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How do I make an appointment?

All patients are seen by appointment only.  Appointments for either our Camarillo or Woodland Hills office can be made by calling our Camarillo office during our normal office hours - see below.  All new appointments must be guaranteed with a credit card number (there is no charge unless you miss your appointment, or cancel your appointment with less than 24 hours notice).   If you cancel or change your appointment with less than 24 hours notice, this deposit is non-refundable.  

Here is how to contact us:

Office hours:
Monday - Friday  8:30 am - noon
                          1:00 pm - 5 pm

Office phone number (for both Camarillo and Woodland Hills) is:
            805-388-3933
            866-393-8387 (toll-free)

Our Fax number (for both Camarillo and Woodland Hills) is:
        805-383-6687

Our mailing address (for both Camarillo and Woodland Hills) is:
        1221- B Avenida Acaso
        Camarillo, CA  93012

Request AECC Staff call you to schedule and Appointment.

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1.  New Clients

Please take a moment to print and fill out our Client and Patient Registration form.  If possible, please mail or FAX it to us before your appointment, or bring it with you at the time of your appointment (this will reduce any waiting time for you and your pet prior to the examination).

Click here to download our "Client Registration File" -- (58 KByte file)

Click here to download our "AECC Appointment Policies File" -- (126 KByte file)

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Please have your veterinarian fill out the "Animal Eye Care Clinics Referral Form" form prior to your appointment.   This form lists your pet's eye problem, treatment information, and ophthalmic history.  There is a map on the back of the form with instructions on how to get to our offices (or, click here for directions to our offices).   Please bring this form with you and have it available at the time of your appointment (or have your veterinarian mail or FAX it to us prior to your appointment).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR NEW CLIENTS:

The California Veterinary Medical Board mandates that a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship be established.  If you are a new client and you are unable to personally bring your pet to us for the examination appointment (i.e., your pet is brought to us by your agent such as a neighbor, friend, or personal assistant), then we will not be able to proceed with your pet's examination, and will will not be able to perform any needed diagnostic procedures or treatments until we have personally spoken with you, and obtained your written permission to proceed with the recommended procedures.    This may result in delays in providing treatment to your pet. Therefore, we require that the actual guardian/owner of the pet attend the initial examination appointment at the Animal Eye Care Clinics.

Click here to download our "Animal Eye Care Clinics Referral Form"
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2.  Please fast your pet if surgery is planned or likely

Please fast your pet (no food after midnight the night before your appointment).  Fasting is necessary in case any surgery, or procedure requiring sedation, is needed.  If  your pet is prone to carsickness, fasting will also reduce the chances of your pet vomiting in your car.  

3.  What to bring

Bring all of your pet's medications, and any notes, information, medical records, etc. provided by your veterinarian. Please have your veterinarian fill out an Animal Eye Care Clinics "Patient Referral Form" prior to your pet's visit.  On the back of this form is a map on how to get to the Animal Eye Care Clinic offices.

Click here to download our "Animal Eye Care Clinics Referral Form" -- (1 MegByte file)            
(Please have your veterinarian fill out this form prior to your pet's appointment at the Animal Eye Care Clinics)

4.  Safety Issues

For your pet's safety, and the safety of other pets, all animals must be restrained by a leash or harness, or placed in a kennel prior to entry to the Animal Eye Care Clinics.  

Please inform us before your appointment if a muzzle or other means of restraint will be required for your pet's examination, or if we need to make special arrangements for your pet (for example, if your dog does not like other dogs, then we can escort you directly into an examination room, rather than having you wait in the reception area with other dogs).   If you have any concerns about your pet's behavior prior to your arrival at our office, please call us first.  Due to liability issues, we will not examine vicious animals, or animals that pose a danger to other pets, our staff, or other clients.

5.  Arriving on time for your appointment.

Your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you and your pet.   It is important that you  arrive on time for your appointment, otherwise we may not be able to accommodate you, and we may need to reschedule your visit.  If you think that you will arrive late for your appointment, please call as soon as possible so that we may advise you if your late arrival can be accommodated, or if we will need to reschedule you.  

We are not responsible for adverse freeway or weather conditions that may make you late for your appointment.   Missed appointments, or those cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time, will be charged a missed appointment fee.  If you do not agree with our missed appointment/cancellation policy, we ask that you do not make an examination appointment at the Animal Eye Care Clinics.

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What type of appointments are available?

Please note that all appointments are available by appointment only.

1. New patient consultations for medical or surgical problems

2. Reexamination appointments

3. Genetic eye screening (C.E.R.F.) appointments
The Canine Eye Registration Foundation ("C.E.R.F".) is an organization dedicated to eliminating inherited eye diseases in purebred dogs.  A  "C.E.R.F." examination is a yearly ophthalmic examination performed on purebred dogs to screen them for inherited eye disorders.   We require that you bring following information for your dog's  "C.E.R.F." appointment: the dog's AKC registered name and AKC registration number, and dog's date of birth.   For more information on the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, visit www.vdmb.org  

4. Telephone consultations
a)  New clients 
By law, the doctor is unable to discuss your pet's eye problem over the phone if your pet has never been examined at our clinic before.  In order for us to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for your pet, an ophthalmic examination must first be performed.

b)  Established clients 
If you are an established client, some quick questions can be handled over the phone.  However, complicated questions or multiple concerns are best handled with an office visit.   If your pet has not been examined by our office within the last 12 months, by law, an office visit is required to provide you with medical advice.

