XVIII. PREPARATION FOR YOUR VISIT

Our home office is in Peabody. We also provide several satellite locations. Click here for all office locations. All offices are linked by telephone and computer. Appointments may be arranged by telephone (978) 532-3303. Medical records and other information may be faxed to (978) 532-4396.

If you travel by car, maps are available for your convenience.

It is helpful if your referring doctor sends information about your eye condition to the SRA Foundation. This assists the Associate in arranging for testing or hospitalization should that be necessary. If your stay is expected to be longer than one day, click here for a list of hotels easily reached from our office.

If you do not speak English, we suggest you travel with a companion who can act as a translator. Translation services are available, but the cost may be high. If you need a translator, please contact our International Desk several days before your arrival.
Check out Boston Online for more information about the area.

Medical Interview and Preliminary Procedures

Before being interviewed by a nurse or ophthalmic technician, you may be asked to complete a form outlining your medical and ocular history. You will be questioned regarding your visual symptoms and the medical or surgical treatments you have received. We will also be interested in your general health, including any operations or medical treatments both past and present. Answers to the following two questions will be particularly important. Does your family have a history of eye or general medical disorders? Do you have any allergies, especially to medications?

Please bring your glasses and/or contact lenses with you so that your vision can be measured with them in place. In addition, please bring any medication you may be taking. After receiving anesthetic drops, the pressure within your eyes will be measured. This is a painless test for glaucoma. A second set of drops will be given to dilate (widen) your pupils. Dilation is necessary for a complete examination of the inside of your eyes. Your pupils will require up to 30 minutes to dilate. You may wish to use this time to review some of the educational materials that are provided in the waiting area. This information will prepare you to understand better the discussion you will have with your doctor.

Since your pupils may remain dilated for a full day after your visit, we recommend that you bring sunglasses to reduce your sensitivity to light. Your ability to read will be temporarily decreased. Although distance vision is usually undisturbed, it is best to have someone else drive if you travel by car. Eye drops can be given at the time of departure to speed recovery of your pupils to normal.

Your Eye Examination

Our goals are to define precisely the nature of your eye problem and to initiate treatment promptly, whether it be surgical, medical or optical. In addition to an eye examination, special testing may be employed to determine your diagnosis and prognosis. The tests may be arranged either before your examination (based on information received from your referring doctor) or after your examination. We have found it beneficial for most patients to complete their examination and testing on a single day. For some, it may be necessary to return on another day for completion of the evaluation. In all cases, we attempt to make arrangements as convenient as possible.

When you meet your doctor, he/she will review with you all the medical information in your record, and may ask you to clarify certain points about your medical history. You may be asked to lie down for your examination and the room lights will be dimmed. An instrument called an indirect ophthalmoscope will be used to examine the interior of your eyes. In order to visualize areas of your retina that are difficult to reach, gentle and painless pressure may be exerted on you eye with a scleral depressor. The doctor's findings are often summarized in a sketch drawn during your examination.

Although a final opinion may not be possible until all test results are analyzed, your Associate will usually discuss the available findings with you on the day of your visit. Later, following careful study, reports will be forwarded to your personal physician and to you if you so desire.

The SRA Foundation and staff will strive to make your visit productive and pleasant. Please let us know if you need any special assistance.

Hospitalization

If your condition requires surgical intervention, or complicated medical treatment, outpatient or inpatient hospital services may be recommended. Most of these procedures are performed at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI). Other facilities with which we are associated, include, the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and the Beverly Hospital/Hunt Medical Center.

Before admission to the hospital, your doctor will describe the proposed procedure to you. Possible alternative treatments will be discussed and the potential gains and risks of surgery will be reviewed. After your questions are answered, you will be asked to sign an informed consent form. This will give us and our co-workers at the hospital your permission to take care of you as planned.

Financial Information

Insurance and Payments

Before your arrival, please help us to make the financial aspects of your care clearly understood so your appointment and testing schedule is not interrupted on the day of your visit. Our office needs to know all pertinent insurance information. This includes the name of your insurance carrier, insured person, and identification number, together with prior authorization and approvals from your insurance company.

Our physicians accept over 30 different health plans. Click here for Health Plan listing

If you are insured with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicare, or a commercial insurance company, bring your identification cards at the time or your visit. HMO, PPO and other managed care plans require a referral or a letter of authorization for each service. Medicaid identification cards, showing date of eligibility, should be presented at the time of your visit. If you do not have insurance, you will need to make satisfactory arrangements with a representative of the SRA Foundation Patient Services before your scheduled office visit.

Payment will vary according to your insurance coverage, and some may be expected on the day of your visit. Our office is prepared to accept VISA, Mastercard and American Express credit cards, as well as cash, personal checks and traveler's checks.

For questions regarding your insurance plan or your coverage, please contact our Patient Services Department at (978) 532-3303.

International Accounts

Patients from outside the United States should make financial arrangements before their appointment date. Our International Desk can provide estimates for medical costs, information for transferring funds and lists of accommodations. For further information, contact the International Account Representative at (978) 532-3303.