Optical

We are proud of our history of providing quality eyewear and value to our patients for more than 50 years. 

Our opticians have over 100 years of combined experience and are all certified by the American Board of Opticianry.  With this expertise, we are able to offer the best advice about the latest lens options and frame fashions.

Eye doctors in Crystal, MNWith a wide range of available lens designs and materials, our skilled opticians are able to recommend the best options to properly fill your eyeglass prescription.  It’s also important to find a frame that not only fits properly, but has the right shape and color to flatter your face shape.  We have a large selection of over 1,200 frames to choose from, and our opticians will assist you in finding the perfect style to complement your appearance.  To further ensure your satisfaction, most eyeglass orders are processed in our own onsite optical laboratory.  Our top priority is giving meticulous attention to your individual needs and providing the personalized eye care that you want and deserve. 

All of the glasses purchased with us automatically come with a one-year warranty against any manufacturer defects.  Please see our opticians for further details on our warranties.

Because regular frame and lens maintenance will lengthen the life of your eyewear, we encourage regular visits to our office so our opticians can keep your eyewear in the best possible condition.

We feel strongly that you will receive the best price in town with us.  To back that up, we will match any written competitor’s price.

Contact Lenses

With today’s technology, nearly everyone can wear contact lenses successfully, whether the patient is nearsighted, farsighted, has astigmatism, or even qualifies for bifocals.  Our staff will take the time to explain and recommend a lens that best fits your lifestyle. 

It is very important for you to understand that the contact lens prescription is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and needs to be assessed on a yearly basis.

Not all patients can wear contact lenses due to individual medical conditions, such as severe allergies, low tear production (dry eyes), or even chronic eye infections.  However, depending on the cause, we may still be able to fit you in a suitable lens.  Several approaches can be taken that may allow you to wear lenses, such as the new silicone-based lens materials, moisture drops, punctal plugs and/or simply switching solutions. 

Any follow-up appointments regarding the fit of your contacts will be covered by our service agreement.  Crystal Vision Clinic also offers all contact lens patients a 25% discount off any non-prescription sunglasses.

 To ensure the best quality in lenses and service, give us a call to see how we can help you be a successful contact lens wearer.


            

Comprehensive Eye Care

Crystal Vision Clinic provides comprehensive eye exams. The doctor will assess a patient’s refractive error (the need for spectacles), binocular function (how the eyes work together), oculomotor reflexes (pupil reactions, ocular muscle balance), accommodative function (ability to focus at near), visual field and ocular health (cataracts, retinal health). Because the pupils are small and become even smaller when light enters the eye, the view of the retina and other posterior structures of the eye are limited. Therefore, dilation of the pupil with eye drops and/or retinal photography is helpful to adequately examine the retina.

Retinal photography is completed with our Optomap® Retinal Exam scanning system. This patient friendly, quick exam captures an image of virtually the entire retina in less than a second. Not only has this technology proved highly effective at educating patients about the health of their eyes, but is an excellent way to monitor change in retinal health over a period of time. Diabetic and high blood pressure patients are screened regularly for retinopathy using this system, and the effects of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts can also be monitored regularly. Healthy patients and those with vascular health issues alike will benefit from documented photographs of their retinas.  

Eye Disease

Crystal Vision Clinic provides medical care for ocular infections and inflammations such as keratitis (corneal inflammation), conjunctivitis (pink eye), uveitis (internal eye inflammation), as well as dry eye syndrome and eyelid conditions. Foreign body removal from the affected structures of the eye is also provided. If surgery is indicated for any condition, the patient will be referred to the appropriate surgeon.
Glaucoma and macular degeneration are common eye diseases often treated and managed at Crystal Vision Clinic. Each patient is screened appropriately for the existence of these conditions. GDx® is a glaucoma-monitoring device, utilized at this office. It can detect very subtle changes in the optic nerve head that would show a glaucoma-related progression, a wonderful addition to the regular screenings and exams performed by your eye doctor. Evidence has shown that those patients with diabetes and hypertension are at a higher risk for developing glaucoma. Proper screening with both the Optomap® and GDx® systems will ensure the most comprehensive eye care for the patient. 

Systemic Disease

Eye care is a vital component of care in patients with cardiovascular, neurological, autoimmune and many other systemic diseases. Diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and thyroid dysfunction are all conditions that may cause problems in the eyes and affect vision. Our office works closely with other hospital health care providers and clinics to provide dilated eye exams. We also will communicate with your other health care providers when necessary.

 

Contact Lens Care

There are two categories of contact lens patients: (1) Medically indicated and (2) elective. Most contact lens wearers fall under the "elective" category. People in this category have chosen to wear contact lenses for cosmetic, fashion, or vocational reasons. On the other hand, some people cannot achieve clear, comfortable vision with spectacles due to certain eye diseases or very high prescriptions. Only when contact lenses are worn can these patients achieve good vision. These contact lenses are deemed medically indicated for these patients.

Medically Indicated Contact Lens Care

If you have been referred for medically indicated contact lens care from your eye care provider, please call the center directly at 763-537-3213. When scheduling your appointment, please inform the clerk that you were referred for medically indicated contact lens care.

Elective Contact Lens Care

Based upon staffing, resources, and demand for optometric care, Crystal Vision Clinic has established the following policies governing elective contact lens care:

  1. If you are a current contact lens wearer, your doctor may update your contact lens prescription if the following conditions are met:
    1. You bring your contact lenses the day of your exam.
    2. You bring your contact lens prescription information the day of your exam. (The easiest way to provide this information is to bring the original boxes, packages, or vials. Your glasses prescription will NOT provide the necessary information to update your contact lens prescription.)
    3. The contact lens fit is acceptable.
    4. Your eyes are not experiencing any adverse reactions to contact lens wear.
    5. You follow your doctor’s guidance regarding contact lens cleaning and wearing schedule.
    6. You agree to maintain a pair of spectacles with a current prescription.
  1. If you have never worn contact lenses, we will not issue you a contact lens prescription. A contact lens prescription can only be issued after lenses have been fit properly to the eyes and follow-up care shows that they provide good vision, comfort, and eye health.

  2. Patients who have worn contact lenses in the recent past, but are not current wearers should bring as much information as possible about their previous contact lens prescription.

Corneal Reshaping Treatment (CRT)
Advanced Vision Enhancement
Millions of patients have proven the success of contact lenses in correcting their vision. However, did you know that there exists a special type of contact lens you sleep in to correct your vision during the day? Corneal Reshaping Therapy, or CRT, is a sophisticated procedure that utilizes specially designed therapeutic contact lenses for the correction of nearsightedness. CRT contact lenses are worn while you sleep to gently and non-surgically reshape the cornea. Upon awakening, one removes the contact lenses to allow for clear, uncorrected vision during the waking hours. This reshaping is temporary, and can be adjusted for prescription changes. If the lenses are not worn for several days, the vision returns to its original state. This is a great option for children too young for laser vision correction, but desiring to be free of glasses or contact lenses during the waking hours.

The InfantSEE® Program
Your Baby’s Windows to the World
Children’s vision is an often-overlooked aspect of well care when people are young. However, it is pertinent to ensure a child is seeing well. It is estimated that over 80% of what a child learns in her first years of school are taken in visually. This is why it is important to have several comprehensive eye examinations before a child begins school as well as during the schooling process.

The InfantSEE® program is a first-of-its kind public health promotion through the American Optometric Association. This program offers one free, comprehensive eye examination to children of the age six to twelve months. Vision plays a major role in infant development, and any family history of eye disease or the need for glasses is an excellent reason to have your baby’s eyes examined. Infant eye examinations are an important addition to a baby’s well-care routine.