Retina
first visit, services
First Visit
Our support staff is committed to maintaining a pleasant and efficient office setting and will assist you with any special services and resources that you require as part of your overall care. We are always available to address your individual questions and concerns.
Patient Information
Appointments can be scheduled in East Providence by calling 401-865-6922 or in Warwick by calling 401-738-4800. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance.
To save you time on your first visit to our offices, we have provided forms, below. Please download and print them, fill out and bring them with you to your appointment.
Patient Registration.pdf
HIPAA Authorization.pdf
Each time you visit our office, please bring the following items with you:
- Insurance ID card
- Driver’s license or photo ID
- Referral form and copay, as required by your insurance plan
- A list of your current medications
Your first visit will include a comprehensive examination and evaluation of your retina. Prior to seeing your physician, you will meet with an ophthalmic technician who will take a detailed medical history, perform visual screening tests, and administer drops to dilate your pupils. The dilation process usually requires 30 minutes, depending on the color of your eyes.
Next, your physician or optometrist will review your medical history and examine your eyes, paying special attention to your retina. The doctor will explain the findings and, if necessary, make recommendations for diagnostic testing. Once a diagnosis is established, he will discuss your treatment options with you, address your questions and concerns, and send a report to your referring doctor, including recommendations for your care.
Due to the complex nature of retinal diseases, your initial evaluation may take one to two hours. Subsequent visits may be considerably shorter, but that depends upon your individual situation and the time required for necessary diagnostic tests and/or treatments.
Because dilation of your pupils may result in blurred near vision and increased sensitivity to light, you may wish to bring sunglasses with you and arrange to have someone drive you home.
We are committed to providing you with outstanding patient care and to minimizing your wait time. However, retinal emergencies are inevitable. Please be aware that we make every effort to allow for these unpredictable events in our scheduling.
Financial Information
Your health insurance plan is likely to cover the majority of the professional services performed in our offices. We participate with most insurance companies and will file claims on your behalf. Please be familiar with the terms of your policy. For patients not covered by insurance, individual arrangements may be made with our practice administrator. All co-pays and deductibles are collected at the time of service. If you should have any questions about our fees or your financial obligations, please ask.
Office Hours and Emergencies
Retina RI is open from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. For emergencies that occur after hours or on weekends, please call any of our offices and leave a message with our answering service. One of our physicians will return your call as quickly as possible.
