Frequently Asked Questions

Below you can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to help you, your children, and your family.

General Office & Appointment FAQ

For the most efficient comprehensive eye examination to address all your glasses and contact lens needs, we would prefer you come in wearing your current contact lenses and bring in any of your current glasses as well. If you are a new patient to H&B, please also bring in a box or a copy of your current contact lenses and any previous eye exam records if relevant. Also, complete all online in-take forms prior to your examination.

Yes. For rescheduling/cancelations, we would appreciate at least a 24-hour notice during regular business hours. To make any changes to your scheduled appointment, please call one of our Patient Care Coordinators at (303) 850-9499.

We strive to stay as timely as possible to reduce your waiting room time and overall time you are at our office. Because we specialize in many conditions, some patients require special testing, treatment, and procedures that can make appointments longer than expected. We will do all that we can to see you in as timely as a manner as possible.

For comprehensive eye examinations, our doctors pride themselves on completing a thorough ocular health examination which includes more than only checking spectacle and contact lenses prescriptions. Our doctors will check the ocular health of your retina (the back of the eye) which typically includes a dilated fundus examination and, in some cases, OPTOMAP (fundus photography without dilation) can be an alternative to dilation or used in conjunction with dilation. Ask your optometrist if you are a candidate for OPTOMAP.

  • Vision Plans accepted: VSP
  • Medical Plans accepted: We accept most major insurance plans including Medicare, United Healthcare, UMR, Cigna, Aetna & Blue Cross Blue Shield.
  • Each insurance has several different plans and we cannot guarantee coverage. Please contact our office or your insurance plan to confirm coverage.
  • Read more about insurance here

We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards. We also offer CareCredit.

Copay refers to the amount of a medical service or prescription that a patient is responsible for, while the remaining cost is covered by the insurance company.

Deductible refers to a specified amount of money that the insured is required to pay for a specific service before an insurance company will pay a claim.

Coinsurance refers to the percentage of the total cost of a covered health care service (For example, 20% of the total cost).

Contact Lens FAQ

We are happy to place your lens order at time of your exam, however if we make any changes to the prescription we ask the patient to try updated contact lenses and if comfortable we can place the lens order direct through our office as well as offering online ordering through our website

Visit here to swiftly order contact lenses online.

  • Current contact lenses or prescription or boxes of lenses being worn.
  • Wear lenses in for appointment and let us know how you care for your lenses.

  • New wearers should practice trying eye drops (often we recommend artificial tears) to make sure they are comfortable touching their eyes and improve the patient’s comfort level of touching their eyes/eye area.
  • When ready, the patient will return to our office for a Contact Lens Fit and Teach. At this appointment, we will try a pair of diagnostic contact lenses and confirm comfort and clarity of vision. We then practice with the patient showing the patient proper insertion and removal of the lens. At the completion of this appointment, the patient is most often given contact lenses to practice with at home and adapt to lens wear and giving them specific a wearing schedule. We ask the patient to return to the office wearing the contact lenses to ensure proper fit, prescription, comfort, and clarity.

Certain medical condition or binocular issues may be appropriate for patients to begin contact lenses at a younger age than expected (with parental assistance) in order to provide greatest functional/developmental vision.
The age that a child may begin contact lens wear varies from child to child, as it is often dependent on the maturity of the child. A child needs to be mature enough to handle contacts in a way that keeps their eyes and vision healthy.

Thank you for supporting our small business by making your contact lens and spectacle purchases through us.

Great Reasons to Purchase a ONE YEAR SUPPLY OF CONTACT LENSES from Hellerstein & Brenner Vision, PC

  • Free Shipping to Your Home or Office
  • Money Back Rebates
  • Insurance Benefit toward Purchase
  • Exchange lenses if Prescription Changes some (some restrictions do apply)
  • Discount of 25 % Non-Prescription Sunglasses
  • Cash Discount of $50.00 on Prescription Eyewear* (or percentage off review with optical!!!)
  • 24-hour Online Ordering for your convenience
  • Replacement lenses when needed to replace defective or torn lens
  • One travel size bottle of solution with Annual Supply Purchase
  • Supporting Local Businesses Keeps our Economy Strong

Before LASIK surgery, your eye doctor will perform a thorough comprehensive eye exam to ensure your eyes are healthy enough for the procedure.

