WEBSITE PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: 07/01/2026
Last Updated: 08/27/2026

Oaks Eye Center respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information collected through our website.

This Website Privacy Policy explains the types of information we may collect when you visit or interact with our website, how we may use that information, and the measures we take to protect it.

This Website Privacy Policy is separate from our Notice of Privacy Practices, which describes how Oaks Eye Center may use and disclose Protected Health Information (“PHI”) under applicable healthcare privacy laws.

1. INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT

Depending upon how you use our website, we may collect information that you voluntarily provide, including:

Name
Telephone number
Email address
Appointment request information
Preferred contact information
Insurance-related information, if requested
Messages or questions submitted through website forms
Other information you voluntarily provide to us

Please do not submit sensitive medical information through a general website contact form unless the form is specifically identified as a secure method for communicating health information.

2. INFORMATION COLLECTED AUTOMATICALLY

When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically by our website, hosting provider, analytics services, or security systems.

This information may include:

Internet Protocol (IP) address
Browser type
Device type
Operating system
Pages viewed
Date and time of visits
Referring website
General geographic information
Website usage and navigation information
Cookies and similar technologies

We may use this information to maintain website security, understand website usage, improve website functionality, diagnose technical problems, and improve the experience of our visitors.

3. HOW WE USE INFORMATION

Information collected through the website may be used to:

Respond to inquiries
Process appointment requests
Communicate with patients and prospective patients
Provide requested information about our physicians and services
Operate and improve our website
Maintain website and information security
Prevent fraud or misuse
Comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements
Perform other activities permitted or required by law

4. PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION AND HIPAA

Certain information provided to Oaks Eye Center may constitute Protected Health Information (“PHI”) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and other applicable laws.

When information constitutes PHI, Oaks Eye Center handles that information in accordance with applicable federal and state healthcare privacy requirements and our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Our Notice of Privacy Practices is available on this website and at our office.

5. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, security, analytics, preferences, and performance.

Cookies are small files placed on a user's device that may help a website recognize a browser or remember certain information.

Visitors may be able to disable or restrict cookies through their browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

6. WEBSITE ANALYTICS AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

Oaks Eye Center may use analytics or other website technologies to understand how visitors interact with our website.

Because Oaks Eye Center is a healthcare provider, we take precautions regarding the use of website tracking technologies and the potential transmission of health-related or identifying information to third parties.

We do not authorize third-party website technologies to use Protected Health Information in a manner inconsistent with applicable law.

7. HOW WE SHARE INFORMATION

Oaks Eye Center does not sell Protected Health Information.

We may share website information with service providers that assist us with services such as website hosting, website maintenance, security, communications, scheduling, or other operational functions, subject to applicable privacy and security requirements.

Information may also be disclosed when required or permitted by law, including in response to valid legal process or governmental requests.

When PHI is involved, disclosures are governed by HIPAA, applicable California law, and our Notice of Privacy Practices.

8. SMS AND TEXT MESSAGING PRIVACY

Oaks Eye Center may offer patients, prospective patients, and other individuals the option to communicate with us by SMS or text message.

If you provide your mobile telephone number and consent to receive text messages from Oaks Eye Center, we may use your mobile number to send communications related to appointment scheduling, appointment confirmations and reminders, responses to inquiries, office notifications, patient service communications, and other service-related communications.

Consent to receive SMS or text messages is not a condition of purchasing or receiving services from Oaks Eye Center.

SMS Consent and Mobile Information

Oaks Eye Center does not sell, rent, or share mobile information with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent information, including mobile telephone numbers and SMS consent records, will not be shared with any third parties for their marketing or promotional purposes.

We may disclose information to service providers that assist Oaks Eye Center with the technical delivery and operation of our communications, such as telecommunications, SMS, scheduling, information technology, or customer support providers, when necessary to provide those services. Such service providers are permitted to use information only as necessary to provide services on our behalf and subject to applicable privacy and security requirements.

SMS Message Frequency and Charges

Message frequency may vary depending upon your interactions with Oaks Eye Center.

Message and data rates may apply according to the terms of your mobile telephone service provider.

Oaks Eye Center does not charge a separate fee for receiving SMS communications, but your wireless carrier's standard messaging and data rates may apply.

Opting Out of SMS Messages

You may opt out of receiving SMS messages from Oaks Eye Center at any time by replying STOP to a text message.

After submitting an opt-out request, you may receive a confirmation message indicating that you have been unsubscribed. After your opt-out request is processed, Oaks Eye Center will stop sending SMS messages to that mobile number except as otherwise permitted by law.

SMS Help and Support

For assistance with SMS communications, reply HELP to a text message or contact Oaks Eye Center using the contact information provided below.

Your decision to opt out of SMS communications will not prevent you from contacting Oaks Eye Center by telephone or through other available communication methods.

SMS Security and Medical Information

Standard SMS and text messaging may not provide the same level of security as an authorized secure patient portal.

Patients should not use ordinary SMS messages to transmit sensitive medical information unless specifically instructed or authorized by Oaks Eye Center.

When information communicated through SMS constitutes Protected Health Information, Oaks Eye Center handles that information in accordance with applicable federal and state healthcare privacy laws and our Notice of Privacy Practices.

9. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

Our website may contain links to websites operated by third parties.

Oaks Eye Center is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites. We encourage visitors to review the privacy policies of websites they visit.

10. DATA SECURITY

Oaks Eye Center uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no website, Internet transmission, email system, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

For this reason, sensitive medical information should be transmitted using communication methods approved by Oaks Eye Center, such as an authorized secure patient portal when available.

11. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

This website is intended primarily for adults seeking information about healthcare services for themselves or their families.

Parents and legal guardians may use the website to obtain information or request services on behalf of their minor children, subject to applicable law.

12. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS

California residents may have rights regarding their personal information under applicable California privacy laws.

The specific rights available to an individual depend upon the law involved, the type of information, and the circumstances under which Oaks Eye Center collected or maintains the information.

Medical information and Protected Health Information may be subject to separate protections under HIPAA and California medical privacy laws.

Questions or requests concerning personal information may be submitted using the contact information below.

13. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may periodically update this Website Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, services, or applicable legal requirements.

The most current version will be posted on this website with an updated effective date.

14. CONTACT US

If you have questions about this Website Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact:

Oaks Eye Center
5329 Office Centre Court, Suite 110
Bakersfield, CA 93309
Phone: 661-228-0558
Email: Info@Oakseyecenter.com