Contact lens exam from Optometrist and/or Ophthalmologist

I need to have an annual exam for glaucoma, so I just completed a visit
to my ophthalmologist. He gave me a complete eye exam and gave me my
eyeglass prescription.

When I asked about getting the prescription for my contacts, he said
I'd have to see an optometrist (presumably the one in his office) to
get that; that it was a different exam. I asked if I would save some
money since I already had an eye exam (I have to assume the exams are
at least similar), and the answer was no.

In all the time I've had contacts, I've never had to go to two
different doctors. Is this a new way of operating (I'm in Illinois),
or just a way for the MD to generate revenue for an affiliate?

Scott

 

It's called "specialization."

It is a different CPT code. The glaucoma exam is a 99*** code, whereas
the contact lens fitting is a 92*** code. These are the codes that are
submitted to the insurance companies for billing.

DrG

 

Ophthalmologists specialise in eye disease, optometrists specialise in
vision. There's a lot of overlap, but you'll get the best result if you
go to the 'specialist'. So see your ophthalmologist for glaucoma and see
your optometrist for contacts.

It may be that the optometrist doesn't like to use the eye exam from the
ophthalmologist because as far as the success of contacts is concerned,
the buck stops with him/her so he wants to start from scratch with the
measurements etc. This is certainly how I operate if someone comes to me
wanting contacts, even though they've just had another eye exam
somewhere else recently... I would start from scratch.

Dom

 

Dom -

Thanks for the advice. I certainly understand what you're saying,
especially if the patient just came in with a eye exam of questionable
reliability.

But with these two Doctor's working together, it seems there ought to
be some way to help out the patient as far as the cost of the eye exam
is concerned.

Scott

 

Or just let the OD do both, which is what they are trained to do.
Otherwise you're wasting money.

DrG

 

Or just let the OD do both, which is what they are trained to do.
Otherwise you're wasting money.[/QUOTE]


Just curious. Do you treat glaucoma?

I don't know where you are at. In California, where I live, an OD can
get a special license to prescribe medicine. My private practice OD did
this.

 

Yes, I treat glaucoma, and everything else covered under my license,
including orals.

DrG

 

Interesting. My OD made a big point of the fact that he took the
training, took the test, passed the test and got the special license. I
really don't know any other details.