Welcome to the Eye Clinic at University Hospital. We are glad you chose our clinic for your eye care. We have many doctors who work only in the eye care field.
In addition to protecting your eyes from accidents, early detection and treatment of eye problems is the best way to keep your healthy vision throughout your life.
By age 65, one in three Americans has some form of vision-impairing eye disease. Most do not know it because there are often no warning symptoms or they assume that poor sight is a natural part of growing older. In many cases, blindness and vision loss are preventable.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in people 65 years or older in the United States. It affects more than 10 million Americans according to the National Eye Institute.
Clinic Services
(All ages from newborn to adult)
Specialties include:
Your Clinic Stay
When you come to the Eye Clinic the front desk staff will ask you for your current address and billing
information. You will need to make sure you have a current referral for this appointment. You will also
need to have your co-pay for your appointment. If you do not have a current referral and co-pay, your
appointment will be rescheduled. If you have your referral and co-pay, you will be registered. After
being registered, the Technician will call you back and check your vision and ask you about your health.
They may also put drops in your eye so the doctor can see all of the parts of the eye. These drops may
make your vision blurry and the light may bother your eyes. It takes about 45 minutes for the drops to work.
Then the doctor will see you. When the doctor is done he or she will tell you if you need to see us again. Before you leave the clinic, the staff will schedule the date and time you need to come back for your next appointment.
| Your Health Care Team at the Eye Clinic | |
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Ocuplastic Surgery |
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General |
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Neuro-Ophthalmology |
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Retina |
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Optometry |
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Optometry |
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General |
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Optometry |
For Friends and Family
Our waiting room and exam rooms are very small. Family members are welcome to wait in the outside
waiting room or the cafeteria during your visit. The doctor visits may take up to 3 hours so we would
appreciate your patience. You may want to bring snacks for your children or patients with health problems
as well as a book or magazine to read while you are waiting.
Special Instructions
What is a referral?
Most insurance companies will want to approve your visit to a “specialist” before
you see them. If this approval is not received, your insurance will not pay and you will be
responsible for paying the bill. The “referral” is sent from your family doctor,
also known as your Primary Care Physician (PCP). Your PCP may tell you to see a specialist,
if they do please call your insurance company.
What is a co-pay?
A co-pay is what your insurance company requires you to pay for each visit. Every insurance plan
is different on how much a co-pay is. You will need to check with your plan to see how much you
will need to pay at each visit. Others may be self-pay and those fees are $50.00 for a new
patient visit and $30.00 for each follow up visit. These fees are a down payment for the bill
and you will be billed for the remainder of the bill. All of the above fees are required at the
time of the visit.
Prescription Refills
If you run out of your eye drops, call your pharmacy and they will call your doctor. If you
have questions about your eye drops call the pharmacy. During your doctor visits you need to
ask your doctor about getting refills for your medicines.
Who will be my doctor?
The “Attending” doctors are Board Certified in the care of your eyes.
What is a Resident?
Resident doctors have finished Medical School, and are taking more training. They take care of
you under the care of the attending doctors.
What is a student doctor?
Student doctors often work at the Eye Clinic. They will see you under the care of an attending doctor.
Many people like these students and are happy to help with the training of future doctors.
What about emergencies?
If you have an emergency, call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room.
How will I be billed?
You will receive two bills. One bill is from University Physicians Associates (UPA) for the
doctor’s care. For questions about this bill, call 272-6000. The second bill is from
University Hospital for the clinic fees. For questions about this bill, call 272-2135.
What if I have a problem and the office is closed?
After hours, call the hospital operator at 505-272-2111. She or he will page the doctor on call.
If it is an emergency, please call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room.
What if I have to be admitted to the hospital?
Doctors at the Eye Clinic admit their patients to University Hospital, if needed.
How can I talk to a “real” person at the clinic?
Each clinic at University Hospital uses a phone system. When you call the Eye Clinic you will
hear this message: “If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911. If you wish to
hear this message in English, press 1. If you wish to hear this message in Spanish, press 2 or
stay on the line."
Other options include:
