YOUR VISIT

For your initial visit, we will have you complete forms regarding your medical history and the problems or concerns you have with your eyes. You can fill out these forms prior to your visit by clicking on the Patient Portal link on our website, https://www.retinainstitutems.com. On the day of your visit, please check in via the Patient Portal or at our front desk. It is important to bring a photo ID and insurance cards with you. Please be prepared to pay any financial responsibilities such as co-pay on the day of your visit. Also, provide us your current list of medications, vitamins and supplements or bring them with you. Additionally, please bring any glasses or contact lenses that you wear. After a short wait, a technician will review your medical history and visual complaints. They will check your vision, eye pressure, eye movements, peripheral vision, your eyes’ reaction to light, and then dilate your eyes. Once your eyes are dilated, you will be ready for consultation with Dr. Tieu. Sometimes additional testing is needed after he sees you. The overall duration of your initial visit may be about two hours, but we will try to be as efficient as possible and value your time.

Most procedures, including lasers and injections, are performed in the office on the same day as your appointment as long as prior authorization is not needed from your insurance company.. Many common conditions, such as exudative (wet) macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and vascular occlusions are treated by injecting medicine directly into the eye. Though this might sound painful, we numb the eye very well and most patients report only feeling pressure/mild discomfort. Severe pain is uncommon.

Laser procedures are used to treat certain forms of diabetic retinopathy, retinal holes/tears and, in some cases, vascular occlusions. Retinal detachments are sometimes able to be treated in the office depending on the severity and location. Most require out-patient surgery. Based on the urgency of the problem, these may be treated the same day or scheduled for another day at a local hospital or ambulatory surgery center.

When you have your eyes dilated, it should not affect your distance vision, but your near vision will be blurry and you may be more sensitive to sunlight causing difficulty driving. Because of this, it may be safer for you to have someone drive you home. If you have to drive yourself, we recommend you wait until your eyes are less dilated before you leave.

Your eyes will stay dilated for about 4-6 hours. You will have blurry vision and will be more sensitive to light. You will get a pair of dark shades to wear when you leave your appointment.

When you have your eyes dilated, it should not affect your distance vision, but your near vision will be blurry and you may be more sensitive to sunlight causing difficulty driving. We recommend you wait until your eyes are less dilated before you leave.

Typically, your first visit will take about two hours and will consist of a complete eye examination and additional testing. If treatment is required, it can usually be done the same day as long as prior authorization is not required. Treatments would extend the length of your appointment anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on what is performed.

Retinal exam appointments take a long time relative to many other types of exams. We do our best to minimize time spent without compromising quality. Most of the time your exam can be completed within one hour

Although it is not routine for our office to prescribe glasses, we can sometimes accommodate if you are not dilated. Please ask the scheduler or tech about this. Otherwise, we recommend that you follow up with your primary ophthalmologist or optometrist for glasses and contact lens prescriptions.

You will receive a follow up appointment or can schedule it via the patient portal when the visit is completed. Make sure you understand the treatment plan for your condition before you leave. Please ask any questions if you do not understand. You may call our office anytime during business hours to ask additional questions or clarifications. Moreover, you can text us anytime on the Spruce app on your phone.

Your eyes will be dilated for about 4-6 hours and you will have difficulty reading and adjusting to bright lights. If you receive an eye injection or laser procedure, you can expect the treated eye to be red and irritated until the following day. Eye lubrication with artificial tears will help soothe the eye. Also, it is not uncommon to notice bleeding on the surface of the treated eye. The eye could appear like this for up to two weeks, but it will resolve on its own without causing permanent damage to the eye.