Optometry Clinic Expands Care: Is It Time To Get Your Eyes Checked? Published Jan. 22, 2009 By Senior Airman Christopher John 375th Medical Group SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- When should you have your eyes checked? For most people under 40 years of age who have good ocular health, the normal time between visits is two years. For school-age children, people over 40 years of age, or anyone with a history of certain health conditions that may directly affect your vision (e.g. cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetes), eye exams need to be conducted every year or more frequently to ensure stability. The reason for this is because for people who fall in any of the above categories, rapid vision change may occur. Anyone experiencing vision problems before their one or two year mark will need a check-up to ensure their vision is corrected accordingly. What is my coverage under TRICARE PRIME? TRICARE PRIME will cover one eye exam per year for dependants of active duty members. Retirees and their dependants are authorized one exam every two years, unless certain health conditions are present. For example, if a dependant of a retired member is diabetic, they would be authorized one eye exam per year. I am retired military. Can I be seen at Scott Optometry Clinic? Yes, the Scott Optometry Clinic is now providing appointments for retirees and dependants. We have recently replaced our former contracted optometrist with Dr. Troy Johnson. Dr. Johnson will only be authorized to see active duty dependants, retirees and dependants of retirees on TRICARE PRIME. He will not be seeing active duty members. All active duty members will be seen by our Air Force Optometrist, Lt. Col. Mark Johnson. Can I get contacts through the Optometry Clinic? Our Optometrists are only able to update contact lens prescriptions, not perform initial fittings. TRICARE PRIME will not cover contact lens fittings - it is considered a cosmetic treatment. If an updated contact lens prescription is needed, you will need to book an appointment for an exam, report to the clinic wearing your contacts, and bring your contact lens information (the written prescription, the boxes, or the individual packaging that has the power and measurements listed) with you. If you do not wear your contacts and bring the lens information, we will not be able to update your prescription. What kinds of glasses are available at the clinic? Active duty patients are authorized one pair of our frames of choice per year. If the frame becomes damaged, bring it to the clinic and a technician will attempt to repair it. If a repair is impossible, we will send the frame back to the lab to be replaced. If the frame is lost, a replacement pair will not be given. We will also provide additional eye wear to active duty members to meet mobility requirements (i.e. gas mask inserts, ballistic eye wear inserts, and a pair of standard issue military frames if needed). If I am retired military, am I eligible for a frame of choice? Unfortunately, no. Retirees (not their dependants) are authorized one pair of standard issue military frames per year. If a retiree has an eye exam done at Scott, we will order the glasses before you are released from your appointment. If they have an exam done by a civilian provider, they can bring the prescription to us and we will gladly order the glasses from that prescription. However, the prescription must be less than one year old. I am over 65 and no longer covered by TRICARE PRIME. May I still be seen at the Optometry Clinic on base? Unfortunately, we cannot see any patient who is not covered by TRICARE PRIME. This includes TRICARE Standard and TRICARE for Life. However, although you cannot be seen on base, retired members may still be issued glasses. To contact the Optometry Clinic, call the 375th Medical Group Central Appointment Desk at 256-9355. Our hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are closed the second Thursday of every month in the afternoon for training. To check your TRICARE eligibility or to see what other benefits are currently available to you, contact the TRICARE office at 1-877-TRICARE.