Before Your Visit

What You’ll Need

Insurance card
If you changed insurance plans or have a new insurance card, please notify the front desk and have your card available.

Driver’s license or other state ID

Referrals
Most HMO plans require a referral. If your insurance requires a referral, please be sure to send it to our office.

Medical records
This is optional but highly recommended. If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, it is imperative that you bring a complete copy of your medical records (including any diagnostic testing) to your first visit. Please fax to our medical records department directly at 202-688-2857.

What to Expect

Length of the appointment
Please allow up to 2 hours for your first appointment.

Payment
Your copay will always be collected at the time of service. If you choose to receive a service that is not covered by your medical insurance, such as a contact lens evaluation, payment for that service will be collected up front. We accept cash, check and all major credit cards.

Brief clinical overview
Your appointment will begin with an ophthalmic technician. It is likely that the technician will perform some diagnostic testing before you meet with the doctor.

Brief admin overview
When you arrive for your appointment, you will be greeted by our receptionists who will ask you to complete our patient registration through our self check-in kiosk. You will be asked to enter demographic information and agree to our consent forms. There will be administrative staff present at all times to provide assistance with this process if necessary.

Surgery consultations
If you are coming in for an evaluation for surgery, you will also meet with a surgical coordinator following your appointment.

FAQ

Admin Questions

Insurance card
Driver’s license or other state ID
Referral – if applicable. If you do not know, please check with your insurance. Remember, referrals expire.
Medical records – This is optional but highly recommended. Please fax to our medical records department directly at 202-688-2857.

Please check with your insurance company to verify if you need a referral to see a specialist. Most HMO plans require a referral.
If your insurance requires a referral, please be sure to send it to our medical records department directly at 202-688-2857.

Appointments must be cancelled 24 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation fee of $25.00.

Please call our billing department – Doctor’s Choice. They can be reached at 301-670-4250 (ext 426).

Clinical Questions

Your eyes may be dilated if the physician needs to take a closer look at the back of your eye. You may opt out of having your eyes dilated by taking a photo called an Optos. Keep in mind that if you have any underlying diseases or any disorders of the eye (i.e. glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, nevus, etc.), you are required to have a dilated exam at least once a year. If you chose to have an Optos, there will be a $40.00 charge that is collected on the day of service.

Your appointment can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on the appointment type and the amount of testing required. Below is a rough estimate:

Medical visitsShort/brief appointments: 30-45 minutes

Medical visitsMedical visits

Short/brief appointments: 30-45 minutes
New patient or annual appointments: 45 minutes – 1.5 hours
Glaucoma consult: 2-3 hours
In-office procedure: 45 minutes – 1.5 hours
Post-op appointments: 20-30 minutes
Same-day emergency

Cataract-related visits

Cataract consultation: 2-3 hours
Follow-up measurement/testing visit: 45 mins – 1 hour
Post-op appointments: 20-30 minutes

LASIK-related visits

LASIK consultation: 1 hour
LASIK pre-operative exam: 1.5-2 hours
Post-op appointments: 20-30 minutes

Contact lens-related visits

Contact lens evaluation

Standard: 1.5 hours
Specialty: 2-3 hours
Insertion and removal appointments: 1 – 1.5 hours
Follow-up appointments: 30 minutes – 1 hour

Please give our office a call at 301-281-4085 to submit a request. You may also ask your pharmacy to fax a request to our office.
Prescription refills will be processed only for established patients who have been seen in the past 12 months.
Your physician will review your chart, and the prescription will be called in directly to your pharmacy within 1 business day.
If your physician feels an office visit is necessary before a refill can be given, you will be notified by a staff member.