Preparing for Your Visit

A little preparation goes a long way toward making your appointment at Boling Vision Center as smooth, efficient, and productive as possible.

Everything You Need to Know Before You Arrive

Whether you're coming in for a routine exam or a specialty consultation, knowing what to expect and what to bring helps us make the most of your time together. This page covers everything you need to prepare for a great visit.

Appointment Checklist

Plan to bring the following to every appointment:

Photo ID
Vision and medical insurance cards
Current glasses, including readers and sunglasses with a prescription
Current contact lenses or the box they came in
A list of current medications and dosages
Any prior eye care records or imaging from previous providers
A list of questions or concerns you want to address
Payment method for co-pays or out-of-pocket balances

If you have a family history of glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye conditions, let our team know when you check in.

Dilation & Testing Expectations

Many appointments at Boling Vision Center include dilation, which allows your provider to thoroughly examine the retina, optic nerve, and other internal structures of the eye. Dilation is a standard part of comprehensive exams and many specialty evaluations. Dilating drops take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to take full effect and cause temporary blurry near vision and increased light sensitivity that typically lasts two to four hours. Most guests can still drive after dilation, but some find it uncomfortable, particularly in bright sunlight. We recommend bringing sunglasses and arranging a driver if you are sensitive to light or prefer not to drive with blurred near vision. Additional testing, including visual field testing, corneal imaging, and retinal photography, may be incorporated into your appointment depending on your history and the nature of your visit. Our team will walk you through any testing before it begins.

man getting his eye checked | child getting her eye checked | abstract art

Medication Instructions

Please bring a complete list of all current medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Many systemic medications affect eye health, tear production, and intraocular pressure, and this information is important for accurate evaluation and safe care.

Do not discontinue any prescribed medication before your appointment without first consulting the prescribing provider. If you have been given specific medication instructions in advance of a procedure or surgical appointment, follow those instructions exactly and contact us if you have any questions.

Contact Lens Wearers

If your appointment involves a comprehensive exam, refractive evaluation, or corneal assessment, you may need to remove your contact lenses in advance. Contact lenses temporarily alter corneal shape and can affect the accuracy of measurements. General guidelines are as follows:

Soft contact lenses: remove 24 to 48 hours before
Toric soft lenses: remove at least three days before
Hard or gas-permeable lenses: remove at least two to four weeks before

If you are unsure whether this applies to your appointment, call us before your visit, and we will advise.

Time Expectations

The length of your appointment depends on the type of visit. General estimates are as follows:

Routine comprehensive eye exam: 45 minutes to one hour
Comprehensive exam with additional testing or dilation: one to one and a half hours
Specialty consultations: varies, typically one to one and a half hours
Pre-operative evaluations: one to one and a half hours
Surgical appointments at INSIGHT Surgery Center: plan for two to three hours total

We do our best to stay on schedule, but some appointments require more time than anticipated. We appreciate your patience when this occurs, as we extend the same attentiveness to every guest regardless of what the schedule requires.

Late Arrivals

We ask that guests arrive on time for their scheduled appointments. Arriving more than 10 to 15 minutes late may require rescheduling, as a late start affects the care we are able to provide and impacts other guests waiting for their appointments. If you are running late, please call ahead, and our team will advise on the best course of action.

Appointment Reminders, Cancellations & No-Shows

We send appointment reminders by phone, text, or email based on your communication preference. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please notify us as early as possible, and at a minimum of 24 hours before your scheduled appointment time.

Repeated no-shows or late cancellations affect our ability to serve guests who need care and may result in a no-show fee or affect future scheduling. We understand that unexpected circumstances arise, and we ask only that you communicate with us as early as possible when plans change.

Payment Expectations

Co-pays, deductibles, and any out-of-pocket balances are due at the time of service. We accept cash, check, all major credit cards, and FSA and HSA cards.

If you are unsure of your expected out-of-pocket responsibility before your appointment, call our billing team in advance and we will provide an estimate based on your coverage.

For elective procedures and premium service upgrades, complete cost information is provided at the time of consultation. Financing options are available for applicable services.

Questions Before Your Visit?

Our team is always available to answer questions before your appointment. Call any of our four Northern Indiana locations, and we'll make sure you arrive feeling prepared, informed, and ready for a great visit.