Your optometrist will evaluate:

  • The shape and thickness of your cornea, pupil size, refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism), as well as any other eye conditions.
  • The tear film on the surface of your eyes also will be evaluated and a precautionary treatment may be recommended to reduce your risk of developing dry eyes after the procedure.
  • Usually, an automated instrument called a corneal topographer is used to measure the curvature of the front surface of your eye and create a “map” of your cornea. Corneal pachymetry is the process of measuring the thickness of the cornea. To make sure you have an adequate amount of thickness to reach the desired outcome

Following your evaluation with your optometrist, we will refer you to one of our respected LASIK counterparts.

Optical/Glasses FAQ

At this time, you cannot order glasses online from Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, PC, but our virtual try on feature will help you pick frames ahead of time.

Check out our Virtual Try-On and Frame Gallery here

Thank you for supporting our small business by making your spectacle and contact lens purchases through us.

Our optical department takes great pride in the service we offer our patients and clients. We take custom measurements to assure the best vision possible. We will help style the frame for each person to make sure the fit is perfect!

Vision Therapy FAQ

The doctors at Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center are developmental optometrists. A behavioral or developmental optometrist is concerned with prevention, remediation, and enhancement of the visual system to achieve optimal function. In other words, the visual evaluation goes far beyond health checks and glasses. How comfortably and efficiently you use your visual system for the type of work, education, or sports activities you are involved in is of the utmost importance. Recommendations for special types of glasses (ex: for computer or sports), developmental vision analysis and/or vision therapy may be given.

Routine vision exams frequently do not include tests for many of the difficulties that can cause or complicate learning, such as tracking (following a moving object), focus flexibility, eye teaming, eye-hand coordination, visual perception, etc. The routine vision exam may be very thorough in checking eye health and near or farsightedness. 20/20 visual acuity may be found; however, this may give a false sense of security that “visual processing” is adequate.

Patients are often referred to our practice to evaluate and treat developmental, behavioral, and rehabilitative vision dysfunction(s) that may be impacting their quality of life or performance in school, sports, and/or work. Special lenses/prisms and/or vision therapy may be recommended.

Of course! Our team works together with family or primary care eye doctors on addressing the concerns that we are uniquely qualified in treating.

We thoroughly evaluate the visual system as it often can affect one’s ability to learn. For example, these types of problems could cause difficulties in reading (losing place, skipping words, blurriness, headaches, fatigue, tired eyes, etc.), or writing (difficulty with coloring, staying on the line), or in sports. Even if the patient can see well, there may be other significant visual problems hindering one’s ability to learn. To thoroughly diagnose learning disabilities or dyslexia, a full psycho-educational battery of testing and consultation must be given. Our doctors’ network and consult with other professionals, schools, hospitals and treatment centers.

You do not need a referral for Vision Therapy. If you have been followed by another optometrist, we often request your previous records as this gives us a great baseline/starting point.

If you have been referred to Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C. by an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or another care provider, we ask these previous be sent to help us provide the best care for you.

We are one of the few practices in the country that offers both vision and occupational therapy. We do not treat the eyes as separate, isolated entities, but as a part of the total eye-mind-body connection. Vision therapy involves specific activities designed to improve eye teaming, focusing, eye movements, peripheral vision, depth perception, visual motor skills, visualization, and vision perception. Occupational therapy is a series of sensory/motor activities specifically designed to enhance gross/fine motor coordination, balance/equilibrium, postural control, bilateral awareness, gross motor planning, tactile awareness and tolerance, and eye-hand coordination. The doctors, staff, patient, and guardians mutually decide on which therapy treatment is most appropriate.

Vision therapy has been in existence for over one hundred years. Our doctors will be happy to supply you with information, efficacy studies, references, etc. on vision therapy. We are often requested to educate or discuss the therapy with other medical care providers or educators. In addition, we have a list of patients and other professionals who have been through our program and would be happy to discuss any of your questions.

