Please discuss all of your symptoms with Dr. Barit, including any cloudy or spotty vision.  In most cases, Dr. Barit will elect to perform a dilation at your visit.

Children

At what age should my child have their first eye exam?

Dr. Barit recommends that most children should have their eyes examined before their 7th birthday.  Children are very adaptive and although they may not tell you of any changes in their vision, they may assume that this is natural and use coping mechanisms.  A thorough eye examination can ensure that their eyes are developing properly or detect any changes in vision which may require a prescription. Dr. Barit has examined children as young as 4 years old.  If children do not know the alphabet, he can use universal shapes that most children recognize.

 

My child has vision screenings at school, is this enough?

Although school vision screenings are helpful, they may only test for visual acuity, meaning they only check to see if the children can see 20 feet away, when indeed the child may have difficulty with reading materials only 12 inches away.  In addition there are no machines to check the overall health of the eye and they are examined by non-eyecare professionals who may determine results arbitrarily.  Dr. Barit recommends an annual exam for all children, as their bodies grow quickly, so do their eyes and it is important to have this as part of their regular check up.

 

At what age can my child wear contacts?

There is no magical age at which a child can wear contacts.  Although Dr. Barit prefers to start with pre-teens, he has patients as young as 9 years old wearing contacts.  The most important factor is the maturity and level of responsibility that the child.  If they are able to manage their contacts on a daily basis including proper care, cleaning and not sleeping in them, then they cold be a candidate.

 

My son/daughter plays sports, can he wear contacts instead of glasses?

Yes, your son/daughter has the option of wearing both contacts and glasses depending upon maturity level.  Your son/daughter may opt to wear contacts only for sports and then put on glasses for any other activity or he/she may wear contacts full time and only wear glasses at night.  Either situation is fine, it all depends on personal preference.

Contacts

 

Are there Bifocal Contacts?

Yes.  If you would like to rid yourself of multiple pairs of reading glasses, see Dr. Barit for Bifocal Contacts, also referred to as Multifocals.  These contacts are especially designed to assist your upfront vision while also providing the distance vision you need, if required.  Compared to Mono-Vision--where one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye is corrected for near--bifocal contacts allow you to have better depth perception.  Those who play sports or who have hobbies in which glasses tend to get in the way, love the freedom that the contacts give them!

 

I suffer from allergies and my eyes get dry, can I still wear contacts?

In most cases, yes.  With the wide variety of contact lenses today, there are those especially designed for sensitive and dry eyes.  In addition, Dr. Barit can recommend over the counter solutions which also alleviate these symptoms.  A common solution are daily disposable contacts, which have a lower level of debris build up, thus reducing pollen or cedar particles which can cause irritation.  Also, some contacts have higher water content than others, thus giving your eyes the additional moisture that they need throughout the day.

 

Am I able to sleep in my Contacts?

Dr. Barit never recommends sleeping in your contacts.  Although some manufactures may advertise that you may sleep in certain contacts for up to thirty days, this can increase your chance of serious eye infections.  By sleeping in your contacts, there is a reduced amount of oxygen that your eyes need.  Your eyes may naturally try to expel the foreign body and become swollen, red, puffy or even develop calcium deposits.  If debris is on your contacts and it is in your eye for an extended period of time, you may develop an infection.

 

I have never worn contacts, will Dr. Barit teach me how to use them?

Yes.  If you have never worn contacts before, we suggest that you become comfortable with touching your eye area.  You can practice this at home by first washing your hands, then using your fingers to open your top and bottom eyelid wide enough to insert a contact without blinking as your finger approaches your eye.  At your appointment, Dr. Barit will put the contact lens in for you to begin, then he will show you a video tutorial and finally it will be your turn to use these techniques to insert and remove the contacts on your own.  In the beginning it may take some time, but with practice you will get the hang of it!

 

Is it true that contacts are cheaper online?

Not Always.  Although a website may advertise lower prices than a Doctor’s office, there are many contacts that we offer at a lower or comparable price.  We receive generous manufacture’s rebates that you are able to take advantage of in addition to applicable discounts.  Although there may be a few types of contacts that may be cheaper online, we suggest that you consider the value of your time, if there are any hassles with understanding the correct powers for your prescription, if you are charged shipping or if you can use your insurance benefits.  One guarantee that we make at Bee Cave Eyecare Essentials is with a purchase of an annual supply, we will replace up to four contacts per year if they rip, tear or even if you loose them, this added value can’t be found online.