Casey Eye Institute - Patient Services

Contact Lens Service
(503) 494-4029

The University Contact Lens Service Staff:

Tammie Krisciunas, OD, MEd - Does dilated vision exams and elective contact lens fittings
Derek Louie, MSc, OD - Does medical contact lens fittings

Why Come to Us?
Casey Eye Institute has specialists in every aspect of eye care, including contact lenses. At the Contact Lens Service, we are often successful fitting contact lenses for patients who have previously been unsuccessful in wearing contact lenses. We have an extensive selection of lenses in stock, so often you can go home with contact lenses on the same day as your initial exam. We have a large variety of different types of lenses to suit virtually any prescription or eye health need. If you have any eye health problems, we have a specialist in every aspect of eye care at Casey Eye Institute, so you can have complete eye care in the same building. Your records will be easily accessible by all of the eye doctors involved in your eye care. As part of Oregon Health & Science University, we are on the cutting edge of research, and are among the first to receive new instruments and products.

How to Make an Appointment
Call 503.494.4029 during business hours (8:30 to 5:00, Monday through Friday).

Tell us that you'd like to get contact lenses. Let us know whether you currently wear contacts. If yes, we'll need to know if they're rigid or soft lenses. If you used to wear contact lenses but haven't worn them for a while, let us know that, too. If you have had an eye exam recently, bring the record of the exam to your appointment so we don't have to repeat any of the tests. If you haven't had a recent exam, or if you can't get the records from your exam, you'll need to be scheduled for a full exam in addition to the contact lens fitting.

Bring your contacts and glasses to your exam or contact lens fitting, and bring any recent glasses or contact prescriptions you may have. If you wear soft lenses, wear the contacts to the exam, and bring your glasses. If you wear rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, you may wear them to the exam or stop wearing them three to five days before the exam and bring them to the exam with you. If you wear your RGPs to the exam, we can find the glasses prescription that will work best for you in the evening after you remove your RGPs. If you discontinue wear three to five days prior to the exam, we can find a glasses prescription that will work better for you in the morning, or if you need to wear glasses for a few days. The reason for this is that since RGPs are hard, they can mold the front of the eye, and this can cause a change in your prescription. If you wear your RGPs just before having your prescription measured, we will find a prescription that works well right after you remove your RGPs, but may not continue to work well if you refrain from wearing your RGPs and allow your corneas (front of eye) to return to their natural shape.

If you would like to fill out a patient history form ahead of time to bring with you, please print out our patient history form.

Before calling to make the appointment with us, call your insurance company to find out which providers and what services your insurance covers, and to what amount. Vision insurance varies in what it covers. Most insurers do not cover contact lens fitting fees. You should plan to pay for these on the date of service in our office. If your insurance plan requires authorization, please call your primary care provider to obtain it.

Insurance Information
Insurance can be very confusing. There are many different insurance companies and plans, so we cannot possibly know what your insurance covers. You should call your insurance company before your exam so you know how much they will cover. Anything over this amount is your responsibility. When you talk to them, they may not realize that the contact lens exam and the contact lens fitting and the contact lens materials are all separate charges. You must specify this when you talk to them. Years ago, eye doctors charged a single fee for the contact lenses, the contact lens fitting, and the exam. Now we separate the fees for each part of the service.

Almost Anyone Can Wear Contacts
From infants (when medically necessary, as determined by a pediatric eye doctor) to senior citizens. Contact lenses may be elective ("cosmetic") or required medically. We will determine which type of contact lenses are best for you, based on your prescription and the characteristics of your eyes.