Telehealth

We proudly offer telehealth services at Associated Eye Care. Telehealth video technology allows us to provide care remotely while prioritizing safety for you and our staff members during the COVID-19 health crisis. Telehealth encounters are similar to in-person visits, are secure and HIPAA compliant, and conducted directly from your computer, tablet, or mobile phone. During the encounter, your medical history and personal health information will be discussed, and then a brief eye examination will be performed. Many eye conditions can be diagnosed and managed over video. If prescription medications are needed, they may be sent electronically to your pharmacy. Your doctor will make follow-up recommendations at the conclusion of the encounter. Your appointment will be billed to your insurance just like it is when you visit us in clinic.

Prior To Your Telehealth Visit

To participate in the video visit, you will need a device with a microphone and camera. This may include a computer with a webcam, a tablet, or a mobile phone.
Have a flashlight available for your visit. For young children, please also have a toy or preferred object for them to look at.
Please check your vision on an eye chart prior to the visit and record the results. Review our document on Home Visual Acuity Testing for instructions and vision charts. We recommend printing the charts, if possible, but they can also be displayed on a digital device if you do not have access to a printer.
If you are new to our clinic or have had health or medication changes since you were last seen, please have your health history and medications available so they may be easily reviewed during your encounter.
If your doctor has requested photos or videos to supplement your telehealth encounter, please take them prior to your visit. Review our Instructions on Smartphone Photography before you begin!
Your doctor may also ask for information from other smartphone apps, such as 9 Gaze. If so, please download the requested app and follow the provided instructions.
Please read the Telehealth Consent Document prior to your encounter.

Documents for Your Visit

What to Expect During Your Visit

Telehealth encounters are similar to in-person visits but are performed over live video. Your doctor will review your chart prior to the encounter. During the encounter, your medical history and personal health information will be discussed, then a brief eye examination will be performed. Many eye conditions can be diagnosed and managed over video. If prescriptions are needed, they may be sent electronically to your pharmacy. Your doctor will make follow-up recommendations at the conclusion of the encounter.

Tips for Best Video Quality

Set up your visit in a well-lit space, either facing a window or desk lamp.
Close unnecessary programs and restart your computer prior to the encounter.
For most reliable network connectivity, plug your video-enabled device directly into your router using an ethernet cable. If you do not have access to a wired connection, situate your device near your wireless router to maximize your signal strength.
Make sure other devices on your network are not using a large amount of bandwidth (e.g. video streaming) during your call.

What Types of Problems are Best for Telehealth?

Please know that while we can perform some elements of the exam over video, we cannot look inside the eye, check glasses prescriptions, or perform some specialized tests that are only possible in person. Your doctor will let you know if additional in-office follow-up is required based on the findings of your telehealth encounter.

Below are some examples of common problems we manage by telehealth:

Eyelid problems such as bumps, swelling, or redness
Problems with eye alignment, drifting, or crossing
Evaluation of spots, bumps, or other abnormalities on the surface of the eye
Dry Eye Disease symptoms
Post-operative follow-ups for some types of surgery
Reviewing test results

How are Telehealth Visits Billed?

Telehealth encounters are billed to your medical insurance similar to in-person visits. We accept most major insurance carriers. See our Bill Pay, Financing & Insurance page for a complete list of plans.

Please contact us at 651-275-3000 with any questions or if you would like to schedule a telehealth visit!