Your on-campus vision clinic in Athens, Ga
EYE EXAMS
A complete medical and refractive eye examination ensures the good health of your eyes. Additionally, it rules out the possibility of any unsuspected, underlying conditions.
EYEGLASSES
Our optical offers a variety of frames.
Frames start as low as $30.
CONTACT LENSES
We gladly fill any valid prescription for glasses or contact lenses. You can bring your prescription in, or we can contact your doctor’s office to have them fax a copy directly to the Vision Clinic.
Our Vision Clinic staff provides highly accessible, professional eye care for University of Georgia students and other eligible members of the university community. We also offer premium, comprehensive, and personalized eye care services in a respectful environment. With state-of-the-art equipment, materials, and products, our highly trained eye care professionals deliver these services.
The Vision Clinic is located on the first floor of the University Health Center, at the corner of College Station and East Campus Road, on the University of Georgia campus. Our hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Please call 706-542-5617 or fax 706-227-4763.
Services are available to UGA students, faculty, staff, retirees, their spouses / partners, and dependents ages 5-26 years.
All dependents 18 and older must bring in a photo ID to be eligible for Vision Clinic services. Patients 17 and under must be accompanied by a UGA faculty / staff guardian.
You need to schedule an appointment, which can be made by phone. However, if you require an appointment for a medical issue with your eye, such as pink eye or red eye, you must call to book it. Typically, the average appointment lasts about one hour. Additionally, if you need to select eyewear or receive contact lens training, be sure to allow extra time.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, make sure to do so at least 24 hours before the previous business day to avoid a $30 missed-appointment charge.
UHC Vision Clinic is offering wellness and medical services. Retail/repair services require an appointment. Call clinic for details at 706-542-5617.
We operate as a fee-for-service clinic and charge a fee for each service provided. Additionally, our pricing structure for all services and products is specifically designed to offer low prices for students, eliminating the need for coupons, sales, or “shopping around.”
The Vision Clinic is considered a “well clinic,” and out of concern for other patients, those with symptoms of a contagious illness (other than eye issues) should be seen by their primary care provider and postpone their routine eye evaluation.
The UHC Vision Clinic is NOT in-network with Peachstate vision plans!
The UHC Vision Clinic offers a wide selection of frames for eyeglasses, sunglasses, and sports and recreational glasses, with prices starting as low as $30. If your glasses prescription or lifestyle requires custom add-ons, don’t worry—our highly trained Licensed Dispensing Opticians are here to guide you through the process.
We offer popular brands like Ray-Ban, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Polaroid, David Beckham, Betsy Johnson, and more.
Eyeglass Turn-Around Time
Thanks to our in-house lab, we can have most glasses ready the same day or next day! However, if we need to special order a material, coating, or lens design, it usually takes five to ten business days to complete the custom order.
Outside Prescriptions
We’re happy to fill any valid prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Just bring your prescription with you, or have your outside provider fax it to us at 706-227-4763.
Safety Glasses
The Vision Clinic also offers prescription and non-prescription safety glasses. We provide occupational safety eyewear for many UGA departments and accept custom orders.
A complete medical and refractive eye examination is crucial for ensuring the good health of your eyes and for ruling out any unsuspected underlying conditions. The refractive part of the exam helps determine your eyeglass prescription. Check the chart below to see how often you should have your eyes examined. Additionally, consult your Optometrist; you might need more frequent visits based on your family history or medications you are taking.
| Patient Age | Examination Frequency | |
|---|---|---|
| Asymptomatic / Risk Free | Symptomatic / At Risk | |
| Birth to 24 Months | At 6 months of age | By 6 months of age or as recommended |
| 2 to 5 Years | At 3 years of age | At 3 years of age or as recommended |
| 6 to 18 Years | Before first grade and every two years thereafter | Annually or as recommended |
| 18 to 60 Years | Every two years | Every one to two years or as recommended |
| 61 and Older | Annually | Annually or as recommended |
| Contact Lens Wearers | Annually | Annually or sooner |
Advancements in contact lens technology make it possible for most of our patients to successfully wear contact lenses. Since a contact lens is a medical device that directly contacts the tissues of your eye, it must fit correctly to maintain eye health. We determine a contact lens prescription through careful observation of how the lens fits and how your eye responds during follow-up visits. Because follow-up care is crucial, it’s your responsibility to attend all appointments and follow lens care instructions.
We will fill any valid prescription for glasses or contact lenses. You can bring your prescription in, or we can contact your doctor’s office to have them fax a copy to the Vision Clinic.
The Comprehensive Eye Exam
Before fitting you with contact lenses, we require a complete medical and refractive eye examination. This exam is essential for ensuring your eye health and ruling out any unsuspected underlying conditions that might prevent successful contact lens use.
Contact Lens Fitting
The goal of contact lens fitting is to find the most suitable lens for each patient’s optimal vision and comfort. We offer a wide variety of types, materials, sizes, and colors. Our team is dedicated to fitting your contact lenses properly, which might require more than one appointment, though many people only need a single fitting session. Both the patient and the doctor must be satisfied with the fit and visual acuity before we finalize the contact lens prescription. We provide one set of trial lenses, which are dispensed only during the original examination and scheduled follow-up visits when changes are needed. Please note that a contact lens trial will not be dispensed at other times. If you are changing lens brands, a new fitting is required, which may incur an additional charge. Order your contact lenses at least one week before you run out.
Annual Contact Lens Exam
By law, a contact lens prescription is valid for only one year. Therefore, all patients must come in for an annual contact lens exam. This exam ensures that your eyes remain healthy and that your contact lenses still fit well. Contact lens prescriptions cannot be renewed without this annual exam. Note that contact lens exams have a separate charge not included in your medical exam.
