FAQ

Q: What Insurance Do You Accept?

A: Sudbury Eye Care will accept most major vision insurance plans.   We are an in-network provider for:

• Aetna
• Blue Cross / Blue Shield
• Davis Vision – exams and contacts
• EyeMed
• Harvard Pilgrim
• Mass Health Standard
• Medicare
• Tufts
• United Health Care
• Spectera – exams and contacts
• VSP – Vision Service Plan
• Allways Health Partners – (Formerly Neighborhood Health Care)

If your insurance company is not listed above, please contact us to find out if we are able to accept your insurance.

Even if we are not yet registered for your plan, some insurance companies will reimburse you for an eye exam if you submit the receipt from your exam at Sudbury Eye Care.   Please check with your plan administrator for details.

Q: What Is Considered Emergency Eye Care?

A: Sudbury Eye Care provides emergency medical eye care for conditions such as:

• Eye Injuries
• Foreign Bodies In Eye
• Eye Infections
• Eye Allergies

Please note that all Sudbury Eye Care services are by appointment only. If you urgently need to see an eye doctor (whether during working hours or after hours), please call our office or use the online appointment scheduler.

Q: Do I Have Eye Allergies?

A: Spring and summer bring warm and sunny weather, green trees, and fields of flowers. But for allergy sufferers, these natural wonders aren’t “easy on the eyes.” For many, tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen, and other allergens can bring months of misery with itchy, irritated eyes. The medical term for eye allergies is allergic conjunctivitis. Common symptoms include:

• Red Eyes
• Itchy Eyes
• Puffy or Swollen Eyes
• Crusty Eyes or Eyelashes (Especially After Waking Up)
• Swollen Eyelids
• Excessive Tearing

There are several eye-specific treatments (such as local antihistamines and steroid eye drops) that, for many, can provide significant relief from eye allergy symptoms. During our exam, we can evaluate whether one of these treatments could be right for you.

Q: What Is Orthokeratology?

A: Ortho-K is a hard lens designed to change the shape of the cornea and correct the near-sightedness while a patient sleeps. The patient then does not require glasses or contact lenses during the day.

• How Ortho-K Works
• How Do CRT Lenses Work?
• Frequently Asked Questions About CRT

Q: What Is A Recommended Pediatric Eye Exam Schedule for Children?

A: The AOA recommends that children have a comprehensive eye exam every two years.  More specifically:

• First 12 months – Infants, particularly premature babies, should have an eye exam in the first 12 months.
• Age 2 or 3 years – Preschool is a critical time for learning.  Preschoolers should have an eye exam when they are old enough to understand and respond to the exam.
• Age 5 – Kindergarten is also a critical time for learning.  Kindergartners should have an eye exam before entering school.
• Children without identified vision problems should then have a comprehensive eye exam every two years.
• Children who wear glasses or who have other eye conditions should see the eye doctor at least annually, or more often, as recommended by the doctor.

Concussion discussion

I just completed a course in CDC HEADS UP concussion assessment for physicians created by the CDC for parents, coaches and the medical profession. For a child to participate in a school sport, the parent educational video is mandated by the Sudbury Public Schools. Hurray for Sudbury!    

Here is my review of the video. It is a necessary course for parents of all ages. It reviews the signs and symptoms of a concussion, on field protocol and at home healing times. It allows the parent to continue to assess their child at home and understand why the coach, physician and teachers may choose to limit certain activities. What I would like to add, as an Optometrist for 20 years, are the visual defects that frequently occur secondary to a concussion. Many times I have seen a healthy child fail my near vision testing or struggle with fluent eye muscle movement for several months post concussion. This severely affects their ability to read, remember and learn in school. 

When a young brain is injured, even for a short period, there is a cascade of events that can lead to sensory, balance, psychological and sleep changes.  The visual system is at the center of these systems and should be evaluated by the child’s Optometrist, as well as the physician. There is a reason a child should have an eye exam every two years and it has nothing to do with glasses. Establishing a baseline of their visual function and eye health allows us to detect changes if an injury does occur. Some of the recommendations may include reading glasses, limited school work, vision therapy and coordination with the school resources. 

To review the videos visit  https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/resources/syndication.html and make sure to include a visit to the eye doctor if a child has a concussion.

Lorraine Labiento Smith, OD

Sudbury Eye Care

344 Boston Post Road

Sudbury, MA 01776