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School of Optometry

UAB Eye Care

mTBI and Sports-Related Concussion Clinic

Faculty in the UAB Eye Care Pediatric Optometry Service provide exams to assess vision in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and sports-related concussion. Those diagnosed with mTBI and concussions are examined to assess eye teaming and tracking skills, focusing strength and accuracy and objective measures of neuro-ocular integrity, including state-of-the-art pupillometry and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

The clinic serves child or adult athletes, veterans or other individuals with cumulative impact exposure or more isolated mTBI.

With the passing of the Alabama state law that requires all student-athletes diagnosed with concussion to be cleared by a physician prior to returning to play, neurologists, orthopedists and neurosurgeons at the Children’s of Alabama Concussion Clinic have seen more than 1,000 patients with concussion in the last three years. Additionally, research from nationally recognized optometrists have shown that the prevalence of convergence insufficiency and eye tracking abnormalities is much higher in individuals with concussion.

UAB Eye Care faculty have been investigators in the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT), which was funded by the National Institutes of Health. They now serve as as investigators in NIH’s CITT-Attention and Reading Trial.

Faculty also received funding to establish a Vestibular-Ocular Reflex (VOR) lab to study the VOR in mTBI. Research in the VOR Lab seeks to discover objective biomarkers indicating concussion and mTBI in athletes and veterans.

Directions and Parking

1716 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: (205) 975-2020

UAB Eye Care is conveniently located in the heart of the UAB campus at 1716 University Blvd and offers free, dedicated parking for our clinic’s patients in a lot adjacent to our building. Street parking may also be available, and UAB employees or downtown Birmingham residents may be able to walk to our clinic.

From I-65/University Boulevard intersection: Head north on University Boulevard. Continue north approximately one mile and stay in the left lane. Turn left into our parking lot just before 18th Street South. Press the intercom button at the gate, and tell the operator your name. You will then be given access to the parking lot. Note: Do not take the driveway for parking at the Eye Foundation Hospital, located to the right of the UAB Eye Care driveway.

From Red Mountain Expressway: Exit the Red Mountain Expressway onto University Boulevard heading south. Turn right into our parking lot just past 18th Street South. The parking entrance is the second driveway on the right. Press the intercom button at the gate, and tell the operator your name. You will then be given access to the parking lot. Note: Do not take the driveway for parking at the Eye Foundation Hospital, located to the right of the UAB Eye Care driveway.

Patient and Visitor Information

  • Emergencies

    If you have an emergency after normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 am to 5 pm) or during a holiday, please call (205) 975-2020. You will hear instructions on how to contact the on-call doctor.

    If you call after hours and it is not an emergency, you can leave a message. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.

  • Fees, Insurance and Billing

    UAB Eye Care accepts many medical insurance plans, including BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, Medicare, Medicaid and VIVA. We are also a provider for vision plans such as VSP, Southland, Avesis and Superior.

    Call (205) 975-2020 for more information.

  • Online Patient Registration and Registration Portal

    In order to expedite the appointment check in process, you can register as a UAB Eye Care patient.

    Register as a New Patient

    If you are an established patient, you can access your patient portal.

    Patient Portal
  • Patient Forms
  • UAB Student and Employee Perks

    At UAB Eye Care, students and employees are more than visitors, they're family. Our goal is to be your go-to destination for all your eye care needs.

    UAB Undergraduate and Graduate Student Perks:

    • 25% off out-of-pocket expenses for eyewear purchased without vision insurance
    • 50% off out-of-pocket expenses for contact lens evaluations, fits and refits
    • 50% off out-of-pocket expenses for specialty services such as dry eye procedures, vision therapy and myopia control

    UAB Employee Perks:

    • 25% off out-of-pocket expenses for eyewear purchased without vision insurance
    • Payroll deduction, which allows university employees to pay over time

    Note:

    • UAB student and UAB employee perks cannot be combined.
    • Patient is responsible for the full sales tax before perks are applied to eyewear
    • Perks do not apply to insurance copays, deductibles or coinsurance.  

    Perks details can be found here.

  • What to Bring to your Appointment

    In order to help your optometrist assess your general health and the health of your eyes, please bring these items with you.

    • Your insurance card(s)
    • If you need a referral from your primary care physician, you must obtain it before you can be examined.
    • Your driver's license
    • A list of your current doctors
    • A list of any current health problems
    • A detailed list of medications you are taking
    • All eyeglasses and/or your contact lenses, and any previous eye prescriptions from the past two years.

    You may also want to bring a list of questions or problems you may have so that we can answer any concerns during your appointment.

Schedule an Appointment

Call (205) 975-2020 or schedule your appointment online.

Register as a New Patient Patient Portal