This page last updated October 2007
Welcome
Santa Barbara Patients!
This page is here to provide you with specific office information.
You may also proceed to the
where you will find some interesting and educational information.
Do you have an appointment scheduled? Please plan to arrive at least ten minutes prior to your appointment time to complete some office forms. We try to see our patients on time and we allow adequate time for office services and personal consultation.
About ’Äúinsurance’Äù and ’Äúvision plans’Äù: If you have a vision insurance plan: we will attempt to verify your eligibility and plan coverage for office services and will accept payment in that amount from your insurance provider. Co-payments and non-covered expenses are due at the time of service. Please note that fees for office services are your responsibility. If we cannot verify and approve your plan coverage with your insurer, you must pay your fees directly to the office. In that event, we will provide you with a statement which you can use to bill your insurance provider. We do not bill general medical plan providers. We accept only a specific and limited number of ’Äúplans’Äù. Please try to verify your own eligibility and coverage by utilizing their website or contact your employer's HR/personnel department.
Missed and cancelled appointment policy: Please let us know at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment if you need to change it. There is charge for missed appointments if we do not hear from you. Of course real family and personal emergencies are exempt from this policy. We do not ’Äúoverbook’Äù and the time reserved for you is not likely to be filled by another patient. Thank you for cooperation and understanding.
You can download your Patient Information Form and Medical History Form right here. Print them out and bring them to the office completed and you'll save five dollars on the cost of your examination (not to mention saving both of us time and the office the expense of printing the documents. Thanks.)
Please also read our HIPAA Privacy Information document. You will need to print out that form and sign it, too.
These are in PDF format. Click on the highlighted text to begin download. If you don't happen to have Adobe Acrobat (Mac/PC) (or Preview for Mac OSX), you can download the application for free here.
Read the latest Newsletter! What's New in Eye Heath and Vision Care.
"Welcome to the Office" handout
Our office is in the San Roque Office Building, at 3324 State Street, Suite J. The nearest cross street is Las Positas/San Roque Rd. We are located across the street from Loreto Plaza, home of Gelson's Market and Chaucer's Books stores, next door to Instrumental Music. We're also just down the street from Vices and Spices, our favorite coffee shop, at State and Ontare, and diagonally across the street from the San Roque Post Office.
Open: Monday through Thursday 9:30AM until 6PM. Office visits are scheduled by appointment only and can be arranged for later or earlier times (8:15-9:30, and until 7pm) and on Friday or Saturday when necessary. Office staff can be reached at other times by leaving messages on the answering machine and, for emergencies, via cell phone.
Telephone: 805- 682-8011
Emergency telephone: 805- 886-2235 (please make certain you do not have caller-ID block on. If you do use that service, key in *82 before dialing to disable callerID blocking.)
email: eyeinfo AT eyecarecontacts.com
Comprehensive eye examinations for vision correction, contact lenses and eye health problems.
Children's vision and eye health testing.
Contact lens fitting and dispensing. I fit all types of contact lenses, including: soft, RGP, astigmatism correcting, aspheric, multifocal, bifocal, planned replacement, disposable and many others. Contact lenses is one of my specialties. I stay very current with new and emerging lens technology and fit only the very highest quality lenses, because there IS a difference!
Eyeglasses: prescriptions filled. We have an excellent (and always changing!) selection of quality eyeglass frames. There are also some discounted frames available.
Vision system exercises: Sometimes vision problems are related to eye muscle issues and body mechanics, and specifically designed exercises may be appropriate remedies.
Diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. I, and many of my optometrist colleagues are well trained in the diagnosing and treatment of a wide range of eye medical conditions. When I discover a problem beyond my technical/medical expertise, I can refer patients to specific practitioners here in Santa Barbara or Los Angeles with whom I am personally familiar.
Billing and payment:Please see information above about insurance and vision plans. We are not set up to bill patients. Fees for services are payable at the time of service. We do accept Visa, Mastercard.
If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an eMail or simply call the office.
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Larry Bickford, OD
Go to the "Welcome to the Office" handout (Click this link)
Take a picture-tour of my office! Click here.