On your initial visit, please allow approximately 3 hours of your time. We need time to get to know you and your eyes.

Please bring with you to your appointment:

• Completed new patient forms (Click Here To Download Forms)
• Your insurance cards
• Any referral forms from your referring or primary care physician
• A list of all your medications and eyedrops that you are using

On that day, your eyes will be dilated (eye drops will be placed to open your pupils). This dilation may last up to 4-6 hours; therefore, we recommend that you are accompanied by a driver. Your retina specialist will meet you, listen to your symptoms and perform a comprehensive eye exam. Your diagnosis will then be discussed and your questions answered. Your retina specialist may then order additional tests to help better diagnose and treat your retinal problem. These tests include:

Fundus Photographs - a special camera will be used to obtain photographs of your retina

Flurescein Angiography - fluorescein dye will be injected into an arm vein. This dye travels to your eyes, and pictures of your retina will be taken

B-Scan Ultrasonography - an ultrasound machine, similar to the machine used for expectant mothers to image the developing baby, will be used to obtain scans of your retina

Optical Coherence Tomography - a special imaging camera will be used to take cross-sectional scans of your retina

Your retina specialist will then come up with a plan of treatment. He will then discuss the treatment options with you and your family. The examination and these ancillary tests do take up time. We do appreciate your patience.

If your retina specialist recommends that you receive an injection of medicine in your eye, please allow about an hour of your time with us on that visit. It may be helpful to have someone with you that day.

We at PRS understand that your injection visit can be extremely stressful. Our staff strives to make this difficult time as comfortable as possible. On the day of your injection, you will have your vision checked and your eyes dilated. A scan of your retina may be performed while your eyes dilate. The eye to be injected will then be carefully anesthetized with eye drops and gels. The surface of your eye and the eyelids will be thoroughly cleansed using a Povidone Iodine solution. Once your eye is numbed, the surface of the eye and the eyelids will be thoroughly cleansed using a Povidone Iodine solution. Your retina specialist will then look at your eye, identify the eye to be injected and perform the injection. The actual injection will only take a few moments. Your eye will then be thoroughly rinsed.

When you get home, your eye that was injected may become irritated. This is usually due to the cleansing solution that was used. Your retina specialist may recommend that you use artificial tears, compresses and over-the-counter analgesics (such as Tylenol or Advil). Any significant pain that is not relieved by the aforementioned treatments, or any loss of vision should prompt you to give our office a call.

If your retina specialist recommends that you receive laser treatment, please allow about an hour of your time with us on that visit. It may be helpful to have someone with you that day.

We at PRS understand that your laser visit may be stressful. Our staff strives to make this difficult time as comfortable as possible. On the day of your laser procedure, you will have your vision checked and your eye dilated. That eye will then be carefully anesthetized with medications. Your retina specialist will then look at your eye, identify the eye to be treated and then perform the laser procedure. The procedure can last between 5 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on the type of laser recommended. Your eye may be patched upon completion of the procedure.

When you get home, your eye that was treated may become slightly irritated and sore, or you may develop a mild headache. Your doctor may advise you to take over-the-counter analgesics (such as Tylenol or Advil). Using artificial tears or compresses may also help. Any significant pain that is not relieved by the aforementioned treatments, or any loss of vision should prompt you to give our office a call.