My Eye Doctor FAQ: Answers About Booking, Insurance And Eye Care

My Eye Doctor is an online directory that helps you find and compare eye doctors in the United States, including ophthalmologists, optometrists and eye care subspecialists. You can search by condition, specialty, location or insurance, read each doctor's profile and request an appointment online.

Yes. Searching, comparing profiles and requesting appointments is free for patients. The cost of your visit is set by the doctor's office and depends on your insurance and the care you need.

No. You can search and request an appointment without an account. You only enter your contact details when you send a booking request, so the office can reach you.

My Eye Doctor focuses on eye doctors across the United States. We are adding new states and cities as more practices join, so if you don't see your area yet, search the full directory by doctor name or condition.

No. My Eye Doctor is a directory, not a medical provider. The information on our site is general and doesn't replace advice from your own doctor. If you're worried about your eyes, book an exam, and if it's an emergency, call 911.

Type a condition, such as glaucoma, or a doctor's name into the directory search. You can then narrow the results by:

• Specialty, such as cataract surgery, retina or pediatric eye care
• Location
• Insurance plan
• Doctors accepting new patients
• Doctors who offer video visits
• Doctor gender

Sort the results by experience, patient rating or name to compare doctors side by side.

• Ophthalmologist: a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats eye disease, prescribes medicine and performs eye surgery
• Optometrist: an eye care professional who examines eyes, tests vision, prescribes glasses and contact lenses and checks for signs of eye disease. In the US, optometrists hold a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree
• Optician: fits and adjusts glasses and contact lenses using a prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Opticians don't examine eyes

For a routine exam or new glasses, start with an optometrist. For eye disease, injuries or surgery, see an ophthalmologist.

Here are some common starting points:

• Blurry or cloudy vision, or glare at night: cataract and refractive surgery
• New floaters or flashes of light: a retina specialist
• Dry, gritty or burning eyes: dry eye and ocular surface
• Wavy or blurred central vision: medical retina
• A child's eye turning in or out: pediatric ophthalmology
• Routine exams and new glasses: optometry

If you're not sure, an optometrist can examine you and refer you to the right specialist. You can also browse all specialties.

Turn on the Accepting new patients filter in the directory, or see everyone accepting new patients. Each profile also shows whether the doctor is taking new patients. Availability can change quickly, so the office confirms it when they review your request.

Profiles can include:

• Education, residency and fellowship training
• Board certifications and medical license details
• Years of experience and areas of expertise
• Hospital affiliations
• Office locations and phone numbers
• Accepted insurance plans and languages spoken
• Open appointment times and patient ratings

Not every profile has every detail, and each one shows when it was last updated.

Yes. Use the Doctor filter in the directory to show only female or only male eye doctors.

Open a doctor's profile and go to the booking calendar. Choose a day and an open time, then send a short request. It's free, you don't need an account, and it usually takes just a few minutes.

The booking form asks for:

• Your reason for the visit
• Your insurance, or that you're paying for yourself
• Whether you're a new or existing patient
• An in-person or video visit, if the doctor offers both
• Your name, email address and mobile number

You can add a short note for the office, but please keep sensitive medical details out of it.

Your request goes straight to the doctor's office, and a copy arrives in your inbox right away. The office then reviews it and confirms by email or phone, and you'll get another email when your appointment is confirmed or cancelled. If you haven't heard back before your visit, call the office using the number in your email.

The doctor's online calendar may be full for the coming weeks, online booking may be turned off for that doctor, or the remaining times may be too soon to book online. Call the office using the number on their profile, or search for another doctor with open times.

Times are always shown in the doctor's local time zone, which is labeled next to the time. If you live in a different time zone, double-check the time before you send your request.

Yes. Enter the patient's name with your own contact details, and mention in the note that you're booking for someone else. A parent or guardian usually needs to come with a child to the visit.

Call the office using the phone number in your confirmation email, and let them know as early as you can. Each practice sets its own cancellation policy, and some charge a fee for late cancellations or missed visits.

Call the office as soon as you can. Many practices can still see you if you're a few minutes late, but they may need to move your appointment if you arrive too late for the time you booked.

Yes, if the doctor offers them. Use the Video visits filter to find these doctors. Video visits work well for follow-ups, reviewing test results and talking through a new symptom. Many eye problems still need an in-person exam, because eye doctors use special equipment to check eye pressure and look at the back of the eye.

Vision plans, such as VSP or EyeMed, usually cover routine eye exams and help pay for glasses or contact lenses. Medical insurance covers the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, injuries and symptoms, such as glaucoma, cataracts, eye infections and diabetic eye exams.

The reason for your visit decides which plan is billed, so tell the office about both plans when you book.

Use the insurance filter or choose your plan, then check the plans listed on each doctor's profile. Networks change often, so confirm with your insurer or the office before your visit. Have your member ID ready and ask about your exact plan type, such as PPO or HMO, not just the company name.

