Traveling to MERSI for Specialized Eye Care: Records, Referrals and Planning Your Visit

When you are seeking answers about a complex eye condition, traveling for specialized care can feel like one more challenge during an already stressful time. Knowing what to arrange in advance can make the process more manageable and help your care team prepare for a productive evaluation.

The Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI) sees patients with a wide range of eye conditions, including complex inflammatory, retinal, corneal, cataract and glaucoma-related concerns. You can learn more about the conditions treated at MERSI and MERSI’s specialized ophthalmology physicians.

MERSI’s verified office is located in Waltham, Massachusetts:

Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution
1440 Main Street, Suite 201
Waltham, MA 02451

MERSI does not have offices in Connecticut or Rhode Island. Patients from Hartford, Providence and other New England communities travel to the Waltham office for their appointments.

1. Request an Appointment and Coordinate With Your Referring Doctor

You can begin by visiting MERSI’s Make an Appointment page or calling:

• • 781-891-6377

  • 866-353-6377 toll-free

When contacting the office, be prepared to provide your contact information, the reason for your visit and a brief description of your eye condition or symptoms. If another ophthalmologist or medical specialist recommended that you be evaluated at MERSI, provide that physician’s name and contact information.

Ask whether your referring ophthalmologist should speak with MERSI before the appointment. Direct communication may be particularly helpful when your condition is complex, your symptoms have recently changed or your doctor believes that your evaluation should be expedited.

MERSI generally offers first-time patients the first available appointment. MERSI advises patients with active inflammation or a potentially sight-threatening complication to have their treating ophthalmologist call the office directly when an expedited evaluation may be necessary.

If you are experiencing a new or rapidly worsening vision problem, do not rely solely on an online appointment request. Contact your current eye doctor or MERSI for guidance. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

2. Ask About Referrals and Insurance Authorization

A medical referral and an insurance authorization are not necessarily the same thing.

A referral gives MERSI’s physicians information from the doctor who has already evaluated or treated you. Your insurance plan may separately require authorization before a specialist consultation, diagnostic testing or procedure will be covered.

Before making nonrefundable travel arrangements, contact MERSI and your insurance company to ask:

• • Does MERSI require a physician referral for my appointment?

  • Does my insurance plan require a referral or prior authorization?

  • Is the physician I am scheduled to see considered in-network?

  • Will diagnostic testing require separate authorization?

  • What copay, deductible or coinsurance might apply?

  • Would a procedure or follow-up visit require additional authorization?

Insurance requirements vary. Confirm the requirements that apply to your specific plan and appointment.

3. Send Medical Records, Imaging and Test Results in Advance

Complete and current records can help the MERSI team understand what has already been evaluated, how your condition has changed and which treatments have been attempted.

Ask MERSI which records are needed and how they should be delivered. Depending on your condition, the office may request:

• • Notes from your ophthalmologist, optometrist or referring physician

  • Previous diagnoses and consultation reports

  • Eye imaging and diagnostic test results

  • The actual diagnostic images, not only written reports

  • Operative reports from previous eye procedures

  • Laboratory or pathology results

  • Emergency department or hospital records related to your condition

  • A history of injections, laser treatment, surgery or other procedures

  • Records from relevant rheumatology, immunology, infectious disease or primary-care visits

Imaging files may require a different transfer method than written records. Ask whether images should be transmitted electronically, mailed on a disc or brought to the appointment.

Start this process early. Other medical offices may require a signed authorization and several business days to release records. Before traveling, confirm that MERSI received the information needed for your evaluation.

4. Prepare Your Medication List and Medical Timeline

Bring a current list of:

• • Prescription medications

  • Eye drops

  • Injections or infusion medications

  • Over-the-counter medications

  • Vitamins and supplements

  • Medication allergies

  • Previous treatment reactions

Include each medication’s name, dose and frequency.

A brief written timeline can also help you explain a complicated history. Record when your symptoms began, which eye is affected, important diagnoses, major tests or procedures, treatments you have tried and how you responded.

Keep your timeline, medication list, insurance information, records and questions together in one folder that you can carry to the appointment.

5. Complete the Forms MERSI Requests

Ask the scheduling team which new-patient forms apply to your visit and whether they should be completed before you arrive.

The forms may ask about your eye and medical history, medications, allergies, previous surgery, insurance, emergency contacts and the physicians involved in your care.

Complete the forms as thoroughly as possible. If you do not know how to answer a question, contact MERSI rather than guessing.

6. Ask How Testing Could Affect Your Return Trip

A specialized eye evaluation may involve more than a conversation with the physician. Depending on your condition, the visit may include an examination, pupil dilation, imaging or other advanced eye testing.

