FAQ

WHAT ARE YOUR OFFICE HOURS?
HOW LATE DO YOU SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS?
WHAT INSURANCES DO YOU PARTICIPATE WITH?
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A COMPLETE EXAMINATION? HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
WILL MY EYES BE DILATED? HOW LONG WILL THE DILATION LAST? SHOULD I HAVE SOMEONE DRIVE ME?
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
WHAT PHYSICIANS ARE IN YOUR PRACTICE?
DO YOUR PHYSICIANS PERFORM SURGERY?
ARE YOU ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS? DO YOU SEE CHILDREN?
CAN I GET A COPY OF YOUR HIPPA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICE?

WHAT ARE YOUR OFFICE HOURS?

We are open Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.

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HOW LATE DO YOU SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS?

Complete Exams are usually scheduled up to 3:00 pm. Shorter visits including pressure checks, post-operative visits and office surgeries are scheduled until about 3:30 pm.

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WHAT INSURANCES DO YOU PARTICIPATE WITH?

• Beech Street • Benefit Source • BCBS • Blue Care Network • Blue Choice POS • Capp Care • Champus / Tricare • Choice Care • Choice One • Cigna • C N A • Ethix • First Health • Health Alliance Plan • IBA Health Care • Kids Care of MI • Medicaid

• Medicare • MI Child • One Health Plan • PHCS • PHP • PPOM • Preferred Partners • Proamerica/Americaís Health Plan • Teamsters • United Health Care • UP & UP/BCE Emergis Vision Plans • HAN Vision • Visioncare • Vision Advantage (Dr. Higgins) • BCBS Vision

If your plan is not listed, call our office. We are continually adding programs.

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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A COMPLETE EXAMINATION? HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

Your eye examination will be tailored to your particular needs. A complete medical examination includes a vision history, vision testing, refraction for glasses, external examination of the eye and eyelids, evaluation of the eye muscle action, medication to anesthetize the eyes for eye pressure testing and to dilate the pupils for retinal examination, evaluation for glaucoma, and ophthalmologic examination of the retina. This usually requires about 11⁄2 hours. Examinations directed at a specific problem make take more or less time. Additional studies may be necessary and may require a second visit.

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WILL MY EYES BE DILATED? HOW LONG WILL THE DILATION LAST? SHOULD I HAVE SOMEONE DRIVE ME?

Both eyes are dilated for complete exams. Dilating drops require 20 – 25 minutes to take effect and the effect usually lasts several hours. During that time, your ability to focus on objects at close range will be diminished and your eyes will be more sensitive to bright light. It is advisable to bring sunglasses with you or have a friend drive you home.

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WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

We are located at 3412 W Centre Ave., Portage, MI. We are on the north side of the road between Oakland Drive and US-131 near Moorsbridge. Map.

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WHAT PHYSICIANS ARE IN YOUR PRACTICE?

Dr. Stephen E Higgins
Dr. Gregory C. Bibart
Dr. Ferris R. Standiford

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DO YOUR PHYSICIANS PERFORM SURGERY?

Dr. Higgins is fellowship trained in corneal/external diseases and refractive/laser corrective surgery. He has performed several thousand laser vision correction procedures. Dr. Higgins also specializes in using the most modern surgical techniques to perform cataract and lens implant surgery including no stitch surgery with topical (eye drop) anesthesia, corneal transplants, and anterior segment surgery.

Dr. Bibart is a general ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract and lens implant surgery, performing the most modern surgical techniques including no stitch surgery with topical (eye drop) anesthesia. He also performs glaucoma, refractive and other eye surgeries.

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ARE YOU ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS? DO YOU SEE CHILDREN?

Dr. Higgins, Dr. Bibart and Dr. Standiford are all currently accepting new patients. We are happy to treat patients of all ages.

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CAN I GET A COPY OF YOUR HIPPA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICE?

Yes. HIPPA notice of privacy practices.

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