We personally want to thank you for choosing the Duke Eye Center for your eye care. We want to make your experience on the glaucoma service as pleasant as possible.
Please give us a call if you have any questions about your visit or if we may help in any way. Our appointment office number is (919) 681-3937.
This letter will let you know what to expect on your visit and who you may meet on our glaucoma team.
What to Bring:
- Someone to drive you, if you aren’t comfortable driving with your eyes dilated.
- Sunglasses for after the exam. We will provide a pair of sunshades if you don’t bring your own.
- Medical records, if you have them. In most cases, your referring doctor sends copies of your records to us. But if you have additional records or if your doctor hasn’t had the chance to send them to us, it would be helpful for you to bring your old medical records with you.
What to Expect:
- Eye Exam
We give a specialized eye exam at Duke. It may differ from eye exams you’ve had in the past. This specialized exam will give us more information about your glaucoma and other eye conditions.
Two or more people may examine your eyes.
We may take a picture of the inside of your eyes.
The eye exam is thorough and can last several hours, especially for new patients.
- Dilation
Almost all new patients will have their eyes dilated. This is a very important part of the eye exam, especially when looking for glaucoma.
The dilation process takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
If you’re worried about driving with your eyes dilated, please bring someone to drive you.
Bring sunglasses to wear after the exam. If you do not have sunglasses, we can give you a pair of sunshades.
Your vision may be blurred for hours after the exam, and your pupils may stay dilated for up to 24 hours.
Who You’ll Meet- The Glaucoma Team:
You will meet many people during your visit to Duke. We want you to know a little about everyone’s role on the glaucoma team. Glaucoma doctors are ophthalmologists who have completed medical school, internship, and a residency in ophthalmology. Our glaucoma doctors also have specialized training in glaucoma.
- Ophthalmic Technician
Ophthalmic technicians have specialized training in interviewing patients about eye issues. They also perform eye exams, check glasses prescriptions, measure eye pressure, and test visual fields.
- Glaucoma Fellow
Glaucoma fellows are fully trained ophthalmologists who are doing extra training in caring for patients with glaucoma. Fellows work very closely with the senior doctors, helping with all aspects of patient care.
- Ophthalmology Resident
You may meet an ophthalmology resident during your visit. Residents are Medical Doctors (MDs) who have graduated from medical school. They help to take care of patients and study eye diseases for three years at Duke.
Residents may interview you and examine your eyes. They often give a summary for the senior doctor. The resident and senior doctor work closely together.
- Students
You may meet students during your visit. Students from different disciplines may spend time observing senior doctors. These include medical students, ophthalmic technician students, and even college students who are interested in medical careers.
You may see several “MDs” during your visit, including residents, fellows, and your glaucoma doctor. We want to make sure that you have the opportunity to learn about everyone’s role in taking care of you.
Want to read more about glaucoma?
For more information on glaucoma, check out the following links:
Our Mission:
Duke Eye Center seeks to preserve and restore the sight, by providing the highest quality care to our patients, by developing new ways to treat and ultimately cure eye disease, and by sharing our knowledge for the greater good of society.