When scheduling, ask:

• • How long should I expect to be at the office?

  • Is diagnostic testing anticipated?

  • Are my pupils likely to be dilated?

  • Could the examination or testing affect my vision temporarily?

  • Should a family member or caregiver accompany me?

  • Should I arrange for someone else to drive afterward?

  • Could treatment or a procedure be performed during the same visit?

  • Might I need to remain in the area overnight?

  • Is a follow-up appointment likely?

Do not schedule a tightly timed return trip until you understand the likely length and scope of the visit. If MERSI advises that dilation, testing or a procedure could affect your ability to drive safely, arrange transportation or an overnight stay.

7. Planning a Visit From Hartford or Elsewhere in Connecticut

MERSI does not have a Connecticut office. Patients traveling from Hartford or elsewhere in Connecticut will be seen at the Waltham, Massachusetts, location.

Hartford is roughly 90 to 95 driving miles from Waltham. The actual trip can take considerably longer when traffic, construction or weather affects travel. Patients coming from southern, western or coastal Connecticut may have a longer trip.

Before deciding whether to travel to Waltham and return home on the same day, ask MERSI:

• • What arrival time should I plan for?

  • How much time should I reserve for the visit?

  • Is dilation or extensive testing anticipated?

  • Is there a possibility of treatment or a procedure?

  • Would having a driver or companion be advisable?

  • Could a follow-up visit be coordinated with my Connecticut ophthalmologist?

If you are not driving, compare the complete door-to-door trip rather than only the train or bus portion. Traveling from Connecticut to Waltham by public transportation may involve connections and additional local transportation after reaching the Boston area.

For an early appointment, a potentially lengthy evaluation or a visit that may affect your ability to travel afterward, consider whether arriving the night before or remaining near Waltham after the appointment would make the trip safer and less stressful.

8. Planning a Visit From Providence or Elsewhere in Rhode Island

MERSI does not have a Rhode Island office. Patients from Providence and other Rhode Island communities travel to MERSI’s office in Waltham.

Providence is roughly 45 to 50 driving miles from Waltham under common routing. Although this is shorter than the trip from Hartford, traffic around Interstate 95/Route 128 and the Greater Boston area can significantly affect travel time.

Before planning a same-day return to Rhode Island, confirm:

• • The expected appointment length

  • Whether your eyes may be dilated

  • Whether imaging, testing or a procedure is anticipated

  • Whether another person should drive

  • Whether you should allow time after the appointment before leaving

  • How follow-up care can be coordinated with your Rhode Island eye doctor

Patients traveling from southern or western Rhode Island should calculate their complete trip from home rather than using Providence as the starting point.

Public transportation may require travel through Boston and another connection to Waltham. Review current schedules and arrange the final portion of the trip before the day of your appointment.

9. Plan Transportation and an Overnight Stay When Appropriate

Use MERSI’s current location information when entering the destination into your navigation or transportation service:

1440 Main Street, Suite 201
Waltham, MA 02451

Allow time for traffic, parking and finding the correct suite.

If you are traveling alone, ask whether the anticipated examination could make a same-day drive home difficult. A family member, friend or caregiver can provide transportation, help take notes and assist with instructions after the visit.

If you may need a hotel, ask MERSI for current nearby lodging guidance before booking. Hotel availability, rates, transportation services and patient discounts can change. Ask the hotel about:

• • Distance from MERSI

  • Transportation options

  • Parking

  • Cancellation policies

  • Accessibility needs

  • Medical or patient rates

Avoid making nonrefundable reservations until MERSI confirms the appointment date and any relevant scheduling details.

International patients should review MERSI’s International Patients information and contact the office directly about records, payment, travel and language-assistance arrangements.

10. Confirm These Details Directly With MERSI

Before leaving Connecticut, Rhode Island or another distant location, confirm:

• • The appointment date, time and Waltham address

  • Which physician you are scheduled to see

  • How long you should expect to remain at the office

  • Which records and diagnostic images are required

  • Whether MERSI has received those records

  • Which forms must be completed

  • Whether a referral or insurance authorization is required

  • Whether dilation, testing or a procedure is anticipated

  • Whether you should bring a driver or companion

  • Whether you may need to stay near Waltham overnight

  • What you should bring on the day of the appointment

  • Who to contact if your symptoms change before the visit

Because appointment needs vary, MERSI should provide the final guidance for your particular visit.

