Medical Eye Care

Many of our patients think that since they do not have “vision” insurance or if they only have Medicare, which does not cover “routine” eye exams, that their visit to our eye care professionals will not be covered.  Although we do provide eye examinations for the purpose of reassuring all is healthy or to provide glasses and/or contacts (routine vision eye exams), we also provide MEDICAL eye exams that are covered by your medical insurance.  In fact, most of the practitioners here are ophthalmologists which are medical eye doctors (MDs).

Below are some examples of conditions or situations requiring MEDICAL eye care:

• Glaucoma treatment or concerns about family history of glaucoma
• Diabetes, even if it is not known if the eyes are affected
• Burning or dry eyes
• Injuries to and around the eyes
• Eye exams because you are taking high risk medications such as Plaquenil
• Visual disturbances, i.e. floaters/flashers, partial loss of visual field
• Fluctuating vision
• Decreased vision due to possible cataracts
• Follow up to past eye conditions or surgeries
• Muscle imbalances causing double vision, crossed eyes, misaligned eyes
• Drooping or excessive skin on eyelids obscuring your upper visual field
• Irritation, swelling, discharge, allergies, redness, pain in and around the eyes
• Lumps, bumps and/or growths in and around the eyes (such as chalazions)
• Excessive tearing
• Macular degeneration or other known retinal problems such as diabetic retinopathy

At North Cascade Eye Associates we are dedicated to being knowledgeable and equipped to handle your medical eye care needs.  Our exam room diagnostic equipment includes high powered microscopes called slit lamps, indirect ophthalmoscopes which allows the doctor to look into your dilated eye and see all areas of your retina, tonometers that measure the pressure inside your eyes—without that annoying puff of air!  Our pre-test equipment includes instruments to map your cornea which helps in diagnoses and detecting changes as well as to fit contact lenses, auto-refractors which decreases the time you need to make the decision “which looks better one or two” and visual field testers to find field loss early so treatment can be started.  We also have invested in specialized equipment to diagnose and treat glaucoma, cataracts and retina as well as to perform refractive surgery with the best possible outcomes.  Our doctors are constantly reading and attending conferences to make sure they are aware of advances in their field and can offer solutions for their patients such as the best vitamin therapy for macular degeneration or the glaucoma drops or pre- and post operative medications that are most effective.  So rest assured the professional at North Cascade Eye Associates can handle your routine and MEDICAL eye care needs.