Important Documents | Emory School of Medicine

Reminders for all Emory Eye Center patients

Emory Eye Center patients enjoy the convenience of a nearly paperless registration process, thanks to My-Chart, our online chart system. A lot of your health information will be put into your My-Chart account when you call for your first visit. And it will be available, there, for you to view any time you like.

But there are a few items that you (and all patients) should consider bringing, including:

Your insurance card or proof of insurance.
It's also a good idea to check to see what your insurance covers prior to your visit
Your driver’s license or state-issued identification.
We ask this to protect you (and us) from insurance fraud.
Your eyeglasses and a list of any prescriptions you are already taking.
Any paperwork that better describes your health needs.
If you have any physician's notes, lab reports, x-rays, or medical records in your possession, these are worth bringing to your appointment.
A list of questions you have had regarding your vision health.
We want you to leave your appointment with all questions addressed.
A link to the driving directions/parking regulations for the clinic you are visiting
There are a number of Emory Eye Center clinics dotting the Greater Atlanta area. Double-check the location of your appointment before you leave.

Additional Instructions

Neuro-Ophthalmology Patients

How should I prepare for my neuro-ophthalmology visit at Emory Eye Center?

Ideally, we will already have your basic medical profile registered with us through My Chart, Emory Healthcare’s online patient charting system. Your MyChart account is set up when you make your first appointment with Emory Eye Center. If you are not certain, please call 404.778.2020.
If you are being referred from a physician outside Emory Healthcare, make sure your provider fills out a Neuro-Ophthalmology Referral form and faxes it to 404.778.4849.
If you have them in your possession, bring any written records from previous eye or neurologic examinations that were performed outside Emory. This includes copies of CT scans or MRI scans that have been loaded onto a CD.
If you have noticed any external changes in your eyes or eyelids, please bring photographs that show what your eyes looked like before those changes occurred.
Bring your eyeglasses and a list of any medications you are currently taking.
Double-check the location, driving directions, and parking for the clinic you have chosen.

What will my neuro-ophthalmology evaluation at Emory involve?

The first thing it involves is time. Plan to spend (4) hours at your clinic appointment. We might be able to get you out earlier, but this will allow for any unforseen emergency cases that cannot be scheduled ahead of time. We will always do our best to address those emergencies while avoiding delays for scheduled patients.
The four-hour window gives us time to dilate eyes, run all appropriate tests, and talk with you about your concerns. Most patients arrange to have someone drive them home from their eye exam, as routine dilation temporarily impedes vision.
Once your eyes have been dilated, we might identify the need for additional tests which will be ordered at that time. You will then be seen and examined by your scheduled neuro-ophthalmic specialist, who will spend time privately addressing your questions or concerns.

Whom will I see at my appointment?

Your clinic visit will begin with a trained ophthalmic technician, resident, or fellow who will dilate your eyes, and perform a basic examination. Fellows are fully licensed ophthalmologists or neurologists who are being trained by us to practice in neuro-ophthalmology.
Your specialty consultation will be conducted by one of the five neuro-ophthalmologists on our team: Dr. Nancy J. Newman, Dr. Michael Dattilo, Dr. Sachin Kedar, Dr. Valerie Biousse or Dr. Jason Paragallo.

Low-Vision Patients

How should I prepare for my low-vision/optometry appointment?

Please download and fill out the Health & Activity Inventory Form and bring it to your appointment. If necessary, we recommend you ask a friend or family member to help fill it out.
Please bring a list of all medications you are currently taking.
In addition to your eye glasses, please bring any assistive devices you may already be using.
Check with your insurance carrier to see which services are covered by your policy and how much, if any, you will be expected to pay at the time of your visit. Most insurance policies do not cover low-vision devices or special refraction services; some will likewise not cover prescribed occupational therapy services.

What should I expect from my low-vision/optometry visit to Emory Eye Center?

Be prepared to spend two (2) hours at your appointment, including any available OT services.
One of our doctors will evaluate your need for eyeglasses using a special trial frame refraction. You will then be assessed for optical and non-optical assistive devices.
Depending on the results of that evaluation, you may then be referred to an occupational therapist (OT) for services specific to your vision loss. This may require a separate appointment and visit date if an OT is not available.

About occupational therapy

Occupational therapists (OT) can often help individuals with disabilities such as vision impairment to live life to the fullest - with fewer obstacles, illnesses, and risks of injury.

Occupational therapists in the Low-Vision Clinic focus on providing training with various activities, techniques and equipment that enable people to improve their quality of life as they deal with problems associated with low vision. More specifically, occupational therapists address issues such as:

reading and writing
basic self-care
home management
community activities such as shopping and driving

Billing for occupational therapy

Occupational therapy is a service provided by Emory University Hospital and is billed separately from the Emory Low Vision Clinic. If you participate in occupational therapy services, you will receive a separate bill for these services. Medicare usually covers occupational therapy services at 80 percent. Other forms of insurance should be investigated in advance of your visit to see if they cover OT services.