Medical eye care
Medical Eye Exam in Shelton, WA
When something specific is wrong with your eyes — pain, redness, sudden vision changes, an infection, or a known condition that needs management — that’s a medical eye exam, not a routine vision check. And it’s billed to your medical insurance, not your vision plan.
Most patients don’t realize there are two kinds of eye visits, and which one you need affects how it’s billed:
- Routine vision exam — you want to update your prescription, make sure your eyes are healthy, and rule out problems. Billed to your vision plan (VSP, Spectera, EyeMed, etc.).
- Medical eye exam — you have a specific eye problem you want diagnosed or treated. Billed to your medical insurance (Apple Health, Medicare, Premera, Regence, etc.).
The visits look similar in many ways — we’re still examining your eyes carefully — but the focus is different. A medical exam zeroes in on the specific concern. We may use additional testing (imaging, pressure measurements, dilation, photography) and we may prescribe medications, schedule follow-up visits, or refer you to a specialist if needed.
What we treat as medical eye care
Some of the most common reasons patients come in for medical eye visits:
Eye infections
Conjunctivitis (pink eye), styes, blepharitis, and corneal ulcers are all eye infections we diagnose and treat. Most are bacterial or viral; some are allergic. Treatment depends on the cause — antibiotic drops, steroid drops, warm compresses, or sometimes nothing more than time and supportive care. Coming in is faster than urgent care because we know eyes.
Dry eye disease
Chronic burning, stinging, foreign-body sensation, or watery eyes that drops aren’t fixing. Dry eye has multiple causes, and the right treatment depends on which one you have. We diagnose and treat in-office — learn more about our dry eye services.
Eye allergies
Itchy, watery, swollen eyes from seasonal or year-round allergies. We can prescribe drops that work better than over-the-counter options, and identify whether what you’re experiencing is actually allergies versus dry eye, blepharitis, or another condition that mimics them.
Foreign body removal
Metal shaving, sawdust, dirt, or other debris stuck in or on the eye. We remove foreign bodies in-office under magnification, much faster and safer than an ER visit. If you got something in your eye and you’re still uncomfortable hours later, please come in — see our emergency eye care page.
Diabetic eye exams
Annual dilated exams for patients with diabetes, focused on detecting and monitoring diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. Billed as medical, not routine. Learn more about diabetic eye exams.
Glaucoma diagnosis and management
From initial workup through long-term monitoring with OCT, visual field testing, and pressure management. Learn more about glaucoma care.
Cataracts
Diagnosis, monitoring, and pre- and post-surgical care. We refer to cataract surgeons when you’re ready, and we provide all of the post-operative follow-up.
Macular degeneration
Diagnosis, monitoring with OCT imaging, and coordination with retinal specialists when injection therapy is needed.
Sudden vision changes or loss
New floaters, flashes of light, blurred vision in one eye, dark spots, or anything else that came on suddenly. These need same-day evaluation — some causes (retinal detachment, vascular events, optic nerve problems) need urgent intervention.
Eye pain or persistent redness
Pain is never normal and shouldn’t wait. Causes range from corneal abrasions and infections to inflammation inside the eye (uveitis), each with different treatments.
Headaches that might be eye-related
Some headaches are caused by uncorrected vision, eye-teaming problems, or eye strain. Some are not. We can help sort it out and refer to your primary care doctor or a neurologist if the cause turns out to be elsewhere.
Floaters and flashes
Most floaters are harmless, but new ones — especially with flashes of light or a curtain in your vision — can signal a retinal tear or detachment. Don’t wait. Call us.
How a medical eye exam differs from a routine exam
Three main differences:
- Focused on a specific concern. We start with what brought you in, take a detailed history, and direct testing toward that issue.
- May involve specialized testing. Depending on the concern: pressure measurement, dilation, OCT, retinal imaging, slit lamp photography, fluorescein staining, etc.
- Billed to medical insurance. Including Apple Health, Medicare, and most major medical plans — usually with low or no copay for medically necessary visits.
Insurance coverage
Medical eye exams are covered as a medical visit by:
- Apple Health (Washington Medicaid) — covers medical eye visits as part of your medical benefits
- Medicare and Medicare Advantage — cover medical eye exams under Part B; usually with a small copay
- Most major medical plans — Premera, Regence, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser, UnitedHealthcare, Tricare, Humana, Molina, Wellcare, and others
Vision plans (VSP, Spectera, EyeMed) generally do not cover medical visits — those plans are designed for routine exams and eyewear. Don’t worry about figuring out which insurance applies to your visit; we’ll do that for you when you come in.
What to bring
If your concern is urgent — pain, sudden vision change, foreign body, infection — call us first at (360) 427-8324. We’ll fit you in same-day when possible.
Eye problem that needs answers?
Don’t go to urgent care for an eye issue. Come to a doctor who knows eyes.