Dr. Nicole D. Esqueda, OD
559-584-4227
Hanford Family Optometry
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of payment does your office accept?
We accept cash, personal checks, debit cards, Mastercard, Visa and Discover.
What insurance plans do you accept?
VSP, Medicare, Medicaid, EyeMed, and Davis Vision.
Please check with our office if your insurance plan is not listed.
What is nearsightedness?
Nearsightedness (myopia) is a vision condition in which you can usually see close or near objects clearly, but cannot see distant ones as clearly.
What is farsightedness?
Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a vision condition in which distant objects are usually seen clearly, but close ones are difficult to bring into focus.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a vision condition in which objects at all distances can appear blurred because light entering the eye is unable to be brought to a single focus.
What is presbyopia (inability to see up close)?
Near vision begins to blur in our early 40's due to the loss of flexibility of the crystalline lens in the eye.
This condition is called presbyopia. It is a normal part of the aging process of the eye and cannot be prevented.
What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia (lazy eye) is the loss or lack of full development of vision in one eye that is not fully correctable with lenses and is not the result of any identifiable eye health problem. Amblyopia is usually due to conditions such as crossed-eyes (strabismus) or a large difference in the prescription (refractive) error between the two eyes.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease in which the fluid pressure in the eye increases and damages the optic nerve. This damage can cause severe vision loss and even blindness, if untreated. Glaucoma can be effectively controlled in most cases with prescription eye drops or other medications.
What are cataracts?
When the normally clear lens in your eye becomes cloudy, it is called a cataract. As the lens becomes cloudy, vision becomes blurred and/or distorted. Once cataracts impair vision, they need to be removed surgically.
Why do I need a contact lens exam each year?
Annual examinations are important for the health of your eye. We want to make sure that your lenses are still fitting properly, and that you’re not over-wearing them. We’ll check for any swelling or irritation in the eye. We’ll make sure that the lenses you’re wearing are letting enough oxygen into your eye (we can make adjustments in the materials of your lenses if that’s a problem). There are many situations and conditions that can impact the health of your cornea so an annual exam helps us find them and correct them as soon as possible.
What is a good age for my child to get contacts?
Wearing contacts is really a matter of maturity level or responsibility rather than age. We’ve had children as young as seven or eight years old wearing contacts, but most children are usually 12 or older before they’re ready to take on the responsibilities of wearing lenses. (They’ll need to keep the lenses clean and thoroughly wash their hands before putting the contacts in, for example.) We’ll be glad to talk with you and your child to help you decide if he/she is ready for contacts.
Will my insurance cover both eyeglasses and contact lenses?
Usually not—it’s generally one or the other, not both.
What does 20/20 vision mean?
If you have 20/20 vision, it means you can see at 20 feet what is normally expected to be seen at that distance. An acuity of 20/50 would mean you must be 20 feet away to see what should normally be seen at 50 feet.
When should my child have his/her first eye exam?
The American Optometric Association recommend children first have vision checked at six months for major problems that may prevent vision from developing properly. If vision is normal the next visit should be around age three and again before the child begins school.
Why will I still need reading glasses after refractive surgery?
If you are over 40-45 years old you are presbyopic, which means you are no longer able to focus as easily at close distances. If you are nearsighted, you may take your glasses or contact lenses off and see clearly at close distances. However, if all the nearsightedness is corrected you will no longer have the ability to focus at close distances. You will be in the need of reading glasses.
What is monovision?
Monovision is the process of correcting vision with either contact lenses or refractive procedure in which the dominant eye is corrected for distance vision and the non-dominant eye is corrected for near. This is one way of correcting your vision so you do not have to wear reading glasses over your contact lenses or after a refractive procedure.
How successful is monovision?
Monovision is surprisingly successful in contact lens wearers. Always keep in mind, however, that depth perception is being compromised. In order to have the best depth perception both eyes must be corrected equally for distance vision.
Are all contact lens solutions the same?
No. Always use the solutions we recommend. Certain solutions are definitely superior to others, and are able to get rid of potential bacteria that could contaminate your contact lenses and cause infection.
What are the spots I see in my vision?
The spots often seen in our vision are called floaters. They are small particles inside the eye. Most are not harmful, but they can be an indication of more serious problems. Any new floaters should be evaluated by having a dilated eye exam.
What is LASIK surgery?
LASIK is a procedure that uses a computer controlled laser to reshape the cornea. The cornea is the clear front surface of the eye. LASIK combines the use of the laser with a surgical procedure called Lamellar Keratoplasty. This procedure creates a flap of the cornea. The flap is lifted and the laser is used underneath. The flap is then folded back in place and acts as a bandage to speed up healing.
Am I a good candidate for LASIK?
There are several factors that determine whether a person is a good candidate for LASIK.
These include:
A healthy cornea
No significant increase in prescription in the past year
Pupil size
Corneal thickness
At least 21 years old
Good general health
For women, avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding
