Your Appointment | Frequently Asked Questions | Carolina Eye
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Your Appointment

We welcome patients by appointment Monday-Friday, 8AM to 5PM. If you are not able to keep an appointment, please contact us as soon as possible. Our centers are closed on the following holidays:

New Years Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving (and the Friday after)
Christmas Eve
Christmas

If this is your first time visiting Carolina Eye or you have questions about your visit, please see our frequently asked questions below and visit the Planning Your Visit page. You also might want to print our New Patient Information Guidelines located on the Forms page, that includes information on appointments, billing and insurance, financing options, out-of-town visitors’ information and planning for your visit.

Emergencies

If you have an eye emergency, please don’t hesitate to call us. During business hours, call (910) 295-2100 or toll-free at (800) 733-5357 and select the Nurse Call Center option. After hours you will hear a recording with instructions on how to reach us. For emergencies other than eye emergencies or if you are unable to reach us call 911.

Please note our toll-free numbers can only be accessed in North Carolina and South Carolina. Callers from other states should call the local number listed.

Albemarle Center: Local: (704) 982-1000 Toll-Free (877) 823-0198
Asheboro Center: Local: (336) 629-1451 Toll-Free (800) 222-3043
All Other Centers: Local: (910) 295-8938 Toll-Free (800) 733-5357
LASIK & Cosmetic Services: Local: (910) 295-1501 Toll-Free (800) 733-9355

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a doctor’s referral for an appointment?

Patients can call for their own appointments and do not need a doctor’s referral to be seen at Carolina Eye. However, some insurance plans may require a referral. Major plans that require prior approval include Carolina ACCESS Medicaid and TRICARE Prime. Please check with your insurance company to determine what, if any, requirements they have for obtaining care. It is the patient’s responsibility to contact their provider and obtain the necessary approval documentation and to bring this documentation to the visit.

Can I get into Carolina Eye without an appointment?

Carolina Eye does not accept walk-in patients unless it is a medical emergency.

How soon are appointments available?

Appointment requirements will vary depending on the specialty. Timely appointments are always available for urgent problems.

Do the doctors see children?

Most of our doctors see children over the age of six depending on the specialty. For children younger than six, we can refer you to a local pediatric ophthalmologist.

I can’t bring or accompany my child. Can someone else do this? Can my child come alone for his/her appointment?

Minors age 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Parents or guardians who cannot accompany their child must fill out a Consent for Evaluation/Examination of Minor Child form that is located on the Forms & Downloads page. The adult escorting the child must bring this form to the clinic the day of the appointment.

What if I need the services of an interpreter?

If you require the services of an interpreter, please inform the appointment scheduler so that arrangements can be made in advance.

How much time will my appointment require?

The time required depends on the type of appointment. Please allow several hours for your first eye examination. If you are coming for a laser or surgery evaluation, please allow three or more hours for your examination. This amount of time is usually needed for the screening procedures, diagnostic examination and any required pre-surgical testing. Patients who are scheduled to have their surgery performed on the same day as their evaluation should anticipate spending most of the day at the clinic. This will allow time for all the necessary testing as well as the surgery.