General Information
Patients come to Veterinary Vision from all over the Bay Area. While many are referred to us by their primary care veterinarian, our services are also available to patients who find us on their own. We see animals of any species (except humans!) and consult with local zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Symptoms that Indicate the Need for an Eye Exam
• Signs of discomfort may be localized (squinting, rubbing at the eye) or generalized. Animals with glaucoma often act depressed, as though they have a headache.
• Change in appearance of the eye – cloudiness, redness
• Discharge from the eye, especially anything other than clear tears
• Change in vision – hesitating when going down stairs, won’t play with toys
Any of these symptoms that occur suddenly and seem severe or are associated with a known injury to the eye may be an emergency. See instructions below for reaching a doctor after hours.
How to Contact Us
We have offices in San Francisco and San Carlos, California. The phone number for both offices is 650-551-1115 or 800-427-5367. Both offices are open during the week and on Saturdays. Our San Francisco office has evening hours. All of our doctors and staff work in both offices and your pet’s electronic medical record is always available.
After hours, the same phone number will reach our paging system and, if an emergency exists, there is a doctor on call that will be paged.
How to Schedule an Appointment
Appointments for both our offices are scheduled by calling 650-551-1115 or 800-427-5367. We have Saturday appointments in both offices and evening appointments in San Francisco. These appointments are often filled several weeks in advance. Our priority is the best possible care for your pet. We will always accommodate emergencies, however it may not be possible for an urgent appointment to occur at the location or with the doctor that you normally see.
We will try to remind you of your appointment in advance by either phone or email, whichever you prefer. The reminder is sent by email 2 days in advance; if you do not get your email that often, tell us to phone you instead.
We ask for a minimum of 24 cancellation of scheduled appointments.
Recheck Examinations and Refilling Medications
Recheck examinations will be scheduled to monitor treatment and to detect any complications associated with the condition or the medications that have been prescribed. Even though a condition may be chronic with long-term treatment expected, it is still important to examine the eyes periodically. We are only allowed to refill medications when we have made the clinical assessments that are appropriate for the condition. When it has been longer than a year since the last examination, we are legally prohibited from refilling medication.
Payment Options
Payment is required at the time services are rendered. Veterinary Vision accepts cash, checks, credit cards (Visa and Mastercard only) as payment. We understand that unexpected medical expenses can be difficult and eye conditions need to be treated promptly. CareCredit (http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/) is an option for deferring payment, with several plans with low to no interest.
History of Veterinary Vision
Veterinary Vision was established by Dr. Cynthia Cook in 1991 and was originally located in San Mateo, California. Dr. Albert Mughannam joined the practice in 1997, the same year that a second office was opened in San Francisco. Veterinary Vision moved from San Mateo to a new, state of the art facility in San Carlos in 2006. A new San Francisco office opened in 2009. The practice currently has four board certified ophthalmologists and a support staff of ten. Both practices see patients from the entire Bay Area.
Purpose Statement -- the ideals that guide our actions and our policies
• To improve and preserve the visual health and comfort of our animal patients.
• To communicate with our clients as partners in their animal's well being.
• To promote awareness and education about eye disease in pets to veterinarians and the public.
• To maintain a respectful and professional environment where expertly trained professionals can practice the highest quality of medicine possible.