FAQ

As an optometrist, Dr Harris is specifically trained in correcting your visual system to give you the best and most comfortable vision. In addition, all doctors are trained to diagnose and treat disorders of the eyes and the effect your health has on your eyes. Unfortunately, many diseases and disorders of the eye have no symptoms and early diagnosis is the key to preserving your vision.

Yes. The doctor IS licensed to prescribe both topical and oral medications. Over the years optometry has changed from a profession that only prescribed glasses to a profession that also detects, monitors and treats eye diseases. If you are having any difficulty with your eyes whether it is vision, eye infections, or eye pain, please call us in order for us to provide the proper treatment. In most cases we will not prescribe medications over the phone, because it is important we are able to look at the structures of the eye to determine the cause of the infection which allows us to prescribe the proper treatment and give you the proper care.

Most patients should plan to be at the office approximately one hour. We do everything possible to stay on schedule. In order for you to be ready for your testing at your scheduled appointment time, we ask our patients to:

• Update their personal and medical information by clicking on our patient forms page on this website:

• Patients who do not update their information should arrive 15 minutes early

• Patients who submitted the updated paperwork should arrive 5 minutes early in order for us to copy necessary insurance cards

A dilation is essential to view the entire eye to monitor for many diseases that may occur. Since the eye is an extension of the rest of your body, diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, tumors, and hundreds of other diseases may present in the eye as well. In recent years new retinal cameras have been developed to photograph better images of the eye without the eye being dilated. However, it has been found that these cameras are not a substitute for a dilation. Therefore, we will continue to dilate our patients to ensure we are not missing any diseases in your eyes.

Each patient must be evaluated initially. However, with the advancement of astigmatism and bifocal contact lenses the Doctors have much success in giving patients freedom from glasses by wearing contact lenses.

Orthokeratology, or OrthoK, uses a retainer contact lens worn at night and removed upon awakening to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightness, presbyopia and/or astigmatism in a non-surgical reversible method. Please refer to the section on Orthokeratology for more information.

Each patient must have a thorough exam to establish if their refractive error and ocular health meet the requirements for the surgery. The Doctor will evaluate if you meet these requirements, educate you on the risks and benefits, refer you to a skilled surgeon, and closely monitor you after the surgery is performed.

During early childhood, eye examinations are performed approximately 2 years apart for patients without any eye conditions. After a child enters school, eye examinations should take place every year (or sooner if the doctor is monitoring a condition more closely). Of course if you notice a vision change sooner, you should contact us immediately.

Contact lenses are medical devices that may cause harm to your eyes if not fitting properly. Although you are able to detect some problems that may be occurring with your lenses, lenses can often be causing harm to your eyes without you being aware of it. Therefore, to renew your contact lenses prescription, the doctor must fully evaluate your eye health, how your contact lenses are fitting, and review your care regimen to ensure you are able to continue wearing contact lenses.