What to Know as a Patient at Prism
Click Here For More Information
We want you to feel informed, prepared, and confident in your care with us.
Our clinic is designed around specialty ophthalmology, which means your visit may feel different from a typical medical appointment; including how long you may be here.
Your Visit May Be Longer, Here’s Why
At Prism, appointments can range from 1 to 3 hours.
This isn’t due to overbooking; it’s because of the level of care, testing, and flexibility required in a specialty eye clinic.
Many visits include multiple steps such as imaging, dilation, and detailed physician assessment. Some of these, like dilation, require time to take effect, while others depend on real-time findings during your exam.
If additional testing or treatment is needed, it is often done the same day.
We Provide More Than a Standard Eye Exam
Your visit may involve advanced diagnostics that go beyond a routine check-up.
This can include imaging, visual field testing, and in urgent situations, same-day emergency diagnostics such as ocular ultrasounds; particularly when the back of the eye cannot be clearly visualized.
These tests are essential to making accurate, timely decisions about your vision.
Care Can Shift in Real Time
Our physicians manage complex and urgent eye conditions.
If a patient presents with a vision-threatening issue; such as sudden vision loss, a retinal problem, or a post-operative complication; they may need to be seen immediately. These situations are unpredictable and can affect the flow of scheduled appointments.
We approach each day with flexibility so that urgent care is never delayed.
Our Surgeons Are Also On-Call
Prism physicians are actively on-call across four affiliated hospitals.
This means that during clinic hours, a surgeon may be called away for:
- Emergency surgery
- Urgent hospital consults
- Post-operative care
While this can occasionally impact clinic timing, it reflects the level of care our team provides both inside and outside of the clinic.
We Don’t Rush Care; Including Yours
Some visits are quick. Others require more time, deeper review, or important conversations about your diagnosis and next steps.
We believe patients should never feel rushed, especially when it comes to their vision.
If your appointment requires more time, we will take it.
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
To help your visit go as smoothly as possible:
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early
- Bring all relevant documents, medications, and prior imaging
- Plan for a longer visit, especially for specialty or new consultations
In order to expedite things on the day of your appointment, we welcome you to download our patient registration form and fill it out in advance.
Please bring the completed form with you on the day of your appointment.
Thank You for Your Patience
We understand that waiting can be difficult.
But in a clinic like ours, time is a reflection of the care being provided; whether that’s additional testing, urgent treatment, or giving a patient the attention they need in that moment.
And if that patient were you, we would do the same.



