FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequency

How often should I get my eyes examined?

  • Children between 0-18 should get their eyes examined yearly. This is covered through Alberta Health Care.
  • Adults between 19-64 should get their eyes examined bi-yearly, unless health conditions or ocular conditions suggest more frequent examinations.
  • Adults 65 and over should get their eyes examined yearly. This is covered through Alberta Health Care.

Should I get my eyes examined if I don’t have any vision problems?

  • Yes, of course! Prevention and early detection is very important in the management of certain ocular conditions. Many ocular conditions will NOT show symptoms until vision loss is irreversible. Sometimes, you may not think certain symptoms you have are vision related, until your Doctor of Optometry asks and examines you!

How old does my child have to be for their first eye exam?

  • We recommend babies have their first exams between 6 months of age and 1 year. Yes, we can examine babies!
  • If your child (of any age) has not yet had their first eye exam, they can be seen at any time!
  • All children should be examined before entering kindergarten.

Dialation & Exam Length

Will my eye exam require getting drops in my eyes?

  • Most new patients are recommended to have a dilated eye examination for the most comprehensive information about your eye health. This could be done on the same day as your eye exam, or may be booked on a later day at your convenience. If you are uneasy about getting dilating drops in your eyes, please alert the staff and the optometrist and we can answer any questions you have.
  • Returning, healthy, asymptomatic patients will not be dilated unless otherwise determined.
  • Patients with ocular health conditions like diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, etc., are encouraged to have (at least) yearly dilation exams performed.

Can I drive after having my eyes dilated? How long before my vision returns to normal?

  • We usually recommend that you bring someone else to drive you for your first time being dilated. This is because it can be hard to predict how much the drops will affect your vision, as everyone responds individually.
  • Most people will experience blur to their vision for 2-4 hours after the dilation.
  • The pupils may take up to 6 hours to return to normal size. During this time, you may be extra light-sensitive and will want to have sunglasses with you to reduce the discomfort.

How long do eye exams take?

  • It all depends on the type of exam you need, and what your concerns are.
  • A comprehensive eye exam for a new patient could take up to 45 minutes, which includes 15 minutes of check-in, intake forms, and pre-testing and up to 30 minutes with the Doctor of Optometry.
  • For returning patients, a comprehensive eye exam may only take 20-30 minutes, including pre-testing and examination.
  • Extra time may be needed if you have complex vision concerns, wear contact lenses, need to have your eyes dilated (recommended for all new patients), or need other specialized testing (visual fields, OCT).

Most new patients are recommended to have a dilated eye examination for the most comprehensive information about your eye health.

New Patients & Appointments

Is Jagare Ridge Vision Care accepting new patients?

  • We are always accepting new patients, of all ages.

Do you offer evening and weekend appointments?

  • Yes, please see our hours listed on our website.

How can I book an appointment for an eye exam?

  • You can call our office directly.
  • You can book online through our patient portal and online booking system.
  • You can email us and we can get back to you with appointment requests.

Due to our specialized training and equipment, Doctors of Optometry are the best professional to diagnose and treat your eye emergency.

EMERGENCIES & HOURS

What type of symptoms are included in eye emergencies (to be seen within 48 hours)?

  • Flashing lights or recent onset floaters
  • Trauma to the eye causing bleeding, swelling, or blurry vision
  • Foreign objects in the eye
  • Sudden loss of vision
  • Recent onset of double vision
  • Painful, sore eye(s)
  • Infections with discharge
  • Chemical burns or splashes

Should I go to a hospital ER or the walk-in clinic for eye emergencies?

  • Your best bet is to see your nearest optometrist, if they are available. Due to our specialized training and equipment, Doctors of Optometry are the best professional to diagnose and treat your eye emergency.
  • We bill Alberta Health Care for ocular emergencies, so you will not have to pay for this appointment.
  • We usually offer same-day appointments for eye emergencies, and you will not have to wait hours to be seen.
  • Doctors of Optometry are licensed to prescribe ocular-related medications (topical and oral).
  • If it is after hours, please proceed to your nearest ER or walk-in clinic. You could try calling 811 for Alberta Health Link for health advice first.

How soon can I get an appointment for an eye exam?

  • Please call our office for the most up-to-date schedule, usually we can get you in on the same day, if your time availability is flexible.
  • Evening and Saturday appointments book up quicker, so please ensure you call ahead if you have specific availabilities.
  • Eye emergencies are usually seen same day, or within 48 hours, depending on the triaged severity.

Billing & Perscriptions

Does your clinic directly bill my private insurance plan for my exam, contact lenses and/or glasses?

  • Most likely we can bill your private insurance plan, if they assign benefits to the provider and if direct billing is set up by your employer.
  • Please check out our insurance page to see if your insurance company is listed.
  • In the cases where we cannot direct bill your insurance, a detailed copy of your receipt upon full payment will be provided for you to submit for reimbursement to your provider.

Do I get a copy of my glasses prescription?

  • Once you have paid in full for your eye examination, or when we have received payment from your insurance company for your eye examination, you are entitled to a copy of your glasses prescription.
  • You are welcome to purchase your glasses at any optical with your prescription.
  • Prescriptions are valid for 1 year, unless otherwise noted by your optometrist on your prescription.
  • A copy of your contact lens prescription can only be provided if you have been formally fitted in our office with contact lenses  by a Doctor of Optometry.

Does my glasses prescription include my pupillary distance (PD)?

  • Your pupillary distance is not a measurement that is taken during a comprehensive eye examination by the Doctor of Optometry. It is a precise measurement that is taken during the purchasing process for glasses, by a trained staff member or optician.
  • If we have an existing PD on file from a previous glasses purchase, we are happy to provide that to you for no charge.
  • If we do not have an existing PD on file, we are happy to take the measurement for you, but there will be a minimal fee for us to do so.
  • There are more than just the PD measurements that are specific to ordering glasses (such as the optical centre, vertex, faceform, and pantoscopic tilt).