FAQs (frequently asked questions) for existing patients
Is Dr. Folkers retiring? No
Can I still see Dr. Dave and get his help? Yes
—> for all things VISION,
—> to optimize your eye measurements (utilizing THE SILICON VALLEY REFRACTION TM), demonstrate, educate and help you decide best options and courses of action, get tailored prescriptions, and talk through how/when to best use them.
—> carefully work through your day-to-day life tasks/chores/hobbies, address your individual visual challenges and your eyes’ needs.
—> advocate/train/prepare/coach/and refer/facilitate pre and post eye surgeries and procedures to ensure the best outcome and confident decision-making; making time to plan and anticipate options for now and the years to come.
Will Dr. Folkers’ office still use my eye insurance plan? No
Will Dr. Dave be my only eye doctor? No
If I am currently a private payment/non-insurance patient, will I still have to go to another doctor for my comprehensive eye health exams? Yes
Will I still be able to utilize my eye insurance benefits? Yes
—> you will need to see another eye doctor (for all things HEALTH) to perform your regular comprehensive eye health examinations. In addition to applying Medicare or your vision insurance benefits or private payment for this exam, you can often use your eye insurance to purchase glasses and contact lenses with this doctor as well.
—> last day to directly use eye insurance benefits at Dr. Folkers office is Monday December 15th, 2025.
Will I be able to use my HSA (health savings account) and/or FSA (flexible spending account) funds for Dr. Folkers’ services and eyewear? Yes, absolutely
What is THE SILICON VALLEY REFRACTION TM?
Won’t my new eye health doctor measure my eyes and produce a prescription as well?
Won’t this be offensive/awkward with my new doctor if I come in with Dr. Folkers’ optimized prescription(s) and insist on using them for the glasses and contacts that I order?
—> the traditional way of measuring the power/prescription for a patient involves just that: measurement. Your eye doctor will almost assuredly include this in your comprehensive exam, and (from what I have researched, depending on the clinic style and environment) you can expect them to take a total time between 2-5 minutes to measure and coach you in regard to this measurement and application to your glasses.
—> THE SILICON VALLEY REFRACTION TM is so much more. (Infinitely more detail will be given after USPTO processes are 100% complete) For those of you who have had your prescription(s) significantly changed when seeing me for the first time, or no longer have headaches, those who now enjoy whole days with the comfort and lack of eyestrain - you already understand the difference allowed by this process. We supply appropriate prescriptions which are demonstrated, prescribed and when adapted to - after careful coaching and outlining of expectations and adaptation timelines - perform to allow you to be your best. This type of care requires a very significant and deliberate focus, educational component, and time commitment in the examination that currently doesn’t exist (and is becoming less and less feasible) in the current landscape of eye examination norms within the insurance-based, private-equity-owned, and retail environments. This being said, even the most intelligent, compassionate, and talented eye doctor you begin to see for your comprehensive exams, will not be able to commit the same amount of time, resources and directed focus to such a process. They should in no way feel offended (certainly none is intended, in any way,) that you are offering them your business based on prescriptions from your visit with Dr. Dave, your vision performance and optimization specialist, who carefully crafted and helped you to decide upon them after a complete examination focused on just that - visual performance, optimization and excellence .
—> Until the uniformity and reliable consistency of modern refraction (eye measurement) is in place and freely practiced by all eye care professionals, and those doctors create and spend the time it takes (,the even bigger challenge,) to thoroughly understand needs, appropriately measure, then educate and advise their patients; Dr. Folkers’ new style of practice may be the only model for providing a venue for patients to get this type of care - one that every eye patient needs and deserves for their vision and quality of life.
—> In the fall of 2026, I will begin to extend invitations to other area eye doctors (as well as headache specialists and occupational therapy offices, etc) to visit the office for their own evaluation (my treat), visit the website, email questions, and allow me to help in any way that I can to spread refractive excellence, patient advocacy, and education. We need happier eyes in happier people who are visually optimized, feeling good the whole day long, and are freed from experiencing unnecessary headaches or discomfort.
If I have an eye health emergency, should I call Dr. Folkers office? No
For traumatic injuries/immediate help: call 911
For serious eye health concerns, but not immediate: contact the ophthalmology department through your medical (not vision) insurance plan and be seen as soon as possible.
For general/not serious eye health concerns: reach out to your new comprehensive eye health examination doctor.
Will Dr. Dave see children as new patients after December 15, 2025? No
—> despite our love for and desire to take care of young patients, we have to direct our efforts toward the patients who will most benefit from our passion and specific services: 18 years of age until end of life.
—> exception will be made to patients seen before 12/15/25: we will ‘grandfather’ them if so desired.
Can I continue to buy contact lenses through Dr. Folkers’ office? No
Can I continue to buy glasses/spectacles through Dr. Folkers’ office? Yes
—> watch any eyeglass commercial today, you will quickly see that there are many moderate and low cost options for purchasing glasses outside of the professional office setting. Although this can be acceptable, some patients will want familiar, high quality materials and carefully made and dispensed eyewear rather than the possibility of lower quality options.
—> we will continue to offer, make and dispense eyewear with high quality components (trusted/proven progressive lens designs, anti-reflective coatings, photo-chromatic tints, varying indexes) and our careful measurements to patients who prefer our help on a private payment basis.
Is Dr. Folkers’ office turning into a ‘concierge’ or ‘boutique’ practice? Absolutely not
—> although we are converting to a 100% private payment, we are not turning to a style like that of concierge or boutique models. By having substantial (sometimes staggering) annual or monthly membership fees for access to their care and often charging additional fees once actually visiting the office - these models tend to feel financially punishing for loyal, returning patients and inaccessible to new patients. Just as our office has gone to great lengths (internal time, work, and expense) to subsidize the amount of time we have spent with our insurance patients, especially over the least few years, to continue the full quality of care you have come to expect - we will make every effort to keep the cost of our services fair, affordable, and accessible - now and in the future.
