WELCOME TO BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE AT NAPLES

At Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, we strive to provide world-class clinical care to each patient that walks through our doors. In 2017, we will celebrate our13th year in Naples and our second year in our award winning,state-of-the art Naples center. Our new Naples eye center provides essentially all types of eye care, from routine “checkups” and contact lens fittings to advanced subspecialty care in retinal diseases, uveitis (serious eye inflammation), cancers involving the eye, pediatric eye diseases, and many other potentially blinding diseases.Many of these conditions require extensive diagnostic testing or in-office treatment. Our doctors and team members work diligently to offer an excellent experience to each and every one of our patients. The typical visit to see an ophthalmologist is four hours. One question we are frequently asked is, “Why does it take so long?” There are five essential steps of each visit:

Arrival and registration

Upon arrival at your scheduled time, you begin registration and update your health insurance and payment information. (Approximate duration: 15 minutes)

Testing and procedures

Your comprehensive eye exam begins with an ophthalmic technician who takes your medical and vision history, and begins necessary testing. This may include a visual acuity test, refraction for a new eyeglass prescription,glaucoma testing, and dilation of your pupils. If ancillary testing is required – such as photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), or ultrasound testing –this will typically be done following your visit with the technician. It is preferable to do this testing before you see the physician, so that the physician has the results.(Approximate duration: 60-90 minutes)

Your doctor’s visit

Every patient at Bascom Palmer is seen by a doctor, either an ophthalmologist (medical doctor) or doctor of optometry,at every visit. Our Institute does not use nurse practitioners,physicians’ assistants, or other“physician extenders” in this role. Sometimes during your examination, the doctor may require additional testing. If so, it may be performed at this time. (Approximate duration: 10-60 minutes based upon the complexity of your eye condition)

Treatment

Based upon your diagnosis, possible treatments may be done at this time.Treatments include laser procedures, medication injections (such as for “wet”macular degeneration) and minor surgical procedures. Very often, the decision to perform these procedures is made during the doctor’s portion of the visit.(Approximate duration: 30-60 minutes based on medical necessity)

Check-out

Future appointments will be scheduled and payments will be made at this time.(Approximate duration: 15 minutes)As the only university-based eye care center in Southwest Florida, Bascom Palmer is proud that its patients in Naples come to the Institute from the local community, as well as from around the globe. While each visit takes a few hours,we believe it is better to do “everything that has to be done” for each patient during their visit, rather than ask them to come back again and again for additional testing or treatment.In their annual survey ranking America’s Best Hospitals, U.S. News &World Report once again ranked Bascom Palmer Eye Institute the nation’s best in ophthalmology. It’s the 15th time America’s leading ophthalmologists have recognized Bascom Palmer as the best in the country for vision research, education and patient care. Bascom Palmer is dedicated to enhancing your quality of life by improving sight and preventing blindness, and always providing you with the compassionate care you deserve.For more information visit bascompalmer.org or call us at 239.659.3937.