Dr. Larry Bickford, O.D

Family Eye Health and Vision Care

3324 State Street, Suite J, Santa Barbara, CA 93105


Welcome!

Here's some information about our office and what you might expect during your visit here.


For the Children



Check out the new "kids corner" in the reception area.  That's just the beginning. I've attended some very interesting seminars and classes about pediatric vision care and I'm ready to provide an important service for our children. The first step is to try to make them feel comfortable being here. We make every effort to make their experience non-threatening, with lots of fun and learning. Please see the handout on Children's Vision Services and the article I've written on Children's Vision Care for more information. (available at the office and at my website, see below).


Children's Vision Care


As a courtesy (no fee), I will be happy to provide a brief eye health and vision screening for children, age 1-6, when you bring them to the office during your scheduled examination time. Please let us know in advance so we will allow a little extra time during your visit. Complete examinations for children will need to be scheduled. A child exam is somewhat different from an adult exam in that I look carefully at the developing vision system and perform specific tests for eye tracking, coordination, fixation, color vision, etc. If these basic functions are not correct or lagging behind developmental and age-appropriate levels, the child may experience learning and gross motor disabilities. Very often, fortunately, early identification and treatment can fix the problem. Children should be examined by age 3 and then again upon entering school. See the Children's Vision handouts for more information.


For Everyone


Some new "high-tech" equipment has been added, some of which is included in routine examinations and others are for the diagnosis and treatment of specific eye disorders. The Humphrey FDT Visual Field Tester allows a careful analysis of your central visual fields. This test is vital for the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and other retinal diseases. (See FDT handout for more info). The long used "pressure test" alone, without the additional tests now available, is no longer considered to be of great value in identifying glaucoma suspects. It remains part of the testing and treatment procedures as it still provides important information. The Volk Superfield lens allows me observe the retina and other tissues in the back of your eye in 3-D and with amazing clarity. My Mentor binocular indirect ophthalmoscope and Welch-Allyn direct ophthalmoscope likewise allow me to see the inside of your eye in great detail. Even our examination chair and instrument stand offer a new level of patient comfort and examination convenience. All examination instruments are accessible to disabled persons.


*Available Services*

The current practice of optometry allows O.D.s to provide a full range of eye care, with the exception of performing surgery. Doctors of Optometry are trained to diagnose all disorders of the eyes and vision system and are skilled in the treatment of many of these conditions. I am qualified to treat a variety of eye infections and disorders, as well as providing analysis of the vision system for optical correction with eyeglasses or contact lenses.


I completed a "preceptor/internship" with a number of primary and specialty care ophthalmologists and surgeons. I've seen their work, first hand and in person, in the OR and in their offices. I maintain relationships with these other doctors whom I feel can provide the kind of quality health care that you deserve, should you need a referral to a qualified specialist. We are quite fortunate that we have some very excellent ophthalmologic specialists right here in Santa Barbara.


I strive to provide quality and complete, personal care. Please feel free to ask questions and discuss your eye care concerns. I don't feel that any problem is too complicated, or too simple or minor to be addressed. Express your concerns as best you can. I will try to understand and together we will resolve your problem.


  1. Comprehensive eye examinations ’Ä®

  2. Children's eye examinations and developmental assessment

  3. ’Ä®Treatment of certain eye diseases, epecially conjunctivits, "pink eye" and other infections

  4. Contact lenses: soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses, including lenses for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia (bifocal and multifocal lenses).

  5. Eyeglasses: You will find a great selection of quality frames from which to choose.’Ä®

  6. Eye health and vision care education: Written material available at the office and on my website.

Detailed information on these and other services follow.

 

The Website: The EyeCare Connection


I have published a number of articles and reports on eye health and vision care and many of them are on the Internet, posted at my website, The EyeCare Connection. Some of these articles are available for you to read in the reception room. You can also read them on-line and are welcome to download and print them at home.


http://www.eyecarecontacts.com/sb.html

 

About The Eye Exam

Your eye exam will consist of a number of tests designed to evaluate the health of your eyes and assess any optical problems. The personal and family history questionnaire that you have (or will have) completed will help guide me in this evaluation. (Be sure to let me know if you are taking medications, as some may affect your eyes. Also tell me if you have any drug allergies or significant seasonal allergic conditions or asthma.) A number of eye conditions are family-related. Furthermore, certain systemic (whole-body) diseases affect the eyes and may be able to be diagnosed through careful examination of the vision system. For example, heart disease caused by artherosclerosis, diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) cause changes to the blood vessels in the eye---structures easily observed during your examination.