11. Know What to Bring

Before leaving home, check that you have:

• • A photo ID

  • Your insurance card

  • Any required referral or authorization

  • Completed forms

  • A current medication and allergy list

  • Records or images not already transferred

  • Contact information for your treating physicians

  • Eyeglasses, eye medications and contact-lens information

  • Your written medical timeline

  • Questions for the physician

  • A method of payment for applicable charges

12. Plan for Communication With Your Local Doctor

MERSI states that diagnostic and clinical information is added to the patient’s electronic medical record and that a detailed consultation report can be sent to the referring doctor. Make sure MERSI has the correct contact information for every physician who should receive the report.

Before leaving, ask:

• • What are the next steps?

  • When should I expect results or recommendations?

  • Will MERSI send a report to my referring ophthalmologist?

  • Who should I call if my symptoms change?

  • Will follow-up care occur at MERSI, with my local doctor or through shared care?

  • How can I access information through the patient portal?

Coordination is particularly important when you live outside Massachusetts. Your MERSI specialist and local physicians may need to work together on testing, prescriptions, monitoring or follow-up care.

Planning a Visit to MERSI from Connecticut or Rhode Island

Patients considering specialized eye care outside their home state may have questions about requesting an evaluation, involving their current ophthalmologist and preparing for a visit. Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI) is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and patients from Connecticut and Rhode Island may contact the practice to discuss an appointment.

Can patients from Hartford or elsewhere in Connecticut request specialized eye care at MERSI?

Yes. Patients from Hartford and other Connecticut communities can contact MERSI about requesting a specialty eye-care evaluation at its Waltham, Massachusetts, office. A Connecticut ophthalmologist may also recommend additional subspecialty input for a complex eye condition. An evaluation at MERSI may complement existing care, with relevant records and findings helping inform the consultation. Appointment availability and requirements should be confirmed directly with MERSI.

Can patients from Providence or elsewhere in Rhode Island request a second opinion at MERSI?

Yes. Patients from Providence and other Rhode Island communities may contact MERSI about a second-opinion consultation in Waltham, Massachusetts. A second opinion can help patients better understand a complex diagnosis, review previous findings or discuss treatment recommendations. Patients can ask how MERSI’s assessment may be coordinated with their existing ophthalmologist and should confirm scheduling, insurance and referral requirements before traveling.

Prepare for Your Visit to MERSI

Traveling for specialized eye care takes planning, but you do not have to coordinate everything alone. Contact MERSI before your visit to confirm the appointment, determine which records and forms are needed, and ask how the examination or testing may affect your travel plans.

To begin planning your evaluation, request an appointment with MERSI or call 781-891-6377 or 866-353-6377 toll-free.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling to MERSI

Does MERSI have offices in Connecticut or Rhode Island?

No. MERSI’s verified office is located at 1440 Main Street, Suite 201, Waltham, MA 02451. Patients from Hartford, Providence and other New England communities travel to the Waltham office for appointments.

Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

Referral requirements may depend on the type of appointment and your insurance plan. Contact MERSI and your insurance company to determine whether you need a medical referral, insurance authorization or both.

What records should I send?

Ask MERSI what is required for your evaluation. Requested information may include ophthalmology notes, diagnostic images, test results, operative reports, laboratory results, treatment history and records from other relevant specialists.

How should my records and images be sent?

Contact MERSI for current transfer instructions before sending protected medical information. Written records and diagnostic images may require different transfer methods. Confirm receipt before traveling whenever possible.

Can patients from Hartford or Providence return home the same day?

That depends on the appointment length, traffic, the testing performed and whether the examination affects the patient’s vision temporarily. Ask MERSI whether dilation, extensive testing or a procedure is anticipated before deciding on a same-day return trip.

Will I be able to drive after my appointment?

Some examinations or tests may affect vision temporarily, particularly when the pupils are dilated. Ask MERSI before the visit whether you should arrange for another person to drive.

Are there hotels near MERSI?

There are lodging options in and around Waltham, but availability, transportation, rates and patient discounts can change. Ask MERSI for current lodging guidance and confirm details directly with the hotel.

Can MERSI share its findings with my local ophthalmologist?

MERSI states that consultation information can be sent to a referring physician. Provide accurate contact information and ask how follow-up care will be coordinated with your local care team.

Medically reviewed by:

Stephen D. Anesi, MD, FACS, Partner & Co-President
Specializes in: Ocular inflammatory diseases, cornea, glaucoma (medical, surgical & MIGS), cataract, and medical retina

Peter Y. Chang, MD, FACS, Partner & Co-President
Specializes in: Ocular inflammatory diseases, vitreoretinal surgery, and cataract

Carl S. Wilkins, MD
Specializes in: Ocular inflammatory diseases, vitreoretinal surgery, and cataract

Reviewed: September 29, 2026