Patient Information
At San Francisco Eye Institute, our mission is to provide a welcoming environment and convenient experience as we safeguard the health of your eyes and your vision. Please use this page as a reference to help you better prepare for your visit with us. If you have questions that are not answered here, please do not hesitate to contact us so that a member of our friendly staff can be of assistance.
Contact UsNew Patient Paperwork
Prior to their scheduled appointment with us, new patients will be sent a link to complete patient registration paperwork online. Please complete this prior to your appointment. If you prefer, we can mail the paperwork to you and you can bring it with you to your appointment.
What Do I Need to Bring to My Appointment?
When you arrive for your appointment, please bring:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Medical and vision insurance cards
- Co-pay
- New patient paperwork (if applicable)
- Medical history
- List of current medications
- Report from last eye exam
- Eyeglasses
- Glasses and/or contact lens prescriptions
What to Expect at Your Appointment
When you arrive at our eye care center, you will check in at the front desk. Here, we will confirm your information and update any necessary paperwork. We will also collect your co-pay for the appointment.
Your eye health and vision work-up will be performed by a technician, and you may visit various rooms or testing areas to collect all the necessary vision and eye health data. Exams performed by a technician may include:
- Vision Test
- Eye Pressure Test
- Dilation
Once this preliminary testing is completed, you will meet with your doctor.
How Long Will My Appointment Take?
Here is a general expectation of how long each type of appointment takes:
- Vision correction surgery consultations, cataract exams, and ICL exams: 2-3 hours
- Vision screening: 30 min – 1 hour
- Comprehensive eye exam: 1-2 hours
- Follow-up visit: up to 1 hour
Will My Eyes Be Dilated?
In many cases, patients can know ahead of time that their eyes will be dilated during their appointment, though it is not always possible to predict when dilation will be necessary.
In general, the effects of general dilation last between four and five hours. Dilation for a vision correction surgery examination lasts up to 24 hours.
There is no way to reverse dilation once it is performed, so please bring a pair of sunglasses to your appointment as your eyes will be very sensitive to light following dilation. We do not recommend driving after your dilation.
Preparing for Vision Correction and ICL Examinations
If your examination is for vision correction surgery or for cataract surgery, please discontinue wearing your contact lenses.
- Soft Contact Lenses: must be removed at least one week prior to exam.
- Hard or Gas Permeable Contact Lenses: must be removed for one week per decade of wear, or at least two weeks prior to your exam.
Refraction Fee for New Prescriptions
A refraction examination is used to generate an updated glasses prescription. Some people know this as a “Better 1 or Better 2 examination. A refraction examination for patients who wish to update their prescription for glasses or contacts is generally not covered by insurance, and will be performed for a fee of $120. Payment is collected at the time of the appointment, and we can submit a bill to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement.
If you are interested in selecting eyeglasses at the time of your appointment, please contact Pacific Eye Specialists optical shop, located in the same suite as San Francisco Eye Institute, at (415) 921-7555, extension 114. Appointments need to be made in advance.
Additional Resources
Contact San Francisco Eye Institute
Should you have any additional questions about your visit with us, please contact the friendly staff at San Francisco Eye Institute.
Page Updated:
The doctors at San Francisco Eye Institute have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
Ensuring the highest level of vision care and individual attention possible.
Whether you just need a general eye exam, or if you are interested in reducing or eliminating your need for glasses or contacts, our team is here to help! Contact us to book an appointment today!
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711 Van Ness Ave. #310, San Francisco, CA 94102
Call: (415) 421-8667
Fax: (415) 421-5648
Hours: M-F 9am-5pm
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