Vantage Eye Center provides routine eye exams for adults and seniors across California’s Central Coast, including Monterey and Salinas, in a professional, efficient, and patient-focused setting.
Routine eye exams detect early changes that may require further evaluation. These can include changes in refractive error, early lens changes, or screening findings that suggest the need for a comprehensive eye exam.
Routine exams confirm that your vision correction is accurate and help identify potential concerns that may need further medical evaluation. They do not replace medical eye exams for patients with symptoms or diagnosed eye conditions.
Your routine exam begins with a brief conversation about your vision, daily activities, and any changes or concerns you’ve noticed since your last visit.
Your eye doctor performs standard vision tests to check how clearly you see at both distance and near.
Your eye coordination, eye movement, and how your pupils respond to light are evaluated to ensure your eyes are working together correctly.
Eye pressure may be measured as part of routine screening, depending on your age and medical history.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses (or may need to wear them), a refraction test is performed. This determines the prescription needed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism and helps ensure you achieve the clearest vision possible.
For adults with stable vision and no known eye conditions, routine eye exams are often recommended every one to two years.
Most routine eye exams take about 30-45 minutes. Appointments may be longer if dilation is performed or if additional testing is needed. Vantage Eye Center strives to keep routine exams efficient while still allowing time for questions and personalized guidance.
For adults with stable vision and no known eye conditions, routine eye exams are often recommended every one to two years. Patients who notice changes in their vision, have difficulty seeing clearly with their current prescription, or have specific visual demands may benefit from more frequent eye exams.
Your eye care provider will recommend an exam schedule based on your age, vision needs, and overall eye health.
The cost of a routine eye exam varies based on the services performed and whether refraction is included. For patients without insurance, routine eye exams are affordable. However, we offer several financing options. Vision insurance plans often cover routine eye exams and refraction, while medical insurance coverage varies.
Medicare typically does not cover routine eye exams for vision correction, but may cover medical eye evaluations when specific conditions are present. Our staff can review your coverage and provide cost information before your visit. Give us a call today!
A typical vision plan includes a wellness routine eye exam, lenses, and an allowance for contacts, frames, or both. Instead of paying full price at the time, you’re paying a discounted price each month. A vision plan can save you a few hundred dollars each year.
| Vision Insurance | Medical Insurance |
|---|---|
| Covers routine eye care services like eye exams and refractive services. | Covers medical eye care services, such as the management of eye diseases. |
| Benefits typically include an allowance toward glasses and/or contact lenses. | Only covers materials if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA). |
| The benefit can only be used once per calendar year or once every other year. | The benefit can only be used once per calendar year or once every other year. It can be used multiple times throughout the year. |
You can obtain an annual eye exam using your medical insurance; however, it would only include an examination for eye conditions and would not cover a prescription for any corrective lenses. If you need both care for an eye condition and a wellness exam with refraction, you may need to make two separate appointments, as both insurance providers cannot be billed for the same encounter. This can be avoided by paying out of pocket for your refraction and prescription. If you are only interested in getting a routine eye exam and refraction benefit from your vision insurance, you will need to do both at the same time, on the same day; otherwise, you’ll end up paying separately for both.
Yes. You can wear contact lenses to your appointment, but you may be asked to remove them during the testing process. If your visit includes a contact lens prescription check or fitting, bringing your current lenses or prescription information can be helpful.
Bringing your current glasses, contact lenses, or a copy of your prescription allows your provider to compare changes and ensure your updated prescription meets your visual needs. This is especially useful if you are experiencing discomfort or reduced clarity with your current correction.
Vantage Eye Center primarily provides routine eye exams for adults and seniors. If you are scheduling a visit for a child, our staff can help determine the most appropriate type of visit based on their age and visual needs.
Routine eye exams require very little preparation. If dilation is needed, consider bringing sunglasses and allowing extra time before driving. Bringing a list of medications and any vision concerns can help make the visit more efficient.
Routine eye exams are best for patients without symptoms who want to update or confirm their vision prescription. If you are experiencing pain, sudden vision loss, flashes, floaters, redness, or have a known eye condition, a medical eye exam is typically recommended instead. Our scheduling team can help guide you to the correct appointment type.
