For Parents

Everything you want to know before your child's appointment.

We know bringing a child — especially a little one — to an eye doctor can feel like a lot. This page walks through what to bring, what will happen, what it'll feel like, and the policies we ask you to know about. Scroll, skim, or jump to the FAQ at the bottom.

What to bring

Insurance cards (medical and vision, if applicable)
Parent or guardian photo ID
A list of any medications your child is taking — including eye drops, supplements, and any recently stopped medications
Current glasses, if they wear them; prescription info if available
Any records from previous eye doctors, if you have them
A comfort item — a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, snack, or a device with headphones can make the wait easier

Our new-patient registration form is available in English and Spanish. You can fill it out ahead of time or show up 5–10 minutes early and complete it here.

Preparing your child

Kids do best when they know a little bit about what's coming. A day or two before:

Keep it low-key. This isn't the dentist — no one is doing anything invasive. Explain that a doctor is going to "look at their eyes."
Mention the drops. If your child is likely to be dilated, let them know we'll put a few drops in their eyes. The drops sting for a few seconds, like getting pool water or soap in the eyes, then stop.
No need for a special test prep. We'll use picture charts for toddlers and letter charts for kids who read. Nothing they need to study for.
For really young kids, we often make parts of the exam into a game. We're pretty good at it by now.

What to expect at a first visit

Plan for 1 to 2 hours for a first visit. Established patients typically take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on whether dilation is needed.

Check-in. If you didn't pre-register, you'll fill out our intake paperwork. Takes about 10 minutes.
Work-up with an ophthalmic technician. Vision testing, measurement of eye alignment, and dilating drops go in. This is usually 10–20 minutes.
Waiting for dilation. The drops take about 30 minutes to work. This is a great time for a snack or something on a tablet. Our waiting area has books, toys, and trivia for kids.
Exam with Dr. V or Dr. Borgman. The doctor checks alignment, examines the front and back of the eye, and determines a prescription if needed. Usually 15–25 minutes.
Plan + next steps. We go over findings, answer questions, and if glasses are needed, you can go straight to the optical shop.

Dilation and what it feels like

What we do: one or two drops in each eye. The drops widen the pupil so we can see the back of the eye, which is where most serious things — cataracts, optic nerve issues, retinal problems — would show up.

What it feels like: the drops sting for a few seconds, similar to getting pool water in the eyes. Then it stops. After about 30 minutes, the pupils are wide, near vision gets blurry, and bright light feels uncomfortable. Most kids are also a little sleepy.

How long it lasts: typically 4 to 6 hours for our usual drops. Some specialized drops last longer. You'll be given disposable sunglasses when you leave.

What they can and can't do after: reading and near work are hard for a few hours. Outdoor play is fine, but bright sun is uncomfortable. Driving — for teenage patients — should wait until vision is normal again.

After your appointment

Bring sunglasses; we'll send you with disposables if you don't have any
Near-vision blur and light sensitivity resolve in ~6 hours
If prescribed drops, start them per our instructions — we'll go over the schedule before you leave
Follow-up appointments are scheduled at checkout. We'll send a reminder
Questions after the appointment? Call us. We'd rather you ask than wonder.

Cancellation & no-show policy

Out of respect for our staff and other patients waiting for appointments, we require a minimum of 24 hours notice for any cancellation.

Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice, and no-shows, incur a $50 non-refundable fee
We require a valid credit or debit card (not an HSA card) on file for all patients; this is what the late-cancellation fee would be charged to
If you're running late, call us — we'll do what we can to still see you
Illness happens; if your child is sick, please call and we'll reschedule

Insurance & billing

We accept most medical insurance plans. The biggest source of confusion is the difference between medical and vision insurance — they're often different plans from different companies, and they cover different things.

Routine eye exams with a refraction are usually billed under vision insurance
Exams for a medical concern (eye turning, redness, injury, a systemic condition) are usually billed medically
For the optical shop, we accept VSP and offer packaged pricing for uninsured patients
Our office will help you understand what's covered before services are rendered — ask us if you're not sure

A note on privacy

Everything you share with us is protected health information under HIPAA. We don't store any of that on this website — our contact form emails our office directly, and detailed medical conversations happen by phone or in person. When in doubt, call us rather than putting medical details in a form.

FAQ

Questions parents ask us most

How old does my child need to be for a first eye exam?

We see babies as young as a few weeks old when indicated. There's no minimum age. Your pediatrician does basic vision checks at 1, 3, and 5 years; if anything is concerning on those or earlier, we're ready to see your child.

