Consultation Fees at ROQUE Eye Clinic
🧠 Dr. Roque’s Quick Answer
Consultation fees at ROQUE Eye Clinic are best understood as the cost of the doctor’s professional assessment and counseling, not the total cost of all eye care. A face-to-face clinic consultation is currently listed at ₱1,750 per visit. Senior citizens and persons with disability may receive the legally applicable discount. Teleconsultation is a separate service and is currently listed at ₱1,000. Diagnostic tests, imaging, medications, eyewear, procedures, and surgery are billed separately when needed.
Quick Navigation
🎯 Focus
Help patients understand what a consultation fee covers, what it does not cover, and when extra testing or charges may reasonably apply.
✅ Goal
Reduce confusion before the visit so patients ask better questions, budget more realistically, and avoid assuming that one flat fee covers every part of care.
🛡️ Evidence-Based
This page follows the clinic’s currently published consultation pricing and published service terms, while emphasizing that the final care pathway depends on the actual examination and clinical findings.
Current Consultation Fee Options
The safest way to think about consultation fees is to separate the doctor’s professional consultation fee from the cost of tests, scans, procedures, medicines, or surgery. That distinction prevents the most common misunderstanding.
| Service | Published Fee | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Face-to-face clinic consultation | ₱1,750 | Postpaid cash visit for infants, children, and adults. |
| Senior citizen / PWD discount | 20% discount | Applied according to the legally required discount when valid documentation is presented. |
| Teleconsultation / virtual clinic | ₱1,000 | Useful for selected concerns, follow-up guidance, triage, medication review, and result discussion. It does not replace a full in-person eye examination when one is needed. |
Fees may change over time. The practical point is not to memorize one number blindly, but to understand which service you are booking and what still may need to be added after the examination.
What the Consultation Fee Usually Includes
In most cases, the consultation fee covers the doctor’s professional evaluation for that visit. That usually includes:
- History taking and review of your eye complaint
- Assessment of vision and relevant baseline measurements as needed
- Focused examination by the ophthalmologist using clinic instruments
- Explanation of likely findings and possible diagnosis
- Initial counseling about treatment options and next steps
Think of the consultation fee like the fee for a skilled map-reading session. It pays for the professional judgment needed to understand where you are, what may be wrong, and which road is safest to take next.
What Is Not Included
This is where many patients get caught off guard. A consultation fee is not usually the same as the total bill for everything done on that day.
- Diagnostic tests and imaging
- Special measurements needed for surgery planning
- Laser procedures or office-based treatments
- Prescription medications
- Eyewear, contact lenses, or optical products
- Hospital, facility, or operating room charges
- Surgical professional fees and implant costs
That is not double-charging. It reflects the fact that diagnosis, testing, and treatment are different layers of care.
Why Your Same-Day Total May Vary
Two patients can both arrive for an eye consultation and still leave with very different total bills. That does not mean the pricing is arbitrary. It usually means their clinical needs are different.
- One patient may only need examination and advice.
- Another may need dilation, imaging, dry eye work-up, glaucoma testing, retinal scans, or surgical measurements.
- A patient with blurred vision may simply need counseling, while another may need cataract diagnostics, retinal imaging, or urgent referral.
The wrong expectation is, “I only want the consultation, so everything else should be free.” The better expectation is, “I want the consultation first so I can understand what is actually necessary.”
💡 Dr. Roque’s Analogy
A consultation fee is like paying an architect to inspect a property and explain the safest plan before construction begins. The architect’s fee is not the same as the cost of materials, labor, permits, or repairs. In eye care, the consultation tells you what problem you may have and what needs to happen next. Tests and treatment are separate steps.
HMO, PhilHealth, and Documentation
Patients often assume that having an HMO or PhilHealth automatically means the consultation or the entire visit is fully covered. In reality, coverage depends on the service, the diagnosis, the hospital or clinic workflow, the plan rules, and the required approvals.
- Some services may need a letter of authorization or prior approval.
- Some parts of the visit may be covered, while other parts remain out of pocket.
- Documentation requirements can affect whether a case is processed smoothly.
- Coverage for tests, procedures, and surgery is often different from coverage for consultation alone.
The safest approach is to ask early what documents you need and to clarify whether you are asking about consultation only or the full work-up and treatment pathway.