It is also important to know if any close family relative has certain specific eye disorders that may be hereditary and might affect your vision.


As part of your examination, I will check your visual acuity (the "eye chart") both at distance and near. Your refractive status (vision correction---the lens power that you need to see perfectly) will be determined. You may be asked to compare a series of lenses. Some people become concerned about giving "the right answer" or whether or not they are seeing what they think they should. But don't worry at all! Any response that you give, even "I don't know", "it looks the same" or "both choices aren't very good" is important to me.


Your eye health exam may include drops to dilate your pupil, which allows me a better view of the inside of your eye. Careful selection of the appropriate drops and their proper use can minimize inconvenience to the patient. For most people, there will be some temporary sensitivity to bright light and some difficulty focusing on close-up reading material. This may last as little as an hour or as long as four hours. We provide dark eye shields if you do not have sunglasses with you. We can also reschedule that part of your examination to a more convenient time if that's best for you.


We're all concerned about "catching germs" these days. All instruments that you may come in contact with are disinfected with appropriate solutions. If you might be contagious with a cold or flu virus, kindly reschedule your visit for another time.


There's much more complete information about the eye examination, including pictures and descriptions of most of the instruments used, in other handouts and, of course, on the website.


Getting New Eyeglasses

Following completion of your exam, we will discuss my findings and you will be given a written prescription for eyeglasses. If you need or want new eyeglasses, you are welcome to choose a new frame from our collection and we will custom order your lenses from one of our local ophthalmic laboratories. We have a great selection of quality frames and some "discount" frame styles as well. You may also choose to purchase your eyeglasses from another optometrist, optician or "eyeglass store", and we'll be happy to make suggestions as to where else you might look for your new spectacles.


If you would like to try contact lenses, we will have a discussion about what kind is best for you. If there is time, you might be able to try some lenses during your visit, or you can easily schedule another time to do so.


If you have any problems getting used to your new eyeglasses or any questions or concerns at all, please call us so we can try to resolve it. We're here to help you see better and we want you to be happy with your new eyeglasses. (Note: If you purchased your eyeglasses elsewhere, we will check the accuracy of the lenses that were made from my prescription. If we find they were made incorrectly, or if you require significant adjustments to that frame purchased elsewhere, we may charge you up to $15 for the spectacle fitting and/or for the verification and a written report for you to take back to whoever made them.) There is, of course, no fee assessed for checking or fitting of spectacles purchased here and no fee for consultation or refraction re-check should you have a problem with your new eyeglasses. Our lens laboratories are tops in the field and every pair of eyeglasses is checked and verified for accuracy personally by me before you are notified that they are ready to be picked up.

 

About Contact Lenses

One of my specialties is the fitting and dispensing of contact lenses. I stay up-to-date with the very latest advances in contact lens technology and I'm pleased to be able to offer some very new and exciting materials and designs not readily available elsewhere.


There are an incredible number of different types of lenses---plastic materials (soft, rigid, semi-rigid, combination), designs (sizes, shapes), corrections (single vision, astigmatism, bifocal, multifocal), and wearing programs (disposables, longer term replacement, daily wear, sleep-in)----contact lenses to suit almost any need. We can discuss all this at your examination visit and you can schedule a lens fitting at your convenience.


There's much more information on contact lenses in other office handouts and on the website.



About Vision and Health Insurance and Billing/Payment Issues

We are currently providers for a number of health/vision plans. Those panels on which we participate and the coverage provided are subject to change. We are in the process of discontinuing associations with most, but not all vision plans. Your insurance plan benefits may have changed since your last examination or eyeglasses dispensing. We will try to make the claims process as simple as possible, but please understand: if we are unable to authorize your benefits, you will have to pay for services rendered and submit your bill to your insurance carrier for reimbursement yourself. You should not assume that because you had "coverage" before that you still have benefits available to you now.


Fees for services are due and payable at the time we provide them for you (unless other arrangements have been made in advance.) We do not mail billing statements. No one who really needs our professional services will be denied them because of insurance mix-ups or financial hardships. Please feel free to discuss your situation with us. Everyone, regardless of their insurance, MediCal, MediCare or fee arrangement, receives the same level of professional care at this office.


Questions? Comments? Please write or call! Telephone 805.682.8011 email eyeinfo AT eyecarecontacts.com


Take a picture-tour of my office! Click here.