The fee for vision therapy depends on the duration of patient’s treatment plan. Prior to vision therapy starting, most often during your consultation time, we will outline your detailed treatment, goals for therapy, fees, and different payment options.

Vision therapy/orthoptics is considered a medical procedure. Because medical insurance companies offer a variety of coverage and plans, coverage is entirely dependent on a patient’s plan, diagnosis, and age. We cannot guarantee treatment will be covered by your plan; however, we will advocate on your behalf to help you get reimbursed from your health insurance provider.

Yes! We participate with CareCredit.

  • The DVA is comprised of a series of tests that are designed to identify strengths or weaknesses in the areas of visual motor integration, visual perception (including visual memory, form perception, visual discrimination, directionality/laterality, auditory/visual integration), perceptual motor abilities, auditory analysis screening, and tracking and gross motor screening.
  • The time required for the DVA is typically about 1.5 hours (depending on the child’s responses) and is administered by one of our vision therapists. At this time, parents will be asked to wait in their car or the building’s atrium during this appointment and will be notified as soon as their child has completed their testing.
  • A consultation will be scheduled to review your child’s results with Dr. Hellerstein and is typically attended only by parents. If you would like your child to attend the consultation, please check with the vision therapist administering the evaluation. Please note the consult is often scheduled on a separate day to allow time for analysis of test results.
  • Options will be discussed as to whether vision therapy might be helpful or if a referral to another professional (such as learning specialist, audiologist, psychologist, etc.) is appropriate.
  • A written summary report will be mailed after the consultation.

Please be aware that insurance companies do not pay for the DVA/consultations.

Of course! Vision therapy is for patients of all ages, not just kids. Whether you are struggling from a lifelong vision dysfunction or if you acquired a vision problem, we have very successful outcomes with adults of all ages.

Treatment duration varies from patient to patient based on multiple factors, such as the diagnosis, goals of each patient, frequency of vision therapy sessions, and frequency of at home vision therapy activities completed.

We encourage you to join “Vision Therapy Parents Unite” Facebook group to connect with current and past Vision Therapy patients. This is a great group to connect with and ask questions to Vision Therapy patients, parents, therapists, and doctors.

Research shows that office-based vision therapy paired with home-support is the most effective treatment model. We DO NOT recommend patients attempt to treat themselves. Although we ask our patients to do home-support activities to reinforce treatment, vision therapy must be conducted by a trained professional who specializes in developmental and rehabilitative vision therapy.

Yes! We would be happy to help you find a doctor who specializes in developmental and rehabilitative vision therapy. If you are located in the USA or outside of the USA, we highly recommend searching for a doctor on the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) website by visiting covd.org.

Concussion/TBI FAQ

Double vision, blurred vision, reduced ability to sustain attention on visual tasks, dizziness, headaches, eye strain, difficulty reading (loss of place, poor comprehension), eye “crossing or drifting”, closing or covering one eye, bumping into objects, head tilts or turns, balance and coordination problems, poor judgment of depth are all signs or symptoms that may indicate a vision problem.

This will depend upon on the nature and severity of all your injuries and the progress of rehabilitation. If there is direct injury to the eye or surrounding structures, a vision examination should be given immediately. In many cases, there is not “direct” eye injury, however, it is useful to have the initial evaluation within the first months after the injury, since it is possible that glasses or specialty occlusion (patching) will help relieve the blurriness, double vision, and/or disorientation. Vision therapy treatment may not yet be appropriate, but lenses or specialty occlusion (patching) may be necessary immediately. If computer assisted, cognitive rehabilitation is planned on a regular basis, the visual evaluation should be done prior to this portion of the cognitive rehabilitation.

