Question 1

What is an emergency appointment/office visit versus a regular eye exam?

Accepted Answer

A regular eye exam is for a general eye checkup, a prescription for glasses or contacts, or to establish care with our doctors. An office visit covers any pain, swelling, oozing, floaters, flashes, or injuries to the eye. Office visits do not require an appointment and should be made as soon as possible after symptoms or injury begin. If you have questions about whether what you're experiencing qualifies, call us at (805) 562-1300.

Question 2

Are you located in Costco?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we are! We're located inside Costco in Goleta. Call and make an appointment!

Question 3

Do I need an appointment?

Accepted Answer

We recommend scheduling an appointment ahead of time, however we do offer walk-in appointments when available. To guarantee you'll be seen, you'll need to make an appointment. You can also call first thing in the morning at (805) 562-1300 to inquire about same-day appointments.

Question 4

Do you take my insurance?

Accepted Answer

We do not accept most major medical insurances and accept only a select few vision plans. If we don't accept your insurance, we can provide you with an itemized receipt which you can submit to your insurance. See our Insurance page for more info.

Question 5

Do I need a Costco card?

Accepted Answer

No. We are an independent practice and provide service to all Costco members and non-Costco members. However, to purchase glasses or contact lenses with the optical department next door, you must be a Costco member.

Question 6

When can I do a walk-in?

Accepted Answer

Our office accepts walk-in appointments when our doctors have time in their schedules — it's first come, first served when we're available. If you're wondering about walk-in availability for the day, call our front desk at (805) 562-1300.

Question 7

How long is an exam?

Accepted Answer

Appointments vary based on each patient's vision needs. If no other testing is required by the doctor, most patients spend around 45 minutes in our office.

Question 8

Do you sell glasses and contacts?

Accepted Answer

No. We only provide patients with an eyeglass or contact lens prescription. Patients can then take the prescription next door to Costco Optical (if they are a member) or to any other optical store.

Question 9

I've never worn contacts before. How do I start?

Accepted Answer

We can get you ready for contact lenses! If you've never worn contacts before, in addition to the contact fitting you'll need to book an appointment for a contact lens training with a staff member (a fairly inexpensive training). If the training exceeds one hour and the patient is still unable to properly insert and remove contacts in front of the trainer, an additional training may be required at a later time.

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