During the Covid-19 state of emergency, we will be conducting almost exclusively TeleHealth exams for both new and established patients. If you have an upcoming appointment, we will contact you the week before your scheduled appointment and to help prepare you for the upcoming TeleHealth exam
What is TeleHealth exam? During this crisis, we have been instructed to convert our examinations to live audio and video through your mobile phone at your home. You do NOT need to download any program for the video to work. This a three-step process.
- First, we will call you if you have an appointment already scheduled, usually the week before. This is to confirm date and time of converting your office exam to a TeleHealth exam. We will also ask for your insurance information. If you are a new patient, please download the registration forms HERE. Please fill them out and we will ask you to either fax (505-842-0650) or email them back to us to LMendoza@familykidseye.com or KMartinez2@familykidseye.com. We will go over the instructions to prepare for the exam which is explained below.
- Second, on the day of your TeleHealth appointment, we will call you to ask for some additional information and to get the results of the vision test (see below). We will then tell you to watch your text messages for a link to the video exam.
- Lastly, once you receive the link, please click on it and it will take you to the video exam. The doctor will be notified that you are waiting. We will connect with you as soon as possible.
Must I use the TeleHealth exam if I have an upcoming appointment? That is entirely up to you. It is important to understand that the TeleHealth exam does not replace an exam here in the office, but we are able to handle most issues this way. If you prefer to reschedule your office visit instead, we are happy to do so. However, we have no idea how long this crisis will last.
What if I’m having an eye emergency (red-eye, vision loss): Please call us! You may reach us at 505-243-9739 and after-hours at 505-857-3822. We will then determine if it is best for you to come in to be seen or if a TeleHealth exam is more appropriate.
What if I’m a new patient and I want to be seen? Yes, we are open and will be happy to see you. Please call 505-243-9739 to schedule a TeleHealth exam or you may schedule an in-person exam for the future.
How do I prepare for the TeleHealth exam?
- For Adults and Children: We would like to check you or your child’s vision with an app that we ask you to please download on to your phone prior to the exam. Please type in “Eye Handbook” in the app store on your phone. It is free. After downloading, please open the app by clicking “Continue without login.” Then click the “Testing” button. Then click the “Vision Test” button, and next the “Near Vision Testing” button. Choose the appropriate chart – Alphabet for adults and older children, Numbers or Symbols for young children (usually under age 6 eyes). Hold the phone 14 inches from your face. Cover one eye and see if you or your child can read the line. If he or she can read all of them, then swipe the screen right to left. This will make the chart line smaller. Record the smallest line that you (or your child) can read most of the letters or symbols. The line size is at the bottom of the chart. Then repeat for the other eye. We’d like you to please use your glasses (if you have them) or your reading glasses when performing this test.
- For Children: We also would like you to watch a YouTube video. Please open the YouTube app on your phone. Type in “Cover Test” in the search field. Choose the video the is from U-M Kellogg Eye Center. It is usually the first on the list. Please watch the video, and practice this test with your child. We will ask you to do this cover test when we are performing the TeleHealth exam.