Last updated: September 29, 2026

Ridgefield Eye Physicians & Surgeons (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Practice”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect from visitors to https://ridgefieldeye.com/ (the “Site”) and from patients who opt in to our text-messaging program, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using the Site you agree to this Privacy Policy and to our Terms of Use.

This Privacy Policy covers the Site and our text-messaging (SMS) program. It does not describe how we handle the medical information of our patients. That information is protected health information governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and is described in our Notice of Privacy Practices, which is provided to patients at our office.

1. Who We Are

Ridgefield Eye Physicians & Surgeons
38 B Grove Street
Ridgefield, CT 06877
Tel 203.403.3375 · Fax 203.403.3377

2. Information We Collect

• Information you provide. If you use the message form on our Contact page, we collect the name, email address, and message you choose to send us, and, if you choose to provide it, your mobile phone number. Providing this information is voluntary.
• SMS opt-in records. If you agree to receive text messages from us (on our Contact page, on our in-office registration form, or by telephone), we record your mobile number, the fact that you consented, the wording you agreed to, and the date, time and source of your consent.
• Information collected automatically. Like most websites, our web server records standard technical information about each request, such as your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, the pages you request, the date and time of the request, and the referring web address. We use this information to operate, secure, and troubleshoot the Site.
• What we do not collect. The Site does not offer user accounts, comments, or online payments, and we do not use advertising networks or third-party analytics trackers on the Site.

3. How We Use Information

• To respond to messages and inquiries you send us through the Site.
• If you have opted in to text messages: to send appointment reminders, appointment confirmations, exam recall notices, and optional post-visit surveys related to your care (see Section 4).
• To operate, maintain, protect, and improve the Site and our systems.
• To detect, prevent, and address security incidents, abuse, or technical problems.
• To comply with applicable law and to protect our rights and the rights of others.

4. SMS / Text Messaging (Mobile Messaging Privacy)

• What we send. If you opt in to text messaging, we use your mobile number and SMS consent records to send appointment reminders, appointment confirmations, and exam recall notices related to your care at Ridgefield Eye Physicians & Surgeons, and optional post-visit surveys. Messages are related to your eye care; we do not send marketing or promotional text messages.
• How you opt in. You may opt in by checking the (unchecked by default) text-message consent box on our Contact page, by completing our in-office registration form, or by giving verbal consent to our staff by telephone. Consent is recorded before any message is sent.
• Program terms. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel at any time; you will receive one confirmation message and no further texts. Reply HELP for help, or call 203.403.3375.
• Consent is not a condition of purchase or of receiving care. You may decline or withdraw consent at any time and continue to receive care from the Practice.
• No third-party marketing use. We do not sell, rent, or share mobile numbers, SMS opt-in data, or consent information with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, excluding aggregators and providers of the text-message services we use to deliver messages you have consented to receive.
• Service providers. We use a text-messaging platform provider solely to deliver the messages you consented to receive. That provider is not permitted to use your mobile number or SMS consent for its own purposes.

5. Cookies

• The Site itself does not set tracking or advertising cookies.
• Third-party content embedded in the Site (see Section 6) may set its own cookies or use similar technologies. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling cookies may affect the display of embedded content.
• We do not use website data to send text messages unless you separately provide your mobile number and consent.

6. Third-Party Services and Links

• Web fonts. The Site loads fonts from Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com). When your browser requests these fonts, Google receives technical information such as your IP address. See Google’s privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.
• Embedded map. Our Contact page displays a map provided through Snazzy Maps and Google Maps. Loading the map may transmit technical information to those providers and may set their cookies.
• Links to other websites. The Site links to third-party websites such as professional associations, hospitals, and patient-education resources. We do not control those websites, and this Privacy Policy does not apply to them. Please review the privacy policies of any website you visit.

7. Protected Health Information

• The Site is an informational website and is not a patient portal or a secure messaging system.
• Please do not send us medical or other sensitive information (such as symptoms, diagnoses, medications, insurance identifiers, or Social Security numbers) through the Site or by ordinary email. Messages sent through the Site are not encrypted end-to-end.
• For any matter involving your medical care, appointments, prescriptions, or records, please call our office at 203.403.3375.
• Information about our patients that we receive in the course of providing care is handled in accordance with HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices, not this Privacy Policy.

8. How We Share Information

• We do not sell, rent, or trade information collected through the Site or through our text-messaging program.
• We may share information with service providers that help us operate the Site and our communications systems (for example, our web hosting provider and our text-messaging platform), who are permitted to use it only to provide services to us.
• We may disclose information when required by law, subpoena, or court order; to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Practice, our patients, or others; or in connection with a reorganization, merger, or sale of the Practice.
• The above categories exclude text-messaging originator opt-in data and consent. We do not share mobile numbers or SMS opt-in/consent data with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

9. Data Retention

• Messages sent through the Site are kept for as long as needed to respond to you and to maintain reasonable business records, after which they are deleted or archived.
• SMS consent records are kept for as long as you remain opted in and for a reasonable period afterwards so that we can demonstrate that consent was given.
• Server log data is retained for a limited period for security and troubleshooting purposes.

10. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information collected through the Site, including encryption of the connection between your browser and the Site (HTTPS). However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Your Choices and Rights

• You may choose not to use the message form and instead contact us by telephone.
• Text messages: reply STOP to any message from us to opt out at any time; you will receive one confirmation that no further messages will be sent. Reply HELP for help, email dalip@ridgefieldeye.com, or call 203.403.3375.
• You may ask us to access, correct, or delete information you have submitted through the Site by contacting us using the details in Section 14. We will respond in accordance with applicable law.
• Connecticut residents may have additional rights under the Connecticut Data Privacy Act to the extent it applies. Requests may be submitted using the contact details in Section 14.

12. Children

The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the Site. We do not knowingly use children’s mobile numbers for text messaging other than in connection with a minor patient’s care, with a parent’s or guardian’s consent. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information through the Site, please contact us so that we can delete it.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

• We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.
• Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, our text-messaging program, or our handling of information collected through the Site, please contact us at:

Ridgefield Eye Physicians & Surgeons
38 B Grove Street
Ridgefield, CT 06877
Tel 203.403.3375
Fax 203.403.3377
Email: dalip@ridgefieldeye.com