Eye care
Not sure where to go for new glasses, contacts or your vision care? With nearly 20 eye care clinics in the Twin Cities, seeing clearly is right around the corner.
Eye questions don’t follow a 9-5 schedule, and neither do we. We’ve got you covered with appointments at our clinics and 24/7 online care for pink eye and styes and other eye treatments through Virtuwell.
Some of our doctors have an eye for photography. Others enjoy seeing the latest action movie. But they all love helping you get better. With dozens of eye care providers, we have the right eye doctor for you.
Eye conditions we can help with
- Astigmatism
- Blurry vision
Cataract procedures - Comprehensive eye exams
- Contacts and glasses
Digital eye strain Dry eyes - Eye care for pediatric patients
- Frame selection
- Glaucoma and macular degeneration
- Hyperopia
- LASIK/refractive surgery
Myopia control
- Presbyopia
- Vision loss
Frequently asked eye care questions (FAQs)
Ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians all provide great eye care. Here’s a look at what each can help you with:
- Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat eye diseases like cataracts and glaucoma and can perform surgeries.
- Optometrists have doctor of optometry (OD) degrees. They specialize in eye and vision care. Optometrists can prescribe corrective lenses and contacts, diagnose and treat common eye conditions and prescribe medicine.
- Opticians help you choose the right lenses and frames based on your prescription, daily activities and personal style.
To book an appointment, please
Optometrists are the best place to get started for eye care. They provide vision tests, prescribe lenses and diagnose and treat common eye conditions.
After an exam, your optometrist can tell you how often you should have your eyes checked in the future. It's important to follow the schedule your optometrist gives you, especially as you age. Your risk for eye disease and certain eye conditions like the development of
Optometrists diagnose and treat common eye conditions.
If your eye treatment plan requires a specialist’s help, your optometrist can refer you to one of our experienced ophthalmologists.
For complete vision care, you’ll find everything you need at one of our Optical Stores. We have certified opticians ready to help you find the right frame and lens technology that fits your prescription, personal style and budget.
You can turn to us for specialty options, like progressive and
When it comes to choosing contact lenses, we offer personalized care, the latest technologies, and broad product options. Product selection includes soft, disposable, and gas permeable materials. We also offer traditional, custom, tinted, multifocal and lenses for all prescriptions.
Our highly trained and certified contact lens technicians or optometrists will help you find the perfect solution for your needs and provide expert specialty fittings, including keratoconus and pediatric contact lens fittings.
To order contacts online, please choose HealthPartners or Park Nicollet to get started:
Optical shops are located in:
We accept most health insurance plans, but it’s always good to call your insurance company before scheduling an appointment to understand which services your insurance plan covers.
Here are tips to help you better understand what may or may not be covered under your insurance plan.
1. Understand your eye care exam.
Your health insurance company will want to know if you are receiving routine eye care or medical eye care. What's the difference?
Routine eye care –Routine eye care includes treatment for nearsightedness, farsightedness and normal astigmatism. Most health insurance plans will cover some part of routine eye exams. Your bill will depend on how much your health insurance plan covers.
Medical eye care – During your routine eye exam, your doctor may find a medical eye condition that needs treatment. Medical eye care is for more complex eye conditions like:
- Cataracts
- Diabetic eye disease (retinopathy)
- Dry eyes
- Glaucoma
- Hypertensive eye disease
- Retinal holes or tears
Medical eye care can include follow-up care, regular monitoring, additional tests, referral to a surgeon and other services. Most health insurance plans will cover some medical eye care and your bill will depend on how much your individual health insurance plan covers.
2. Do you have a separate vision insurance plan?
Vision insurance is a benefit offered by some employers. We do not accept these plans:
- Davis
- EyeMed
- Spectera
- VSP
3. Before you arrive at your appointment.
Before your appointment, please be prepared to have your insurance card(s) and ID with you. You'll also want to know your insurance plan’s specific rules regarding:
- Approved providers
- Authorizations
- Covered services
- Out-of-pocket payments
- Referrals
With some insurance plans, you may need to pay a copay at the time of your eye exam.