Your Clinic Visit
Your clinic visit will include a thorough examination of your eyesight. You will meet with members of our clinic team prior to seeing the ophthalmologist. Team members may include an ophthalmic technician, orthoptist, resident or fellow.

After meeting with clinic team members, the ophthalmologist responsible for your care will meet with you for examination and consultation, and to discuss treatment options. The ophthalmologist may also order additional specialized testing. There may be a wait time between each segment of your visit. Since our exam rooms serve varied purposes, you may be moved to different rooms during your visit.
 
Your eyes may be dilated as part of the examination. To dilate your eyes, the physician or technician uses eye drops to make your pupils larger. After the drops are administered, there will be a wait of 20 to 45 minutes for dilation to occur before the examination continues. You may wish to have someone come along with you to drive you home. You will be more comfortable wearing sunglasses when your eyes are dilated.

Conducting a thorough examination is a lengthy process. You may want to wear comfortable clothing and bring reading material or music with headphones. Please inform us if you have special needs.

Overnight Accommodations
The Fairview-University Accommodations Office maintains a list of lodging close to the clinic. Transportation services are provided at no charge from these facilities. For more information, contact the Accommodations Office between 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday at 612-626-6895 or 800-328-5576.

When Making An Appointment
When making an appointment, please have the following handy:

• Your insurance card
• Date of birth and social security number
• E-mail address (if available) and an emergency phone number
• Special needs list for your appointment (interpreter, etc.)

First Appointment Preparation
Before your appointment, please mail or fax the following medical information to us. This information is critical in completing your evaluation:

• Medical records*
• Phone number of clinic from which medical records came
• Scans and lab results
• Medications list (along with dosage and frequency)
• Drug allergies list

*If you are a patient at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview or its clinics, your records are in our system and you do not need to obtain copies.

Insurance Filing Information and Patient Referral
Please bring your insurance card to every appointment. Copays, according to your insurance plan, are due at the time of service. If your health coverage requires a referral for medical services, please obtain the referral in advance.

Post-Appointment Notes
Billing
Following your appointment, you will receive two billing statements: One from University of Minnesota Physicians (physician billing) and the other from University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview (facilities billing).

Prescriptions
New prescriptions usually require an office visit. A convenient outpatient pharmacy is located in our clinic building. To renew existing prescriptions, please call your pharmacy.

Questions Regarding Your Care

• Life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1
• After-hours emergencies, call the hospital operator at 612-273-3000