Most people look for an optometrist when something small comes up: an exam is overdue, reading is getting harder, or eyes feel dry and gritty by the end of the day. Those are good reasons to book. But the optometrist you choose also shapes what happens next if an exam turns up something more serious, or if you decide you’re ready to be done with glasses.
If you’re comparing optometrists in Tucson, AZ, one factor that rarely gets attention is where the optometrist practices. At Hodges Eye Care & Surgical Center, the optometrist works in the same building as the practice’s ophthalmologists and its on-site surgery center. This guide explains how that setup works, where an optometrist fits in your care, and what to consider when you’re choosing.
What an Optometrist Does
An optometrist (Doctor of Optometry, or OD) is a primary eye care doctor. Optometrists perform comprehensive eye exams, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and diagnose and manage many common eye conditions, including dry eye, eyelid inflammation, and early signs of disease. They don’t perform surgery. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MDs) who do both medical and surgical eye care.
That’s the short version. For a closer look at how the roles differ, our guide to choosing an ophthalmologist in Tucson covers it in detail. The more useful question for this article is what happens when those roles work side by side.
How Care Works When Your Optometrist and Surgeon Share an Office
In many cases, an optometrist in a standalone office finds a problem, writes a referral, and sends you to a surgeon across town. You start over with new paperwork, repeat some testing, and wait for another appointment.
In a practice where optometry and surgery are under one roof, the path is more direct:
- One record. Your history, imaging, and test results are already in the chart when a surgeon reviews your case.
- Shared technology. Diagnostic equipment used for your exam is the same equipment your surgeon relies on for planning.
- Direct handoff. If your optometrist sees something that needs a surgeon’s opinion, the ophthalmologists are down the hall.
- Surgery close to home. Hodges Eye Care’s surgery center is located at the same address as the clinic, 1502 N. Tucson Blvd.
Consider a common example. A patient comes in for a routine exam because reading has become harder. The exam shows an early cataract and some dry eye. The optometrist treats the dry eye, updates the prescription, and documents the cataract. A year or two later, when the cataract starts making night driving uncomfortable, the patient’s records, measurements, and history are already in place for a cataract evaluation. There’s no starting from scratch.
This kind of teamwork is often called co-managed care. Your optometrist and surgeon each handle the parts of your care that fit their training, and they communicate throughout.
Where an Optometrist Fits Along the Way
Comprehensive eye exams and early detection
A comprehensive exam is the foundation. It goes well beyond reading an eye chart, with checks of eye pressure, side vision, the front of the eye, and the retina and optic nerve after dilation. Conditions like glaucoma can progress for years without symptoms, so an exam is often the first and only way to catch them early. Learn more about what’s included in a comprehensive eye exam at Hodges Eye Care.
Dry eye and eyelid care
Dry eye is one of the most common reasons people see an eye doctor. A large national survey published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology estimated that about 16.4 million U.S. adults, roughly 6.8 percent, have been diagnosed with dry eye disease, with rates rising sharply with age. Tucson’s dry desert air, wind, and dust don’t help.
Dry eye often goes hand in hand with blepharitis, a chronic inflammation along the eyelid margins. An optometrist can identify the cause and recommend treatment, which may include eyelid hygiene, prescription drops, in-office lid cleaning with BlephEx, or punctal plugs that help keep tears on the eye longer. Learn more about dry eye and blepharitis.
In a surgical practice, dry eye care has a second purpose: an unhealthy eye surface can affect the measurements used to plan LASIK or cataract surgery, and dry eye is one of the factors that can rule out LASIK entirely. Getting it under control first can make you a better candidate and help your results.
Evaluating whether vision correction surgery makes sense
If you’re curious about life without glasses, your eye exam is where that conversation starts. Candidacy for LASIK depends on factors like age, a stable prescription for at least a year, corneal health, and the absence of significant dry eye or certain autoimmune conditions.
Not everyone is a good fit for LASIK, and that’s where a practice with several options helps. Depending on your eyes, alternatives may include PRK, an implantable contact lens (ICL), or refractive lens exchange. The surgeon makes the final recommendation, but a thorough exam gives everyone the information needed to start that discussion.
Spotting cataracts and preparing for surgery
Cataracts often show up first at a routine exam as a gradual change in prescription, more glare at night, or colors that look duller. An optometrist can identify a developing cataract, track it over time, and recognize when it’s starting to interfere with daily life.
When it’s time, the handoff to a cataract surgeon is straightforward. At Hodges Eye Care, cataract surgery options include no-stitch surgery, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, and premium intraocular lenses, including toric lenses that correct astigmatism. Learn more on the cataract surgery page.
Follow-up care after surgery
After LASIK, cataract surgery, or other procedures, follow-up visits check healing, eye pressure, and vision. In a co-managed practice, your optometrist may handle some of these visits in coordination with your surgeon.
Follow-up care matters long after the first few weeks, too. After cataract surgery, the thin capsule that holds the new lens can become cloudy over time. This affects about 1 in 4 people within five years of cataract surgery and is treated with a quick, painless laser procedure called a posterior capsulotomy. Routine exams help catch it.