Should You Book Face-to-Face or Teleconsultation?
A teleconsultation can be practical for selected follow-up concerns, result review, medication guidance, or initial triage. However, many eye problems still require a proper in-person examination because the eye usually needs direct testing, slit-lamp examination, pressure measurement, retinal evaluation, or imaging.
- Choose face-to-face consultation if you have new symptoms, eye pain, red eye, blurred vision, flashes, floaters, injury, cataract concerns, glaucoma monitoring, retinal concerns, or surgical planning questions.
- Consider teleconsultation if your concern is appropriate for follow-up guidance, medication review, selected counseling, or discussing prior results.
When in doubt, face-to-face is usually the safer choice for a first proper ophthalmology work-up.
🚨 Dr. Roque’s Emergency Warning
Do not delay urgently needed eye care just because you are still clarifying the final cost. Sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, chemical exposure, trauma, flashes with many new floaters, or a rapidly worsening red eye should be assessed promptly. The first priority is protecting vision. Cost clarification should support care, not replace it.
🧠 Dr. Roque’s Key Learning Points
- A consultation fee is usually the doctor’s professional fee for assessment and counseling.
- It is not the same as the total cost of all tests, procedures, medicines, or surgery.
- Face-to-face consultation is currently listed at ₱1,750.
- Senior citizens and persons with disability may receive the applicable legal discount.
- Teleconsultation is a separate service and is currently listed at ₱1,000.
- Diagnostic tests, imaging, medications, and eyewear are billed separately when needed.
- HMO or PhilHealth processing may require documents or prior approval.
- The final diagnosis and treatment pathway can only be clarified after proper clinical assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the consultation fee the same as the total bill?
No. The consultation fee is usually the doctor’s professional fee for evaluation and counseling. Tests, imaging, procedures, medicines, and surgery are separate when needed.
Why might I be advised to pay for tests on the same day?
Because some eye problems cannot be diagnosed safely from symptoms alone. The examination may show that scans, measurements, or other diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis or plan treatment correctly.
Do senior citizens and PWDs get a discount?
Yes, the clinic’s published consultation page states that senior citizens and persons with disability receive the applicable 20% discount per visit, subject to valid documentation.
Is teleconsultation cheaper than face-to-face consultation?
The currently published teleconsultation fee is lower than the published face-to-face clinic consultation fee. However, teleconsultation is appropriate only for selected situations and does not replace a full in-person eye examination when one is needed.
Can I get an exact surgical quote during my first consultation?
Sometimes only an initial estimate is possible at first. Final surgical quotations may depend on the diagnosis, complexity, lens or technology choice, hospital, anesthesia plan, and required testing.
Does HMO cover everything?
Usually not. Coverage varies by provider, authorization rules, diagnosis, and contract details. Some parts may be covered while others are not.
Do I still need a consultation if I already know I want cataract surgery or LASIK?
Yes. Wanting a procedure is not the same as being ready or suitable for it. The consultation helps confirm the diagnosis, candidacy, risks, and the correct next step.
Can I skip the consultation and go straight to tests?
That is usually not wise. The consultation determines which tests are actually needed. Skipping that step can lead to the wrong tests, extra cost, or missed clinical issues.
✅ Dr. Roque’s Take-Home Message
The consultation fee is the cost of professional judgment at the start of your care. It helps identify the problem, explain your options, and decide what needs to happen next. That fee is important, but it should never be confused with the full cost of testing or treatment. If you want clearer cost guidance, start with the consultation first so the rest of the discussion is based on the right diagnosis.
Related Reading
References
- ROQUE Eye Clinic. Actual Clinic – Face-to-Face Consultation.
- ROQUE Eye Clinic. Teleconsultation – Virtual Clinic.
- ROQUE Eye Clinic. Eye Care Costs.
ROQUE Eye Clinic Patient Education Series
Reviewed by the Roque Advisory Council
Dr. Manolette Roque | Dr. Barbara Roque
St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City | Asian Hospital Medical Center
Philippines
Medical Disclaimer: This page is for patient education and cost counseling only. It does not replace an eye examination, formal quotation, insurance verification, or emergency assessment. Published fees, inclusions, exclusions, and payment pathways may change without notice. Final recommendations and pricing depend on actual clinical findings, required testing, and the treatment plan.