A comprehensive eye health evaluation is necessary to diagnose significant pathology or disease. In addition, a thorough refractive, oculomotor, binocular, accommodative, and visual perceptual evaluation should be done to determine glasses prescription, eye movement control, eye teaming, focusing efficiency, and visual processing abilities. Frequently, glasses prescriptions change after a TBI. The MAJORITY of survivors have binocular difficulties (problems using both eyes together). Special glasses may be prescribed for near work or other specific activities. At times, visual electrodiagnostic testing or a low vision evaluation may also be recommended.

No. Ophthalmologists (M.D.’s) are skilled in evaluating the eyes for the effects of trauma and disease. The ophthalmologist, neuro-ophthalmologist, or optometrist may be consulted early in the treatment program, especially if direct eye injury occurs. These doctors may recommend medications, surgery, glasses and/or contact lenses. Once the patient is medically stable, the functional aspects of vision need to be thoroughly addressed. For example, what visual skills have been affected by the TBI, how are they effecting daily life, and what treatment is necessary for the most efficient functioning and recovery? This type of functional evaluation is most frequently given by a behavioral/developmental optometrist (O.D.). and may take one to three hours to complete. Behavioral or Developmental Optometrists are usually active in the rehabilitation process, coordinating vision care with other therapies.

Treatment of visual deficits after head trauma can take from one visit (where glasses are prescribed) to months (when vision therapy is part of the rehabilitation process).

Vision therapy is an individualized program of eye, hand, and body activities directed at treatment of specifically diagnosed vision conditions. In the case of a brain injury, efforts are aimed at retraining the visual integration of the body’s sense of movement and the brain’s visual perception of the world. The end goals of therapy process are to relieve disorientation, blurriness, dizziness, etc., as well as to improve visual sustenance and efficiency. In most cases, vision therapy is given in 45-minute sessions, one to two times weekly. Most doctors prescribe bimonthly progress evaluations which help to monitor progress and continuance of treatment.

Visual field loss or neglect may result in inappropriate perceptions and cause a safety risk. Appropriate scanning strategies should be taught early in the rehabilitation treatment. In addition, special types of prescribed prism may be helpful to see things more clearly, sooner, and to increase speed and accuracy of visual perceptual processing.

  • We would be happy to help you find a doctor who specializes in developmental and rehabilitative vision therapy.
  • If you are located in the USA or outside of the USA, we highly recommend searching for a doctor with the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) by visiting covd.org.
  • If you are located in the USA, we also highly recommend searching for a doctor with the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) by visiting noravisionrehab.org.
Sport Vision FAQ

There is much more to vision than just seeing clearly; vision encompasses many skills. Just as practice and exercise can increase stamina, strength, and speed, there are ways athletes can improve their visual fitness and accuracy. The important visual skills that can affect how well you play your favorite sport include: eye health, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, eye movement skills, binocular coordination, eye focusing, depth perception, eye-hand-body coordination, perception span, visual processing speed, and visualization/visual memory.

The eyes lead the body, all sports are different and therefore visual demands vary. Your Developmental Optometrist can assess your visual system and recommend the proper eye glasses or contact lenses, and/or design a unique sports vision training program to maximize your visual performance for your specific sport.

Learn more about Sports Vision here

The Sports Vision Evaluation first begins with your comprehensive eye exam with one of our Developmental Optometrists. This initial exam will include assessment of acuity, eye teaming, depth perception, visual focusing skills, tracking, and more. After your initial comprehensive exam, you will see one of Sports Vision Directors, to complete the sports vision evaluation. During this evaluation, we will continue assessing some skills covered in your initial comprehensive exam but will place an emphasis on your specific sport. We will also assess critical skills such as visual-motor integration, peripheral awareness, central-peripheral integration, visual memory, reaction time, speed of processing, and other skills necessary for athletic success. Following your sports vision evaluation, the Sports Vision Director will discuss findings from your Developmental Vision Examination, the Sports Vision Evaluation, and will recommend a training program based on your goals and skills. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have during this consultation following your evaluation.

Your Sports Vision Training program is tailored specifically for you. The length of the program can vary greatly depending on the athlete’s goals, current visual skills, and home training commitment. The recommended length of your training will be discussed at the consultation portion of your Sports Vision Evaluation.