What will this all look like? What do I do now?
What will the new format look like step-by-step, practically?
Are you going to suggest or give referrals to new comprehensive health examination doctors? No. Why?
What about surgical referrals after consulting with Dr. Folkers in your new system? Yes
—> although I’ve met and know by face many eye doctors in the area, and know even more by name or on paper, I have not seen them for my own eye examinations and (unlike my surgical colleagues) have no way to quantify their individual care. I would not in good conscience be able to intelligently refer.
—> I do believe if you start asking friends, check out the offices closest and most convenient to your home or work, and do a little research - you will find a wonderful
doctor and office to work with.
—> for the next year or two, I would start your eye care plan with:
1. See Dr. Folkers first for a thorough vision evaluation and update; leave with a clear plan and optimized prescription(s)
2. Find and schedule with your new doctor for your comprehensive health examination
3. When going to see the new doctor, bring the prescriptions and share the plan; utilizing the prescriptions from Dr. Folkers, I would encourage you to use your insurance and get the materials you need (glasses, contact lenses) from this doctor/office - your support will help to keep this system in place.
—> As eye measurement/refraction becomes more thorough, thoughtful, and uniform in eye care practices over the coming years
1. See Dr Folkers first if:
a. You’ve experienced changes in your vision since the previous visit; you have concerns and need answers, a plan, and coaching.
b. You are positive your Rx has changed and/or need new glasses and/or contacts and you wants him to optimize, demonstrate, and help chose the strategy for the new prescription(s)before you see the doctor for your comprehensive eye health examination.
c. You are:
1. ready to evaluate for refractive surgery (pre op)
2. think you may be ready for cataract surgery (pre op), and you want his help, advise and advocacy to navigate the process and referral
3. you want to be seen after your cataract surgery (post op > 8 weeks recommended, 6 weeks minimum)
How much will Dr. Folkers’ services cost?
—> there will be three levels of service, each with there own fee, based simply on the amount of time anticipated in helping each patient - spelled out on the new website in detail (coming soon, by early December)
Level 1 a. Patients who currently wear glasses, or, have no history of prescription
b. Patients pre or post op for cataract
Level 2 Contact lens patients who wear the contacts into the office for more effective evaluation.
Level 3 full laser refractive surgery pre-op: measurements, dilation, coaching, referral.
Will Dr. Folkers fit contact lenses to new wearers, or, manage the on-going fit of existing contact lens wearers? No
—> your new comprehensive eye health examination doctor will manage both of these services
Will Dr. Folkers help to manage the prescription of existing contact lens wearers? Yes
—> 1. LEAST Preferred method: patients who would like contact lenses Rx advice only (not fitting advice) based on their current CL Rx (you must bring this info with you to your exam with Dr. Folkers) and extrapolating a more preferred prescription based off of the optimized measurements found for spectacles and talking through application (single vision, monovision, etc) with Dr. Folkers after THE SILICON VALLEY REFRACTION - level 1 service; not wearing contact lenses into office to see Dr. Folkers
—> 1. MOST Preferred method: patients who would like contact lenses Rx advice only (not fitting advice) based on their current CL Rx (you must bring this info with you to your exam with Dr. Folkers) and extrapolating a more preferred prescription based off over-refraction (measuring while wearing) of the contacts, as well as, considering the optimized measurements found for spectacles and talking through application (single vision, monovision, etc) with Dr. Folkers after THE SILICON VALLEY REFRACTION - level 2 service; wearing contact lenses into office to see Dr. Folkers
Will the office still be called SUNNYVALE OPTOMETRIC CENTER?
Why the name change to THE REFRACTIONIST Optometry?
—> it’s fun and seems so appropriate to have a fresh start, a relaunch - to solidify an evolved role and identity. The new name reflects our renewed mission and commitment to visual excellence, and, our dedication to devoting our time and effort and resources exclusively to you, our valued patient.
—> the legacy DBA (doing business as) is still in place/valid and may even show up on old paperwork, receipts, etc.
Is Dr. Folkers accepting NEW patients? Yes
—> it is exciting that our new practice format will increase our ability to offer help to an even broader base of patients. Dr. Folkers has already begun to reach out to local colleagues in the optometry and ophthalmology space in regard to the unique venue we are providing. We will also be reaching out to those in other disciplines where the visual component and ocular involvement may not (traditionally) have been deeply considered, diagnosed and addressed, or emphasized. This may include but is not limited to: neurology, medical headache specialists, occupational and physical therapists, chiropractors, workplace and ergonomic professionals, human resource specialists, life coaches, mental health professionals, and others who strive to help people feel and perform their best.
—> We are seeking to help anyone who:
1. is not (or has never) felt satisfied with the feeling or performance of their vision and visual correction - need optimization of visual comfort, quality, and want to feel better in their visual space/workplace.
2. is seeking but has not had more complete victories (even after other professionals have thoroughly exhausted diagnosis and treatments avenues - I want to work with them) in regard to beating headache/discomfort, especially in the frontal portion of their head and in the afternoon/evenings.
3. is seeking a vision solution specific to their unique niche, station in life, passion, workstation, and lifestyle.
—> I want to assure every patient who sends a friend, colleague or loved one in knowing with certainty that this new relationship will receive the same concern, care, consideration and be given our best efforts, just as we have enjoyed and look forward to continue giving them to you. Thank you so very much for your support and confidence.
Is Dr. Folkers going to start a YouTube channel for: those interested in understanding vision, patients, parents of younger patients, optometry and ophthalmology students, young doctors and seasoned veterans? Yes, details coming very soon