Look + See Vision Care
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FAQs

Questions we get a lot.
Answered honestly.

Insurance, appointments, glasses, contacts, and the small procedural mysteries of visiting an optometry office.

Here are some of the most common questions we get:

VISITING US

Where are you located?

2007 S 1st St. Ste 104, Austin, Texas 78704. More information on the Contact page.
Located across from Polvo’s and next door to Once Over Coffee.

All exam services are by appointment — you can book here. For optical visits, we strongly recommend booking ahead as well. We intentionally limit the number of appointments we take each day so every patient gets our full attention — and that extends to the optical. Parking on site is limited, and walk-ins are always welcome when we have availability, but a scheduled visit means we can prioritize you the way you deserve.
We have an office dog named Uni who takes her job to greet patients very seriously. She sometimes likes to sunbathe by the front door. We do not want her leaving on a whim and roaming the hard streets of South First. Plus, we want to provide our staff and patients a safe and comfortable environment.
Please bring all current glasses and contact lens prescriptions (or your previous contact lens boxes) to your appointment.
Plan for 60–90 minutes. We run longer appointments on purpose — it takes time to do a thorough exam, explain what we’re finding, and answer your questions. If you’re also selecting frames, allow more time.

We ask that only two members of a family be scheduled on the same day. This avoids long visits that can cause children to become antsy and impact the quality of exams. This also avoids increased costs incurred with rescheduling or missed appointments.

We require a 2-business day notice for any last-minute changes or cancellations. A $50 fee will be applied before rescheduling. Of course, we understand that last minute changes happen in life, and we encourage patients to touch base with our staff in those scenarios.

In order to best provide you care, the doctor needs to know if you have had any changes to your medical history or to demographic information such as address or phone number. This also allows us to streamline your visit and be super-efficient while you are here! If you’ve been to our office before, your registration paperwork should take less than 5 minutes.

We have a small dedicated lot on site — first come, first served. Booking an appointment gives you the best shot at snagging a spot. If the lot is full, there’s paid parking on the side streets east of South 1st (W. Johanna, Live Oak) and free street parking on the side streets west of South 1st.

INSURANCE & PAYMENT

What insurance do you accept?

We’re in-network with VSP, EyeMed, Superior, BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, and Medicare. If yours isn’t on the list, call us — we’ll check your specific plan before your visit. Learn more here. We also see plenty of patients who come to us out of network and file their own claims. And of course, no insurance is required to visit us. Call us for current pricing for your specific plan.

Your insurance dictates the quality of service and products that you receive. When we take your insurance, we must use the labs and products that your insurance allows (spoiler alert: it’s usually ones they own or have a financial stake in.) If the labs provide poor service and low-quality products, we are stuck dealing with the patient fall-out (even if it’s the insurance’s fault.) With exam reimbursements remaining stagnant as costs soar, we don’t want to adopt a corporate philosophy in order to stay in business. We’d rather practice the way we want!

Vision plans cover routine exams and eyewear. Medical insurance covers eye-related health conditions — glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, dry eye disease, eye infections. Many patients have both. We’ll help you understand which applies before you come in.

Sometimes our patients can save money when they have better coverage for routine exams through medical insurance. Medical insurance (BCBS, UHC, etc.) is utilized in the presence of a medical diagnosis (ex: dry eye, diabetes, or cataracts). We prefer to have this information prior to your appointment because it can often be a lengthy process to check coverage with medical insurance providers and we want to be able to treat patients promptly.

We accept cash and cards (included FSA) as forms of payment. We do not accept personal checks.

We accept Medicare but not Medicaid. We do not accept care credit.

Yes. A comprehensive exam is a flat rate — no hidden charges, no upselling. Call us for current pricing.

EYE EXAMS

How often should I have an eye exam?

Yearly for most adults. More often if you have diabetes, glaucoma risk, family history of eye disease, contact lens wear, or rapidly changing vision.

A screening checks whether you can see clearly. A comprehensive exam evaluates your complete eye health — refractive error, binocular vision, eye pressure, retinal health, and more. Screenings catch some things. Comprehensive exams catch what screenings miss.

Texas state law dictates a yearly exam is necessary to renew glasses and contact lens prescriptions. Furthermore, yearly eye exams are important for monitoring vision changes, detecting eye diseases early, assessing overall eye health, and providing preventative care.

Not always. We use high-resolution retinal imaging as our primary tool for evaluating the back of the eye, which doesn’t require dilation. When dilation is clinically indicated, we’ll tell you why before we proceed.

Our doctors care about the health of the eye. Many concerns in the eye are undetectable due to lack of pain receptors or vision changes. We believe that patients choose our office so that they can receive the highest quality of care which would be impossible without checking eye health. Plus, it gives us a record to track your health over time.

CONTACTS

I already wear contacts. Why do I need to do a contact lens evaluation?
Contact lenses are medical devices. Annual contact lens evaluations are like going in for your yearly physical. It’s necessary to update your prescription, make sure your eyes are healthy, and ensure your lenses fit just right for all-day comfort. Plus, it’s a chance to explore the latest tech that could make your vision even clearer or your lenses even more comfy so that you can continue to wear lenses successfully. Learn more here.
It would not be possible to determine your contact lens prescription without first doing a comprehensive exam. During the routine visit, the doctor will determine your prescription and assess the shape and health of your eye. This information is then used to determine the best contact lens for you. There are many choices for contact lenses, and the comfort and vision achieved from each contact lens will vary for every patient.
Yes. After your contact lens exam and fitting, we provide trial lenses so you can evaluate comfort and vision before we finalize your prescription. Trials are part of the fitting process — if you’ve run out of contacts, we can’t necessarily provide trials as a stopgap. If you’re in a pinch, call us and we’ll place an order with expedited shipping. That said, the easiest solution is ordering an annual supply at your appointment so you’re never caught short.

