Ask Dr. Charles provides you with a convenient form through which to ask Dr. Charles your eye care-related questions. (HINT: Don't forget to check the FAQ and Glossary pages first!)

Ask Dr. Charles Usage Agreement

Medical licensing rules may prohibit physicians from providing medical advice to patients in states and countries where they are not licensed. In some cases these rules provide that the communication of medical advice by E-mail constitutes the practice of medicine in the state or country where the patient is located when the E-mail is received. As Dr. Charles is not licensed to practice medicine in all jurisdictions and he has no way to determine where you will receive his E-mail replies, he cannot and will not provide medical advice by E-mail even if he has physically examined you or reviewed medical records provided by your health care provider. In light of the above, you acknowledge and agree that:

1. Submitting a web form or sending E-mail to Dr. Charles and/or receiving E-mail from Dr. Charles WILL NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have, or suspect that you may have, a health problem, please consult with your health care provider immediately.
2. Dr. Charles' replies ARE NOT INTENDED as medical advice. Accordingly, you agree not to rely on them as a diagnosis of your medical condition, as a confirmation of your medical diagnosis, or as a recommendation of one or more treatments.
3. Dr. Charles' replies to your inquiry MAY INCLUDE instructions on referrals to physicians, general information about retinal, macular, or vitreous problems tailored to address your specific inquiry, and general information about recognized treatments and surgical procedures tailored to address your specific inquiry. RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DR. CHARLES IN HIS E-MAILS OR THROUGH HIS WEB SITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. IN NO EVENT SHALL CHARLES RETINA INSTITUTE, STEVE CHARLES, M.D., OR ANY OF THE OTHER DOCTORS OR STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH CHARLES RETINA INSTITUTE, HAVE ANY LIABILITY UNDER ANY THEORY WHATSOEVER FOR PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH OR OTHER DAMAGES OF ANY TYPE OR NATURE ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION THAT IS SO PROVIDED.
4. E-mail sent by Dr. Charles is not encrypted and therefore, like all unencrypted E-mail, may be intercepted and viewed by others. Accordingly, you agree not to send or request information by web form or E-mail that you consider confidential or sensitive in nature, consent to Dr. Charles responding to your inquiries by E-mail, and agree that neither Dr. Charles nor Charles Retina Institute shall be liable for any breach of confidentiality or privacy that may result from interception of such E-mail by any third person.
5. This Usage Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, U.S.A. applicable to contracts wholly executed and performed within the state.