Contact Lens Training Session
You will receive personalized instruction on the safe care and use of contact lenses. If additional time is needed, we will schedule a second 30-minute training session. Once you successfully complete the insertion and removal training, you may begin wearing your contact lenses, and we will schedule your first follow-up appointment within two weeks. For helpful instructions on insertion and removal, you can watch this video: www.acuvue.com/wearing-apply-remove.
Follow-Up Appointments
There is no charge for follow-up visits during the first 60 days or the first three follow-up visits, whichever comes first. Follow-up appointments are essential to ensure:
- The contact lenses fit and move correctly
- The prescription provides optimal vision
- Your eyes remain healthy
- There are no issues with insertion or removal
- You understand and follow the recommended wearing schedule
Please note that prescriptions will not be issued to patients who miss follow-up appointments.
Who Can Wear Contact Lenses?
Each person’s suitability for contact lenses varies based on several measurements. Many contact lens manufacturers now offer options suitable for those with astigmatism or bifocals.
Contact Lens Pricing
Prices for contact lenses vary based on manufacturer, materials, and design. Call us with the brand you use, and we’ll provide a price. Our contact lens pricing is highly competitive.
Colored Contact Lenses
We can provide colored contacts without a prescription. However, an eye exam by a doctor is required for all contact lenses, including colored ones. Contact lenses are regulated by the FDA, and you must have a valid prescription to purchase them. Wearing unassessed contact lenses can cause serious complications, including blindness. Always wear contacts that have been prescribed for you.
Contact Lens Refunds
We do not offer refunds on custom lenses, opened boxes of lenses, or colored lenses. Additionally, there will be no refunds for the exam, fitting, or annual contact lens examination fee.
Contact Lens Brands
We stock a large supply of the following contact lenses:
- Biotrue 1Day
- Biofinity Energys
If you don’t see your brand listed, we can usually fulfill most contact lens orders within 3-5 business days. Lenses can be shipped directly to you at school or home during breaks. Plan ahead and order your new supply before using your last pair.
To save time before your visit, please print and complete the following forms. Be sure to bring them with you to your appointment.
(All forms are Adobe pdf)
- UHC Vision Clinic Patient Agreement Form (All Patients)
- Medical Profile Form
- UHC Patient Agreement Form (Faculty/Staff complete on the UHC Patient Portal)
- UHC Dependent Patient Agreement Form (Dependents only)
- Health History Form (Dependents only. Faculty/Staff complete on the UHC Patient Portal)
- Vision Insurance Form
- Patient Profile
- Consent for Dilation
- Consent for Wellness Screening
- Refractive Surgery Patient Summary
- Occupational Health Approval
- Release of Health Information
Please let us know if you have insurance. The University Health Center offers direct billing to various insurance companies. To ensure timely payment, contact your insurance carrier to inquire about coverage for vision services and any specific requirements they may have.
United HealthCare Student Resources covers most medical visits. For detailed information, visit www.uhcsr.com.
The UHC Vision Clinic is in-network with several EyeMed Plans, including the EyeMed Insight Network, which services UGA faculty, staff, and dependents. If you have a different EyeMed plan, please contact our office for more information.
We are also in-network with various Spectera Vision Plans. Contact our office for additional details.
For examinations, our UHC Optometrists are in-network with Medicare. Please present your Medicare card during your visit.
Please note that the UHC Vision Clinic is NOT in-network with Peachstate vision plans.
The UGA Shade Shack offers a variety of non-prescription sunglasses priced between $50 and $240. Many of these sunglasses can be customized with your prescription for an additional fee if desired. You’ll find brands such as Ray-Ban, Betsey Johnson, Polaroid, Kate Spade, Carrera, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, and more. We also provide sport and tactical frames.
The UHC Vision Clinic Optometrists assess patients considering refractive surgery to determine their suitability for the procedure. If you are a candidate, the Optometrist will help you choose the best refractive procedure and surgeon for your needs. Both pre-operative and post-operative procedures can be completed either at the UHC Vision Clinic or at your surgeon’s office.
Refractive surgery reshapes the eye tissue to correct focusing issues, often reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. As with any surgery, understanding the associated risks is crucial before deciding if it’s right for you. Additionally, an ocular evaluation is necessary to ensure your eye health and anatomy are suitable for the procedure.
Here are the available options:
Refractive Surgery Informational Packet (Free)
You can pick up a packet containing information about different types of refractive surgery. This packet will help you start your research on the best options. No personal evaluation or testing will be provided at this visit, but you can call the Optometric Technician listed on the business card included in the packet if you have questions.
Comprehensive Exam
An Optometrist will assess your eye health, determine your refractive power, and discuss any needed corrections. This visit includes a review of how refractive surgery might apply to you, along with a discussion of risks and benefits. Additional testing may be required if you decide to proceed with refractive surgery.
Refractive Surgery Candidacy Exam
This visit is suitable if you are uncertain about undergoing surgery or are considering it for the future. The Optometrist will conduct a thorough examination to evaluate your eye health and refractive power. This visit includes several tests specifically to determine your candidacy for refractive surgery. If you decide to proceed with surgery later, a Refractive Surgery Pre-operative Evaluation will be necessary, and fees for this visit will apply.
Refractive Surgery Pre-operative Evaluation
Schedule this visit if you are planning to undergo refractive surgery within the next month. This evaluation includes additional testing to confirm your suitability for surgery. The measurements taken will be used for your surgery and must be collected within one month of your surgery date.
You will need to stop wearing contact lenses for 1-2 weeks, or longer, depending on the type. The doctor will provide specific instructions. During this visit, a strong dilating drop will be used to fully relax your eyes, and dilation may last up to 24 hours. Please allow extra time for this visit.
For more information about LASIK, please contact our office at 706-542-5617.