Large-diameter rigid contact lenses that vault over the entire cornea and rest on the sclera. The space between is filled with saline, creating a smooth optical surface that corrects highly irregular corneas. The best option for keratoconus, post-surgical irregularity, and severe dry eye. Learn more here.

Yes — we can place your order even if your prescription is from another doctor. Give us a call or text and we’ll take care of it.

KIDS & FAMILY

When should my child have their first eye exam?
The American Optometric Association recommends children have their eyes examined at age 1, age 3, and before starting school — then yearly after that. Early detection matters. Vision problems caught late can affect how kids learn, read, and develop. Learn more about our pediatric eye exams here.
Yes, we see kids ages 5 and up. For families who are already patients with us, we’re happy to see children as young as 3 if you need us to take a look.

We do — for all ages, including our youngest patients. Our kids’ collection includes ultra-durable frames from Nano Vista, stylish options from Very French Gangsters, and more. Because a kid who loves their glasses is a kid who actually wears them.
See our kids’ eyewear here.

It depends less on age and more on the kid. We’ve fit contacts on children as young as 6 — and there are plenty of adults who aren’t good candidates. If your child is responsible, motivated, and genuinely wants to wear contacts, bring them in. We’ll evaluate their eyes, their prescription, and their readiness and give you an honest answer.
Sometimes the signs are obvious — squinting, sitting too close to the screen, complaining about headaches. More often, kids have no idea something is off. They’ve never seen any other way, so they assume everyone sees the same way they do. The only way to know for sure is to bring them in.
Myopia management refers to treatments that don’t just correct nearsightedness — they actively slow its progression during the years your child’s eyes are still growing. Left unchecked, myopia that starts early can become significantly worse by adulthood, carrying real long-term risks beyond just a stronger prescription. We offer orthokeratology (Ortho-K), low-dose atropine drops, multifocal soft contact lenses, and myopia control spectacle lenses — and we’ll help you figure out which option makes the most sense for your child. Learn more about myopia management here.

EYEWEAR & OPTICAL

Why do you need an appointment to visit the optical?
We have an unfortunately small parking lot (a big price to pay for our amazing central Austin location.) Scheduling appointments allows our patients a much higher chance of streamlining their visit and finding parking in our lot. Otherwise, the closest parking can be found a few blocks down on residential streets of Live Oak or W Johanna. Furthermore, scheduled visits help us make sure to have the appropriate staff on hand to ensure someone is available to provide the best individualized experience.

Mykita, Lindberg, Ahlem, Anne et Valentin, Salt, Masahiro Maruyama, Dita, Masunaga, Oliver Peoples, Garrett Leight, Vada, Etnia Barcelona, Modo, Eco, and Tom Ford. See our complete collection here.

Many of these well-known brands are owned by large umbrella companies (hi Luxottica!) who mass produce frames using licensed names. We prefer to work with independent brands that stand behind their products so that the price of the frame is reflective of the quality and craftsmanship you receive.

If we are filing insurance on your behalf, your insurance dictates the cost of lenses, and these dictated costs are the same no matter where you go for the same quality of product. As a baseline, our frames begin at $179 and increase from there. In our office, we prefer to work with independent companies whose prices correlate with the quality of materials and craftsmanship of the product. If you are looking for a more specific price, please make an optical appointment to discuss costs with one of our opticians. It is important to have your prescription and insurance information available to receive the most accurate quote.

We do not price match the cost of glasses or contact lenses. Every year we do audit our contact lens prices to stay in line with 1-800 contacts. There are way too many shady online contact companies who get their products from overseas where quality control may not be as strongly considered.

Possibly — but not without some consideration. Before we agree to put new lenses in your existing frame, we need to make sure it fits correctly and can withstand the process. If we think the risk is too high, we’ll tell you honestly and won’t proceed. If we do move forward, we’ll have you sign a waiver. One thing worth considering: if you’re investing in quality lenses and want them to last, putting them in a new frame is usually the smarter long-term call.
The pupillary distance should be measured by the optician that makes your glasses. It is only one of many measurements necessary to ensure you are seeing as clear and comfortable as possible. It is not something measured by the doctor during your eye exam as it is not related to your prescription.

It depends. We don’t adjust or repair online glasses or Warby Parker frames — they’re often not built to withstand the process and we’d rather not be responsible if something goes wrong. But if you have a quality pair from another practice that needs an adjustment, we’ll do our best. Give us a call ahead of time so we know what’s coming in.

Yes. Glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and eye exams all qualify. Use it before you lose it.

The most advanced customized lens technology available. Standard lenses correct what you see. Neurolens is designed around how your eyes actually move — so you don’t just see better, you feel better too. Fewer headaches, less screen fatigue, more comfortable days.
Learn more about Neurolens here.

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BOULDIN CREEK  ·  SOUTH FIRST STREET  ·  AUSTIN, TX
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