What to bring
- Photo ID and insurance card
- Completed new patient forms (or arrive 30 minutes early to fill them out)
- Current list of medications, including over-the-counter and supplements
- Sunglasses — your eyes will be dilated
- Consider bringing a driver, as dilation can blur vision for several hours
- Any prior imaging or records from your referring eye doctor
How long it takes
Plan for one to three hours. The visit includes check-in, a pre-exam workup with one of our technicians, dilation (drops take about 20–30 minutes to work), imaging, and time with your retina surgeon. Some conditions require additional imaging that adds time.
Dilation
Dilation drops widen the pupil so your retina specialist can see the back of your eye clearly. You should expect:
- Blurry near vision for 4–6 hours
- Light sensitivity — bring sunglasses
Some patients prefer to have someone drive them home, especially for their first visit when they don't yet know how dilation will affect them.
Imaging and tests
Most visits include some combination of:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) — a quick, painless cross-sectional scan of the retina
- Fundus photography — color photographs of the back of the eye
- Fluorescein angiography — when needed; involves a dye injected into the arm to highlight retinal blood vessels
Meeting your doctor
You'll meet with one of our five partners — Dr. Brown, Dr. Seth, Dr. Rosenberg, Dr. Choudhury, or Dr. Oellers. They will review your imaging, examine your eyes, explain your diagnosis in plain language, and discuss treatment options. Bring your questions; we want you to leave understanding what's happening with your eyes and what's next.