Questions about appointments at the Eye Clinic
General questions about appointments at the Eye Clinic:
How long will my appointment take at the Eye Clinic?
Most appointments require more than just a visit to your ophthalmologist. We may require further tests and protocols to maintain a high level of patient care. Please be patient when visiting the Eye Clinic and routinely expect to spend half a day with us.
What's the waiting time for new referral patients?
For non-urgent and depending on the ophthalmologist being seen you can expect to wait anywhere from 4 months to 1 year
When do i book my next appointment?
The ophthalmologist will let you know when your child needs to be seen again. All appointments should be booked before leaving the Eye Clinic with the ophthalmologist’s coordinator. Otherwise, you can call to make an appointment or the coordinator will follow-up either by phone or mail with your next appointment.
If I miss my appointment, will I have to pay for it?
No, there will be no charge for any missed appointments but you may have to wait 4-6 months for your next appointment.
General questions on visiting the clinic:
Will my child need eye drops and will he/she need them every visit?
Most likely, if we need to see the retina or check the pressure of the eye.
How long will the drops dilate my child’s pupils for?
Depending on the drops, your child's pupils will be dilated from 4-6 hours for general dilation drops instilled by a health-professional during your child’s visit to the Eye Clinic and up to 2 weeks for prescription drops.
Are there any side effects from the dilating drops?
Common effects from the dilation drops are blurred vision and light sensitivity. Please make us aware of any known allergies.
Can I get pictures that were taken of my child’s eyes?
Pictures that have been taken in the Eye Clinic of your child’s eyes can be requested through Health Care Records. There is a charge of $25 per request for a laser copy print out of the images. Health Care Records is located on the Service Level (one floor below Shoppers Drug Mart, Black Wing), room S203.
General questions on eye vision, visual aids and treatment:
What should I do if my child has broken or lost their glasses?
You can call your optician to see if they have your child’s prescription still on file.
For prescriptions that are more than 6 months old, we recommend that your child should see your optician for a new eye test to see if the prescription has changed.
For broken glasses that are from a recent prescription, less than 6 months, you can bring the glasses to your optician to have a new pair made.
What should I do if I lost my child’s prescription for glasses or drops?
You can call the ophthalmologist’s coordinator and they will call or fax the prescription directly to the optician or drugstore. For a list of coordinator phone numbers by ophthalmologist please visit the Contact Us section of this Web site.
What should I do if I run out of drops?
If you have a repeat on the medication you can call your pharmacy for a refill. If there are no repeats then you can call the ophthalmologist’s coordinator and they will call or fax the prescription directly to the pharmacy if approved by your ophthalmologist. For a list of coordinator phone numbers by ophthalmologist please visit the Contact Us section of this Web site.
Where can I purchase eye patches?
You can purchase eye patches through the hospital. You will need to go to the Business Office to pay for the patches and then provide your receipt or proof of purchase to the Eye Clinic where you can pick up the eye patches. The Business Office is located on the Main Floor (past the Shoppers Drug Mart) in room M410. The hours of service for the business office are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
General questions before surgery or examination:
Are you going to take my eye out?
No, we are capable of seeing what we need to see by using dilating drops or by simply looking at the eye with our special equipment.
Strabismus and Amblyopia:
Where can I purchase eye patches?
You can purchase eye patches through the hospital. You will need to go to the Business Office to pay for the patches and then provide your receipt or proof of purchase to the eye clinic where you can pick up the eye patches. The Business Office is located on the Main Floor past the Shoppers Drug Mart in room M410. The hours of service for the business office are 8 to 4, Monday to Friday.
Neurophthalmology:
When and how will I get my VEP, MRI, CT results?
The results are usually sent to you in the mail. If you do not receive a letter within a month, please contact the Eye Clinic.