Dr. Amy L. Walkowiak
At our practice, we want to improve lives by helping people see better. There’s so much beauty in the world, and we believe it’s our job to make sure all the residents of The Northland get the opportunity to see it clearly.
As a primary care optometrist, Dr. Amy Walkowiak strives to help patients in the Duluth, MN area see clearly. Dr. Amy’s practice offers a wide range of optometry services, including:
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Routine eye exams
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Diabetic eye exams
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DOT and DMV eye exams with extended visual fields
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Soft contact lens fittings
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Myopia control with MiSight contact lenses
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Retinal imaging
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Lab on site
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Safety glasses
Our Team
Get To Know Dr. Amy L. Walkowiak
Dr. Amy Walkowiak is a primary care optometrist at the Duluth, MN Eyemart Express. She graduated with honors from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ with a Doctorate in optometry in 2019. During her external rotations she focused heavily on patient education, diabetic examinations, low vision needs and dry eye therapies. After school she returned home to serve her local community and now acts as a gatekeeper for all patients from the pediatric to geriatric populations. During her exams she strives for effective communication so that her patients are aware of how their systemic and ocular health correlate and when needed how certain conditions may affect their future site, health and daily activities. She always strives to see the patient as a whole versus just a set of eyes.
For the younger population, she is also one of the few optometrists in the Twin Ports certified to provide myopic management to children via the MiSight program by fitting specialized soft contact lenses.
Our Services
Comprehensive
Eye Exams
It is recommended that all adults get a comprehensive eye exam at least every two years. Even if you don’t have vision problems or a genetic predisposition to eye diseases, regular eye exams can help with early diagnoses for cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Detecting eye disease early can improve your treatment options. If you have a personal or family history of eye disease, we recommend scheduling eye exams 1-2 times a year.
Contact Lens
Exams
If you’re interested in using contact lenses to correct your vision, we can perform an exam to determine your prescription and fit. Whether you’ve been wearing contact lenses for a while or want to try them out, Dr. Walkowiak will complete a thorough exam and then discuss the different contact lens options, including brand, modality, and type to get you a comfortable fit with clear vision.
Geriatric Eye Care
As you get older, taking care of your eye health is more important, which is why regular eye exams are so important for adults over 65. An optometrist can help with changes in your vision and look for subtle symptoms that may indicate eye disease. Dr. Walkowiak performs geriatric eye exams that can detect early signs of age-related eye diseases like cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and more.
Primary Care
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, we recommend scheduling an appointment once or twice a year to evaluate your vision. During the eye exam, Dr. Walkowiak will determine if your prescription needs to be updated, and she will screen for eye diseases to ensure your eyes stay healthy.
Dry Eye
Treatments
Dry eye syndrome is very common and can be caused by many factors. If you’re struggling with dry eyes and related symptoms (blurry vision, eye fatigue, burning or itchy eyes, red and irritated eyes), schedule an appointment for a customized treatment plan.
Eye Emergencies
If you experience eye trauma (scratches, foreign objects, chemicals, etc.), you need to get help right away. Some signs that you need to schedule an emergency visit to an optometrist include eyes that are swollen shut, loss of vision, change in vision, and seeing flashing lights. Dr. Walkowiak can provide relief and help you avoid future damage. Pink eye is another common eye emergency. Symptoms of pink eye, which may be in one or both eyes, include redness, itchiness, a gritty feeling, discharge that creates a crust, tearing, and sensitivity to light. If you have any symptoms of pink eye, contact Dr. Walkowiak for an emergency appointment, and if you wear contact lenses, take them out right away.
Myopia Control
Myopia or near-sightedness can make distant objects appear blurry. Glasses and contacts can be used to improve vision in patients with myopia, but they cannot help with myopia progression. Optometrists use myopia control or management to slow down myopia progression with a customized treatment plan. At her practice, Dr. Walkowiak offers MiSight soft contact lenses for myopia control.
DOT & DMV exams
Before getting a driver’s license, you must pass a vision test. Before you go to the Department of Transportation (DOT) or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Dr. Walkowiak can perform an eye exam and test to see if you will need glasses or contact lenses to pass. Dr. Walkowiak also includes an extended visual field test that checks peripheral vision. A quick check may help save you from a second trip to the DOT or DMV.
Diabetic Eye Exam
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, you should schedule a diabetic eye exam. Diabetes can affect the entire body, and in the eyes, patients are at higher risk for diseases like diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema (DME). Even if your diabetes is under control, it is still important to let your optometrist know when you schedule annual eye exams. A diabetic eye exam usually includes pupil dilation to check the inner structure of your eye and look for damaged blood vessels.
Frequently
Asked Questions
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What is your normal out-of-pocket exam fee?An exam typically costs $59 (plus taxes). An additional $15 is added if the eyes need to be dilated.
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How much does it cost for a contact lens fitting?Most soft contact lens fittings cost $45-$55 (plus tax), but this may vary based on the lens type.
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What types of insurance do you take?Dr. Walkowiak is happy to accept Eyemed, Davis Vision, Spectera, Superior Vision, Always Care, Cigna Vision, Medica, and Humana, plus certain Blue Cross Blue Shields of Minnesota plans.
Contact Us
Our Address
Opening Hours
Mon & Tue: 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Wed & Fri: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Every other Thur: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Every other Sat: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM