Vision Care

The optometry specialty clinic is held in the Outpatient Medical Clinic several times per year. Patients must be screened before they can be referred to the optometry clinic, unless otherwise indicated by the optometrist. The optometrist is able to provide comprehensive vision care, including eye examinations, diagnosis of problems, and treatment (in some cases) or referral to an ophthalmologist. Glasses are provided to people who are covered under the vision care policy.

Vision Care Policy - Contract Health Care Policy #96-01

In order to assist eligible Native families with their vision care needs, the Service Unit is establishing the following guidelines:

1. The vision care policy is for those patients who have been diagnosed as having diabetes, who are students or are elderly. Students defined as: Students attending school Kindergarten through twelfth grade and attending college with proof of full-time student status in their medical record/chart. Elderly defined as: Fifty (50) years of age and older.
2. Only those patients (patients diagnosed with diabetes, students or elderly) who are referred by AISU and have a written authorization for vision care are covered under this policy. If a patient makes their own appointment with a vision care provider, they become fully responsible for the bill.
3. The Service Unit must apply the alternate resource rule. That is, if you have alternate resources of any kind, those resources must first be used. This is consistent with the Contract Health Care (CHC) regulations.
4. Glasses will be paid for only one (1) time every 2 years unless medically indicated, and only as funds are available.
5. AISU will pay for the exam, frames, lens and scratch guard for patients who qualify for our vision policy. The following limitations have been set:
   • No tinted lenses, unless medically indicated
   • No contact lenses, unless medically indicated
   • Only one (1) pair of glasses will allowed under this policy, unless medically indicated
   • Exam - limit up to $115.00
   • Frames - limit up to $60.00
   • Lens - limit up to $100.00
   • Scratch guard - limit up to $25.00

This policy supersedes all previous Vision policies.

Click here to view the current version of the Vision Policy in PDF format (11kB).