Ongoing monitoring for chronic conditions
People with diabetes, glaucoma, or early macular degeneration need regular monitoring, sometimes for decades. Careful, consistent exams help detect change early, and when a condition moves beyond what monitoring and medication can manage, the surgeons are already part of the team. Learn more about glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.
Why Tucson’s Climate Makes Regular Eye Care Especially Important
Southern Arizona is a wonderful place to live, but it’s hard on eyes. Low humidity pulls moisture from the eye’s surface, monsoon winds and dust carry irritants, and intense sunshine delivers a heavy dose of ultraviolet light nearly every day of the year.
Over time, those conditions contribute to more than discomfort. Long-term UV exposure is linked to cataracts and to pterygium, a fleshy growth on the white of the eye that can creep toward the cornea and, if it grows large enough, affect vision. Chronic dryness and eyelid inflammation can make contact lenses uncomfortable and blur vision throughout the day.
Regular exams help catch these changes early, when simple steps work best. That might mean quality sunglasses with full UV protection, a wide-brimmed hat for outdoor activities, a humidifier at home, a change in contact lens habits, or treatment for inflamed eyelids before they cause bigger problems. And if a pterygium or cataract does progress, the surgical team is already in place.
When an Optometrist Will Bring In a Surgeon
Your optometrist may recommend an evaluation by an ophthalmologist if an exam shows:
- A cataract that’s affecting your vision or daily activities
- Eye pressure or optic nerve changes that suggest glaucoma is progressing
- Retinal changes from diabetes that need closer attention
- A cloudy lens capsule after previous cataract surgery
- Interest in LASIK, PRK, ICL, or lens replacement surgery
- A growth on the eye, such as a pterygium, that’s enlarging or affecting vision
Sudden vision loss, a curtain or shadow over your vision, new flashes or floaters, or eye pain with nausea need prompt attention. Call the office right away or seek emergency care.
What to Look For When Comparing Optometrists in Tucson
Every patient weighs things differently, but a few questions can help:
- What happens if I need surgery? Ask whether the optometrist works with surgeons directly and how referrals are handled.
- Is the practice equipped for medical eye care? Dry eye, glaucoma monitoring, and diabetic eye exams require more than a vision test.
- Is my insurance accepted? Check both medical and vision coverage, since medical eye problems are often billed to medical insurance.
- Is care available in my language? Clear communication makes it easier to understand your options and follow through on treatment.
- How long are appointments? A thorough exam takes time, and a rushed visit can miss things.
Meet the Team at Hodges Eye Care & Surgical Center
Dr. Victor Calderon, OD earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry and brings more than a decade of clinical experience in comprehensive eye care, refractive surgery, and the management of complex eye conditions. He is fluent in Spanish and committed to advancing medical optometry.
He works alongside the practice’s ophthalmologists:
- Dr. Timothy L. Hodges, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist who trained at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and has performed refractive surgery for more than 30 years, with a special interest in laser vision correction and no-stitch cataract surgery.
- Dr. Benjamin Smith, MD, a board-certified comprehensive ophthalmologist and retired Army colonel who trained at Walter Reed and spent 10 years teaching cataract surgery, refractive surgery, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
Planning Your Visit
Hodges Eye Care & Surgical Center is at 1502 N. Tucson Blvd. and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. A few things to know before your appointment:
- A referral is needed for a comprehensive exam. Get one from your primary care doctor or insurance company before scheduling.
- Plan for two to three hours. Thorough testing and dilation take time.
- Bring a driver if you need one. Dilation can cause light sensitivity and blurry near vision for a few hours.
- Bring your insurance cards, glasses or contact lens information, and a list of medications. Hodges Eye Care accepts most major insurance, including Blue Cross, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Tricare, Health Net, and Medicare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral to see the optometrist at Hodges Eye Care?
Yes. A referral from your primary care doctor or insurance company is needed before scheduling a comprehensive exam.
Can an optometrist tell me if I’m a candidate for LASIK?
An eye exam gathers much of the information needed to evaluate candidacy, including prescription stability and eye surface health. The final recommendation comes from the surgeon, and Hodges Eye Care offers free vision correction consultations.
How often should I have an eye exam?
Most people should have a comprehensive exam every one to three years, depending on age, risk factors, and overall health. People with diabetes, glaucoma, or other eye conditions, and adults over 60, typically need exams more often. Your eye doctor will recommend a schedule that fits you.
Can I get a glasses or contact lens prescription at my exam?
Yes. After a comprehensive exam, your treatment plan often includes a prescription for glasses or contact lenses, along with any recommendations for eye health.
Is surgery performed at the same location?
Yes. The surgery center for Hodges Eye Care is at the same address as the clinic, 1502 N. Tucson Blvd.
Can I see the optometrist in Spanish?
Dr. Calderon is fluent in Spanish, which many patients and families find helpful when discussing exam results and treatment options.
Schedule Your Visit
Whether you need a thorough eye exam, relief from dry, irritated eyes, or a clear answer about cataracts or vision correction, Hodges Eye Care & Surgical Center brings optometry and surgery together in one Tucson practice. Make an appointment or call (520) 326-4321.