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What does an ophthalmic examination involve?

An ophthalmic examination for a new patient includes:

Additional diagnostic tests may be required for your pet, such as Schirmer tear testing for dry eye, or tonometry (intraocular pressure measurement) for glaucoma.  These tests are usually performed at the time of the initial consultation. Other specialized testing (such as electroretinography to test the electrical activity of the retina) may require hospitalization, or scheduling another appointment at a  future date.

*Please note:  The fee for regular or emergency ophthalmic examinations does not include any additional diagnostic tests, treatments, or medications.

At the Animal Eye Clinic, it is our goal that you leave our clinic with a good understanding of your pet's eye condition.  We will explain the diagnosis, medication and treatment instructions to you, both verbally and on your detailed written "Patient Visit Summary".  One or more of our client education handouts may also be given to you explaining your pet's ophthalmic condition(s). 

Timely communication with your regular veterinarian is also very important to us.  For all new and reexamination patients, a copy of your Patient Visit Summary is also mailed to your regular veterinarian, usually on the same day that your pet is examined.  For new patients, or existing patients with new eye problems, we may also call your veterinarian to discuss your pet's ophthalmic condition. 

The Animal Eye Clinic uses a custom-designed computer application called Cyberian Specialist^TM to prepare a Patient Visit Summary for each client visit.    It was designed and written by William Taber (the Animal Eye Clinic business manager) and Dr. Jeannette da Silva Curiel.   Cyberian Specialist^TM has gradually evolved since 1992, and is continually being updated to improve our services to our patients, clients, and referring veterinarians.    Several other veterinary ophthalmologists in North America also use Cyberian Specialist^TM in their veterinary ophthalmology practices.
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Emergency Appointments during regular office hours

Emergency appointments will be worked into our schedule as needed. Emergency appointments incur an additional fee.   If you think your pet has an ophthalmic emergency, please contact our office at 805-388-3933 to arrange for an emergency examination appointment.    

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Emergency Appointments after-hours, weekends, or holidays

(Please note - running out of medications does not constitute an emergency - please see "Prescription refill requests" to refill medications during normal business hours).

Click here for information on after-hours emergency appointments.

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How much does an appointment cost?

Our standard examination fee includes a complete ophthalmic examination of both eyes, using slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy.  Any additional diagnostic procedures that are indicated for your pet's particular problem (such as tear testing, intraocular pressure measurement, fluorescein staining of the eye, etc.) are not included in the standard examination and are charged for in addition to the standard examination fee.   

Therefore, the cost for an ophthalmic evaluation of your pet will depend on the nature of your pet's eye problem, and if any specialized diagnostic testing is required for your pet.  For example, patients with dry eye or glaucoma will usually require one or more diagnostic tests to be performed in addition to a complete ophthalmic examination. 
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How much does surgery cost?

For most surgeries, we cannot provide you with an accurate estimate without first examining your pet.  This is because each patient is different, and some surgeries (such as eyelid surgery) are more or less complicated than others.  If surgery is indicated for your pet, we will provide you with a complete written estimate for the surgical procedure.
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How do I cancel or reschedule an appointment?

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call us at our Camarillo office (see above) as soon as possible, so that we may help another patient in your pet's place.  If you are calling after hours, you may leave us a message on our voice mail system to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

Missed appointments, or those canceled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time will be charged a missed appointment fee. 
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Missed or cancelled appointments

Missed appointments, or those cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time, will be charged a missed appointment fee.  

Your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you and your pet.  Please be considerate of others - if you miss your appointment or cancel at the last minute, we will be unable to care for another patient in your pet's place, and we have no method of recovering lost revenue due to "no-shows" or last-minute cancellations.  

We do not try to "cram" as many patients as possible into our appointment schedule.   At our hospital, we believe that we can provide optimal veterinary care only if we have enough time set aside to adequately examine your pet, and discuss your pet's ophthalmic condition and treatment options in detail with you.    This requires that you arrive on time for your appointment.  If you are late for your appointment, we may not be able to accommodate you, and we may need to reschedule your visit.  If you think that you will be late for your appointment, please call us as soon as possible, so that we may advise you if your late arrival can be accommodated, or if we will need to reschedule you.  

If you do not agree with our missed appointment/cancellation policy, we ask that you do not make an examination appointment at the Animal Eye Care Clinics.

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Delays in Service

A)  Due to emergencies-
Please realize that we make a sincere attempt to see you on time for your appointment.  However, unexpected emergencies can occur, and sometimes cause unavoidable delays in our schedule.   Please excuse any delays caused by emergencies.  We will provide you and your pet with the same careful attention devoted to others. 

B)  If you cannot personally attend your pet's examination appointment- 
If you are unable to personally bring your pet to us for the examination appointment (i.e., your pet is brought to us by your agent, i.e., a neighbor, friend, or personal assistant), then we will not be able to proceed with certain diagnostic procedures or any surgical procedures until we have personally spoken with you, and obtained your written permission to proceed with the recommended procedures.    This may result in delays in providing treatment to your pet, or require scheduling another appointment for another date.  Therefore, we strongly encourage the actual owner/ guardian of the pet to attend all examination appointments at the Animal Eye Care Clinics.

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