"Routine" eye care refers to children who are seen simply to have their eyes checked and who have no eye problems that have been detected.  This also refers to children who need glasses to see their best, but who have no medical eye problems.  These children typically need glasses for near-sightedness, far-sightedness (without associated lazy eye or lazy vision problems) and/or astigmatism. 

"Medical" eye care refers to children who have vision problems other than simply needing glasses.  Many of our children are followed with strabismus (lazy eye) and/or amblyopia (lazy vision), conditions which are covered under standard medical insurance.  Other medical eye conditions include eye infections, eye injuries, nystagmus, retinopathy of prematurity, low vision conditions and congenital eye problems.  These conditions are billed under the child's medical insurance although many of these conditions also require a periodic "refraction" of the eyes to determine if glasses are necessary.  This portion of the examination may be a "non-covered" service.  The parent is frequently responsible for payment of this portion of the examination fee.

Some children are seen with blurry vision symptoms, headaches or possible color blindness concerns.  These conditions typically are not eligible for payment by the medical insurance company.