Eye Care Clinic and Optical Shop

A routine vision exam begins with a health history. The optometrist (Doctor of Optometry) then:

• Will assess your ability to see clearly at near and far distances, eye coordination, color vision, depth perception, refractive error, and field of vision
• Will dilate your eyes and check the interior and exterior eye as well as the surrounding area for impairment and disease
• May prescribe medication, glasses or contact lenses, or vision therapy as needed

If you wear glasses or contacts, please bring your most recent pair of glasses and contacts, and make sure you know what brand of contacts you wear.

If possible, bring sunglasses because your eyes may be sensitive to the sun after dilation. If you forget sunglasses, we will provide a disposable pair.

Most people can drive after a visual exam. However, if you are farsighted you may have visual impairment and would have to wait a few hours to drive. For this reason, you may wish to make transportation arrangements before your exam.

Routine vision exams are an important part of preventive care.

It's recommended that you get a routine vision exam if you:

• Have a history of vision problems
• Wear contact lenses or glasses
• Experience squinting, blinking, rubbing eyes frequently, headaches, changes in vision or difficulty with visual concentration within arm's length, because these may be signs of eye problems

Also:

• People in their mid-20s to mid-30s who do not wear contact lenses should get an exam every two years.
• People in their mid-30s and older should get an exam annually, because changes in vision and focus, along with eye diseases, are more likely to develop.

• If you have a prescription for glasses, from UHS or from outside UHS, you can order glasses at the UHS Optical Shop. 
• You will need an appointment to order glasses. You will also need an appointment for adjustments and to pick up your order. This is a new rule to minimize the number of patients in the clinic in order to maintain proper distancing.
• The Optical Shop will disinfect glasses and office surfaces between patients.
• You can select from a wide variety of frames for eyeglasses, sunglasses, sports and recreational glasses, and occupational safety glasses. Brands include Nike, Ray Ban, Michael Kors, Emporio Armani, and more.
• Due to optical lab restrictions, glasses may take 2-3 weeks to be made, although special orders may take longer.

If you have a contact lens prescription that is less than one year old, we can fill your prescription. However, we cannot accept contact prescriptions from outside the U.S.

If your contact lens prescription was prescribed over one year ago, you must first receive a complete vision exam through the Eye Care Clinic for a contact lens evaluation.

You can order contacts in three ways:

1. Order contacts online: If you are a UHS eye care patient with a current prescription, you may order through YourLens.com. You must register first, either at the time of your appointment or by calling us at 734-763-0291 to register. After you register, visit the YourLens.com website: Order Contact Lenses at YourLens.com
2. Order by phone by calling us at 734-763-0291.
3. Order at your appointment: Your healthcare provider can order contacts for you after your prescription is finalized at the time of your appointment.

Please do not walk in to order contacts. This is a new rule to minimize the number of patients in the clinic to maintain proper distancing.

Talk with your eye doctor about proper care and wear, which are critical to maintaining the quality of your eye health and vision. Do not wear your contact lenses overnight because of the dramatic increase in eye diseases related to extended-wear contacts.

Also, if you will live in an isolated area for any length of time, make sure that there is a facility at which either rigid (RPG) or soft lenses can be checked or replaced as needed.  See also For Contact Lens Wearers: How to Care for Your Eyes When You Travel.

For currently enrolled U-M students (i.e. taking regular classes on the Ann Arbor campus):

• Routine vision exams are NOT covered by the health service fee, so students pay additional fees. Insurance may apply. Costs and insurance are described below.
• Eye care for medical conditions (e.g. conjunctivitis, acute visual disturbances, foreign bodies, or injuries to the eye) IS covered by the health service fee, so currently enrolled  U-M students pay no additional fees.

Cost of routine vision exam with dilation (includes glasses prescription but not actual glasses):

• If you had a routine vision exam at UHS in the last 3 years: $98
• If you have NOT had a routine vision exam at UHS in the last 3 years: $109

The cost of contact lens prescription and fitting (in addition to the cost of the routine vision exam above, and does not include actual contact lenses) depends on the complexity of the lenses. These fees range from $60 to $125.

Special deal for glasses: For as little as $149, you can now get a pair of glasses in our Optical Shop, with a new selection of frames (many designer styles!), single-vision polycarbonate lenses, and standard anti-reflective coating.  This is a good deal if you don't have insurance that would cover glasses, or if you want a second pair. (This offer can't be combined with insurance or discounts.)

BCN U-M Student Health Plans:

If you are age 19 and older: 

• You should see a BCN-participating vision provider. UHS is one and you can schedule by calling 734-764-8320. For additional BCN-participating vision providers, call 800-662-6667.
• Your insurance will pay for the cost of one routine vision exam and one contact lens fitting exam per plan year. You would pay a $20 visit copay. This benefit is available without regard to the annual deductible.
• Your insurance does not pay for glasses (frames, lenses) or contact lenses.

If you are under the age of 19:

• You should visit a VSP Vision Care Provider. UHS is not one. For VSP Vision Care Providers, call 800-877-7195.
• Insurance will pay 100% of the cost of one routine vision exam per plan year, limited to one per calendar year through the last day of the year in which an individual turns age 19. You would pay no copay or coinsurance. This benefit is available without regard to the annual deductible.
• Prescription glasses (frames chosen from a select collection and lenses) are covered once a calendar year through the last day of the year in which an individual turns age 19. Your insurance doesn’t pay for contact lenses.

Premier Care - UHS is a Network 1 Provider
GradCare (Blue Care Network) members - UHS is a Network 1 Provider
Michigan Care

• Insurance will pay for one routine vision exam per policy year.
• Patient pays no copayment or coinsurance. 
• Insurance does NOT pay for glasses, contact lenses, or charges for an eye exam performed for the sole purpose of the fitting of contact lenses

UHS can bill U-M insurances and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan.

UHS is a Davis Vision provider. For more on Davis Vision benefits, see the Benefits Office website.

We have instituted procedures that protect the safety of our patients and staff. We disinfect rooms between patients, limit the number of patients in the clinic, maintain 6 feet of distance between people, and use personal protective equipment (PPE).

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, we ask that you reschedule your routine vision exam until you are healthy:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms but have an urgent eye / vision problem, we will still see you in the Eye Care Clinic with full PPE.

We will also continue to provide video visits. This will allow patients to visit virtually for simple follow-ups. Your health care provider will inform you if a video visit follow-up is an option for you.