Original Medicare usually doesn't cover routine eye exams for glasses or contact lenses. Medicare Part B does help pay for:

• A yearly eye exam for diabetic retinopathy if you have diabetes
• A glaucoma test once every 12 months if you're at high risk
• Cataract surgery, plus one pair of glasses or contact lenses after surgery with a lens implant
• Diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, such as macular degeneration

Many Medicare Advantage plans add routine vision benefits. Check your plan or visit Medicare.gov for details.

Medicaid covers many medically necessary eye services, and children under 21 get vision care, including glasses, through Medicaid's EPSDT benefit. Coverage of routine eye exams and glasses for adults is different in each state, so check with your state Medicaid program or plan before your visit.

It depends on your plan. Many PPO plans let you book an eye specialist directly, while HMO plans often need a referral from your primary care doctor first. Original Medicare doesn't require referrals, but some Medicare Advantage plans do. If you're not sure, call the number on your insurance card.

Prices vary by practice, location and the type of exam. A routine vision exam usually costs less than a medical eye exam with extra tests. Ask the office for its self-pay price before your visit, and check the doctor's profile, as some list a consultation fee.

Yes. Choose the option to pay for yourself when you send your request, and ask the office for the self-pay price before your visit.

In most cases, yes. Eye exams, prescription glasses, contact lenses and many eye treatments are usually eligible expenses for a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA). Check your plan's rules and keep your receipts.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a baseline eye exam at age 40 for adults with no symptoms or risk factors. After that, it suggests an exam every 2 to 4 years until age 54, every 1 to 3 years from 55 to 64, and every 1 to 2 years from age 65. The American Optometric Association recommends a yearly exam for adults.

You'll need exams more often if you have diabetes, wear contact lenses or have a family history of eye disease, so follow your own eye doctor's advice.

Your eye doctor will usually:

• Test how clearly you see and check your glasses prescription
• Measure the pressure inside your eyes
• Check how your eyes move and work together
• Look closely at the front of your eyes with a special microscope
• Use dilating drops to examine your retina and optic nerve

Plan for about an hour, including time for the drops to work.

• Your insurance card and a photo ID
• Your current glasses and contact lenses, or your latest prescription
• A list of the medicines you take, including eye drops
• Sunglasses for after your eyes are dilated
• Any referral letter or earlier eye test results

Dilating drops usually blur your vision and make your eyes sensitive to light for about 4 to 6 hours, and sometimes longer. Many people find it hard to drive safely during this time, so plan for someone to drive you home if you can, and bring sunglasses.

Children's eyes are usually checked at birth and at regular well-child visits, with a vision screening before they start school. Book a full exam with an eye doctor if a screening finds a problem, or if you notice an eye turning in or out, frequent squinting or eye rubbing, or there is a family history of childhood eye problems. Pediatric eye doctors specialize in children's eyes.

Long periods on screens can cause digital eye strain, with tired, dry or blurry eyes, because we blink less when we focus on a screen. There is no evidence that blue light from screens damages your eyes, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend blue light blocking glasses for computer use.

To ease strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room straight away if you have:

• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
• A curtain or shadow moving across your vision
• A sudden shower of floaters or flashes of light
• A chemical splash in the eye. Rinse with clean water for at least 15 minutes while you get help
• An eye injury or something stuck in the eye. Don't rub it or try to remove it
• Severe eye pain with headache, nausea or halos around lights

Online booking is not for emergencies.

Each profile shows when it was last updated, and profiles can include the doctor's NPI number and license details so you can check them on official registries. Office details, accepted insurance and fees can change, so confirm them with the office when you book. If you spot a mistake, email us and we'll review it.

The My Eye Doctor team features doctors who are accepting new patients and offer online booking. Being featured is not a ranking or a medical recommendation, so compare profiles and choose the doctor who suits you.

We only ask for the details the office needs to contact you about your appointment. Your request is shared with the doctor's office and the My Eye Doctor team so it can be arranged and confirmed. Please keep sensitive medical details out of the booking note, and discuss them with your doctor at the visit.

Email info.myeyedoctor@gmail.com with the doctor's name or profile link and a short description of the problem. For questions about an appointment you've already requested, contact the doctor's office directly, as they manage their own schedule.

Email info.myeyedoctor@gmail.com with your practice name, each doctor's name and NPI number, your office address, specialties, the insurance plans you accept and how you'd like to receive appointment requests. Our team will review the details and set up your profile.

Requests are emailed to your practice with the patient's contact details, reason for visit and requested time, so your team can confirm the appointment with the patient directly.

Yes. Your calendar can follow your regular weekly hours or show only specific dates and times you share with us. Online booking can also be turned off, so patients call your office instead.

Send the link to your profile and the changes you need to info.myeyedoctor@gmail.com. We'll review the update, and your profile will show a new last updated date once it's live.