Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ
Dr. Brown is a retina specialist. What is a retina specialist, and how is it different from my regular eye doctor?
Both eye doctors (ophthalmologists) and retina specialists are doctors who are trained to care for your eyes. However, a retina specialist is more specifically trained to treat more serious diseases of the retina. When your ophthalmologist notices a potentially serious issue in your retina during an eye exam, they will refer you to a specialist such as Dr. Brown, whose unique training allows her to use certain state-of-the-art tools and techniques in order to treat and diagnose your condition.
What tests does Dr. Brown offer as a retina & uveitis specialist?
- color fundus photography
- external photography
- fundus autofluorescence
- intravenous fluorescein angiography (IVFA)
- optical coherence tomography (OCT)
- OCT-angiography (OCT-A)
- ultrasonography
I’ve heard a lot about “dilation.” What does that mean?
Dilation is a method through which an ophthalmologist, retinal specialist or other eye care professional can look more closely inside of your eye during an exam, helping to diagnose certain conditions of the retina. When light shines in your eyes without dilation, your pupil will become small, and seeing into the eye will become difficult. After dilation, your pupil remains large, and when Dr. Brown shines a light on it during an exam, she will be able to see all the way to the back of your eye.
Why might I need to get my eyes dilated?
Eye dilation can help Dr. Brown diagnose a number of retinal conditions, during an exam, including:
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Macular Degeneration
If your ophthalmologist has referred you to Dr. Brown suspecting one of these conditions, or if Dr. Brown suspects one of these conditions based on your symptoms, you will likely have your eyes dilated as part of your diagnostic exam.
What should I expect when getting my eye dilated?
Dr. Brown uses a special kind of eye drop in order to dilate your pupil. While this may be as uncomfortable to you as any type of eye drop, it is not painful. That said, once your exam is over, your vision will be blurry for a period of time, and your eyes will likely be sensitive to light. With this in mind, it’s important to come prepared -- you should bring a pair of sunglasses with you to protect your eyes from the light, and have a friend or loved one drive you to and from your appointment while your vision is blurred. Dilation shouldn’t last longer than 24 hours, so if your eyes aren’t back to normal the next day, call your doctor as soon as you can.
Practice Procedures FAQ
What can I expect at my appointment with Dr. Brown?
When you have your first appointment with Dr. Brown, you will have a thorough medical and ocular health history screening. You will also have the usual screening tests that you would have with your current eye doctor if you have one, such as vision and eye pressure evaluation. Your pupils will be dilated, and you will have some pictures taken of the back of the eye (see list of available testing). Once you are dilated and your pictures are reviewed by Dr. Brown she will examine you and discuss her findings. Your initial consultation with Dr. Brown at Infinity Retina will be approximately 45-60 minutes depending on the level of care you need. Parking is free and located right outside our office if you park in the back of our building near the last entrance.
For parking and driving directions: Click here(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab).
The best thing to do is to see us at Infinity Retina as soon as possible so we can determine the correct diagnosis, need for treatment, and prognosis. Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Brown today!
What can I expect at my first appointment?
Many people forget to ask their doctor important questions during their appointment. In order to make sure you are well prepared for your appointment, view our “How to Prepare for Your Next Appointment” document.
Seeing a specialist may ignite anxiety. If you have any worries about your upcoming appointment, please contact us at welcome@infinityretina.com or 610-606-1671. We are looking forward to assisting you!
How should I prepare for my appointment at Infinity Retina?
One of the most important things you need to secure before your appointment with Dr. Brown is a ride home, especially if you anticipate having your eyes dilated. This can leave your vision blurry for a period of time, and it won’t be safe to drive until your eyes are back to normal.
What documents do I need to bring with me to my first appointment?
Please have the following documents with you when you arrive at Infinity Retina for your first consultation:
- A form of photo ID
- Your insurance card
- A list of medications you are currently taking. Eye drops and glasses count!
If you’ve been referred to Infinity Retina by your ophthalmologist or primary care provider, please bring your referral with you as well.
Once I arrive at Infinity Retina, how should I park, and where is the office located?
In order to make parking easy and accessible to patients, parking at Infinity Retina is free, and there is an easily-accessible handicapped access point around the back entrance of our building. Our office is the second door on the left.
What is Infinity Retina doing to keep the office safe during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Some of the things we are doing to keep everyone safe during this pandemic:
- Bipolar ionization is integrated into our HVAC system to keep the air in our office purified and extra safe
- We wear masks throughout all clinics. Masks are optional for our patients.
- After each patient appointment, we sanitize the room and all equipment used
- We sanitize our hands in between each patient
- COVID-19 screening phone calls are made prior to each patient’s appointment