Eye Clinic Wait Times, IT, and Saturday Hours

Times that are relatively quiet:
・Early in the morning（9:00-10:00）
・Weekday mornings
・When afternoon hours begin (2:00–3:00 p.m.)

Times that tend to be crowded:
・Weekdays after 3:00 p.m. (when elementary school lets out)
・Saturday mornings (we do not hold afternoon hours on Saturdays)

Appointments are not required.
We accept appointments for those who prefer one.

The currentwait timeestimate can be viewed in real time.

Wait Times, IT, and Saturday Hours at the Eye Clinic

How long an eye exam takes

From 5 minutes to nearly 3 hours— the time one person’s eye care takes varies widely.

Finishes relatively quickly: 5 to 15 minutes

・Conjunctivitis, checking how symptoms are progressing
・Glaucoma・Uveitis・Retinal disease・Myopia in children・Orthokeratology and other regular check-ups

Unexpected findings may turn up, and additional tests or treatment may be needed.

Tests and treatments with waiting time in between: 40 minutes to 2.5 hours (total)

・Dilated exam (mydriasis): 45 minutes to over 1 hour
After the dilating drops, a wait of 20–30 minutes,
then a detailed fundus exam with the slit lamp microscope, and explanation,
retinal laser treatment, and so on.
* Fundus exams that do not dilate the pupilare often sufficient and help shorten waiting time.

・SLT(glaucoma treatment): 2.5 hours
Explanation, same-day eye pressure measurement, drops before treatment, 1 hour of waiting
After the 5–10 minute treatment, drops, 1 hour of waiting
After eye pressure measurement, the visit ends

・Incision for a chalazion (stye-like lump): 45 minutes (total)
About 30 minutes for anesthesia, then chalazion incision in the outpatient procedure room (5–10 minutes)

Tests and guidance that take time: 1 to 2 hours

・Eye exams for children (strabismus, amblyopia)
・Dynamic visual field test (Goldmann perimetry)
・Fitting contact lenses for the very first time
・Orthokeratology fitting (first day)
・Amblyopia training

Retinal detachment, acute glaucoma attack, and other eye emergencies (eye contusion, retinal vascular occlusion): 1 to 2 hours

・Additional tests and examination
・Intravenous drip to lower eye pressure
・Time-consuming explanation
・Same-day referral to a university hospital or medical center
and so on — these take time as needed.

Explanation until you understand: ∞

We keep writing explanations of each disease, how to think about it, and more, on ourwebsite.
We add images as appropriate to make them as easy to understand as possible.
In the exam room, we use a large vertical monitor and an iPad to explain.
As a result, this shortens the explanation time.

Because the content is general,it can also be tailored to each person.
You can also read the explanations after you go home.
Please choose a category from the “Tags” section.
As a supplementary explanation, we may also point you to the relevant part of this website (made by the doctor himself).

At the end of everyone’s exam,
we always check, “Is there anything else you would like to ask?”
To see the next patient, we may ask you to wait for a moment in the middle of an explanation.

During the day, all of the above are mixed together.
This is the nature of eye care.
（How it differs from businesses that can divide time into set slots, such as hair salons, lessons, chiropractic, beauty salons, and restaurants）

The “Meaning of Appointments,” and Our Efforts

As described above,
there are busy times and relaxed times, varying by day and hour.

The use of IT equipment and advances in medical devices help shorten waiting times.

We respect the appointment times of those who booked a time slot, while calling patients who came that day in order.
Because of the nature of eye care described above, the “meaning of an appointment” can sometimes be lost.

Even without an appointment, some days the visit finishes quickly.

Working Hours and Clinic Hours / Saturday Morning Hours

Our staff start work at 8:30.
We prepare for the day and get ready for the start of morning hours.

We are closed on Friday afternoons.
Until 2:00 p.m. we carry out training, cleaning of the clinic, and administrative work.

Many people can only see an eye doctor on Saturdays, and waiting times may become long.
We would like to accommodate them as much as possible.

On Saturdays only, we hurry the preparation a little
so that we can start seeing patients shortly after 8:30.

Paid Leave Days

Everyone who works has “paid leave.”
We coordinate our wishes sensibly and take days off on good days.

We need to make sure this does not burden patients.
We try not to schedule time-consuming tests or non-urgent tests on those days.
On the day one person is out, everyone else does their best.

Addendum:
Since spring 2024, we have been able to respond with an increased number of staff.

Our Goal

Our goal is to provide high-quality, comprehensive eye care.
We will keep working toward that.

We who work in medicine believe that
“being kind to people”
is what matters most.

We find the greatest value in providing accurate care to those who are anxious or troubled by a disease, and in offering as much reassurance as we can.
Case by case, I hope to tell each person the best approach for them.
・How your eyes are doing right now

・Whether it is a worrying condition or not
・The outlook going forward
We place the greatest importance on “explanation.”

For diseases beyond our scope, we refer patients to
Kyushu University Hospital or other core hospitals,
and sometimes consult doctors far away by email.
Connections between people are very important.
Thank you, everyone, as always.

“With all our effort”
In our small space, we want to keep providing care, all of us, with our best effort.
Please ask us about anything you are unsure of.