FAQ

If you have insurance, charges for your visit with Dr. Tieu will be billed to your medical insurance. You may be responsible for a co-pay or deductible if it has not been met for the year. Vision plans like VSP cannot be billed for your appointments with us. We accept Medicare as well as most health insurance plans. Please be sure to bring your insurance cards and referral forms for your first visit. If you are a member of an HMO, you must have a referral from your primary care physician prior to your first visit. Please make sure to notify us of any changes in your insurance before your appointment.

For payment we accept all major credit cards, cash or personal checks.

For patients without insurance, we also accept Care Credit and can assist you in applying for an account if necessary. If special payment arrangements are needed, please contact our office staff prior to your appointment.

For more details, please see our Insurance and Billing page or call our office. We are happy to help you.

Yes, you can seek care at the Retina Institute of Mississippi, but you will have a greater out-of-pocket cost compared to seeing another physician who is in your network.

Yes, we ask that you be prepared to pay for the cost of your care prior to services rendered.

Most insurance companies do not require a formal referral. Many of our patients are sent from other eye doctors or physicians and do not require a prior authorization or referral from the insurance company. However, if you are a member of an HMO, you must have a referral from your primary care physician prior to your first visit.

A retina specialist is a medical doctor trained in ophthalmology with sub-specialization to diagnose and medically treat or perform surgery on diseases of the retina and vitreous. The retina is the wallpaper that lines the internal wall of the eye and functions like a 35mm camera film. It receives images in the form of light and converts them into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain for processing into vision. The vitreous is the gel that fills the middle of the eye.

After completing four years of ophthalmology training (called residency), retina surgeons complete an additional 2-year fellowship in surgery for vitreoretinal diseases. During fellowship, retina physicians receive focused training to diagnose and treat diseases of the retina with medications, laser treatments and surgery.

The retina is the wallpaper that lines the internal wall of the eye and functions like a 35mm camera film. It receives images in the form of light and converts them into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain for processing into vision. Please see more about normal eye anatomy here

Some health conditions that lead to vision problems can develop without any noticeable change in your vision. Two of the most common retinal diseases that may develop without symptoms are diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

Diabetic patients should get a dilated eye exam at least yearly because:

• Proliferative retinopathy can develop without symptoms. At this advanced stage, you are at high risk for vision loss.
• Macular edema can develop without symptoms at any of the four stages of diabetic retinopathy.
• You can develop both proliferative retinopathy and macular edema and still see fine. However, you are at high risk for vision loss.
• Dr. Tieu can tell if you have macular edema or any stage of diabetic retinopathy. Whether or not you have symptoms, early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease related to aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain.
• In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision.
• In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes.
• AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can either be gradual or more rapidly progressive. Usually, you will notice an increase in blurry vision over time. It is important to have regular eye exams if you have AMD or have risk factors for AMD. If you notice a sudden change in vision, call your regular eye doctor or Dr. Tieu to schedule an appointment.

An Amsler grid looks like a piece of graph paper with a small dot in the center of the grid. It is used to detect and monitor changes in your vision. If you have dry AMD, you can use the grid to monitor the disease and see if there is progression to wet AMD. Wet AMD can be treated with injections, especially if it is detected early.

To use the grid, put on your reading glasses and hold the grid where you can most easily focus on the lines. Cover one eye at a time and check each eye individually. Normally, all the lines will appear straight but with wet AMD the lines may appear wavy or blocked by a white, black or gray area. This is caused by fluid around the retina from leaky blood vessels and can be treated with injections.

If you don’t have a grid, you still may notice symptoms that need prompt evaluation such as:

• Having more trouble reading
• Straight lines look curved (ex. Edge of doors or tables, corner of walls)
• Having trouble seeing or recognizing faces or TV/computer

You should call the doctor if you notice a change in your Amsler grid within a day or so.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has completed four years of medical school, a four-year residency training in ophthalmology and possibly a fellowship (8 years of post-college training at a minimum, 10 years for a retina surgeon). Ophthalmologists are qualified to medically treat all types of eye conditions and diseases as well as perform surgeries when indicated.

An optometrist is a provider with a four-year degree in optometry. Optometrists are qualified to provide basic eye care including prescribing glasses and performing general eye exams.

Yes, it is very important to wear the right sunglasses to protect your eyes. The sunlight itself can hurt your eyes but sunlight reflected off the ground as ultraviolet (UV) rays can be even more dangerous. Hats with brims offer no protection from UV rays reflected up from surfaces such as pavement, sand, and water.

Not always. Many floaters are harmless and your brain will eventually get used to them. Call our office or a local eye doctor if you have new floaters. It’s important to call the doctor within 24 hours if you see flashes of light and have never experienced them before and if a floater is large enough to interfere with your vision.