Will my child's eyes be dilated?

Usually yes for a first visit or anytime we need to measure the prescription accurately. The drops sting briefly, then the pupils widen. Near vision is blurry for about 6 hours afterward.

How long will the appointment take?

1 to 2 hours for a new patient. 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for established patients. Most of the time is dilation waiting; we try hard not to keep you past the time budget, but when we have a complex visit earlier in the day, things can run.

Can I come back with my child, or do you bring them alone?

You're always welcome in the exam room with your child. In fact, for younger kids it's almost necessary — we need you to help with comfort, positioning, and sometimes holding a very little one while we look. Teens and older kids sometimes prefer to go back alone; that's also fine.

What if my child won't cooperate?

We're used to this. Most of the exam can be done on a child who's wiggling, hiding, or sitting on your lap. Our techs and doctors have practical tricks for every age. Very rarely — if a child genuinely can't tolerate an exam that matters medically — we'll discuss an examination under brief anesthesia.

What if my child needs glasses — do I have to come back later?

Nope. Our in-house optical shop is right there and has a large selection of kids' frames. A certified optician will fit the glasses to your child's face; most prescriptions are ready within a week or two.

Do you accept my insurance?

We accept most medical insurance and VSP for the optical side. The easiest way to know for sure is to call us — tell us your plan and we'll tell you what's covered before we start.

What's the difference between you and an optometrist?

Dr. Vredevoogd is a pediatric ophthalmologist (MD) — a medical doctor specialized in children's eye disease and surgery. Dr. Borgman is a pediatric optometrist (OD) specialized in pediatric vision care and glasses. Between the two, we cover everything from routine glasses to medical conditions to surgery. Our blog post explains the distinction in detail.

Do you see adults?

Dr. V is fellowship-trained in adult strabismus and sees adults with eye alignment issues — new-onset double vision, old childhood strabismus that's returned, strabismus after a stroke or trauma. For general adult eye care (cataracts, LASIK, retina, glaucoma), we'll point you toward the right specialist.

Do you speak Spanish?

Yes — we have Spanish-speaking staff and our new-patient registration form is bilingual. Nuestra página en español.

Can you coordinate with my child's pediatrician?

Yes — we send a summary of every visit to your primary care physician and any specialists involved. If a referral or consultation is useful, we'll make the phone call ourselves.

What if we need to reschedule?

Call us at (616) 796-9995 with at least 24 hours notice. Last-minute cancellations carry a $50 fee; illness is the obvious exception — please don't bring a sick child.

Do you take emergencies?

For urgent eye problems during office hours, call us first — we'll often see you the same day, which is usually faster than the ER. Off-hours, our 24/7 calling service can help triage. For anything that's a clear emergency (penetrating injury, chemical exposure, major trauma), go straight to the nearest ER.

How often should my child have an eye exam?

Pediatrician vision screens at 1, 3, and 5 years. A comprehensive eye exam with us if anything has been flagged, if there's a family history of eye conditions, if your child wears glasses, or if you've noticed anything unusual. For children in active treatment (glasses, patching, post-surgery), we'll set up a follow-up schedule.

Is the waiting room okay for my toddler?

Yes. Toys, books, and — as of recently — trivia on the wall for the curious. Bring a snack and a comfort item and you'll be fine.

Can I bring my other kids to the appointment?

You can. It's not ideal — the appointments can run long and we want to give your patient child full attention — but we understand that life with multiple small kids doesn't always cooperate. If you bring siblings, bringing a second adult to help is a big win.

Where's parking?

There's a lot right at 904 Washington Ave. We're in Building A, Suite 120.

Is the office accessible?

Yes — ground-floor entry, wide hallways, and an accessible exam room. Let us know at scheduling if there's anything specific we should have ready.

My pediatrician said "wait and see." Should we just wait?

Depends on what you're waiting on. For a newborn with a watery eye that looks like a blocked tear duct, wait-and-see with home massage is often right. For an older child with a drifting eye, or a positive vision screen, waiting can mean missing the window where treatment works best. When in doubt, call us — a single exam can often clarify whether waiting is safe.

Do I need a referral?

Depends on your insurance. Most PPO plans don't require a referral for an eye specialist; some HMOs do. Call your insurance or just call us — we'll help you figure it out.

Ready to schedule?

Call (616) 796-9995 or send a request online. We'll reach out to schedule.

Request an appointment Call (616) 796-9995