Choosing the best eye doctor is one of the best decisions you can ever make when it comes to taking care of your precious eyesight. As a general rule, you need to have regular eye examinations and should consult your doctor at the very first sign of any vision-related problem to continue enjoying good eyesight even as you age.
Unfortunately, however, a lot of people take their eye health for granted. According to the data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 50% of the 61 million Americans who are at a serious risk of losing their eyesight have visited their eye doctors in the past 12 months. In addition, about half of the people who are suffering from glaucoma are not even aware of their condition and are at a risk of losing their eyesight because of it.
Choosing an Eye Doctor – Some Factors to Consider
So, how do you choose an eye doctor to suit your needs? Here are some tips that may help you get exactly what you need.
Ask for recommendations. Consider asking your family doctor for a recommendation since he or she is one of the few people who knows exactly what you and your family needs. You may also want to consider asking your friends and co-workers if they can give you some recommendations.
Check authority websites. Check the websites of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association to find credible local eye doctors in your area who can provide you with the right kind of care that you need.
Check your insurance plan. Narrow down your search to eye care providers that are covered by your health insurance plan to minimize out of the pocket expenses.
Choose the type of eye doctor based your needs. Do you need an optometrist or an ophthalmologist? Well, it all boils down to what you need. If you think you need glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision but don’t have any other problems regarding your eyes, an optometrist will suit your needs well. The same goes true if you are suffering from common eye problems such as dry eyes and eye infections. However, if you have eye health problems that call for specialized medical and/or surgical treatment, you need to consult an ophthalmologist.
Check their credentials. Do a simple background check to see your chosen doctor’s credentials and specialties. This can help you determine whether he or she is a good fit for your needs so don’t skip this step.
Do an honest assessment. Did you feel comfortable during your visit? Did your doctor take the time to answer all your questions or did you feel that he or she rushed right through the entire procedure? You need to feel comfortable with your doctor so if you don’t think you can trust your doctor, you should consider finding another doctor to take care of your eye health.
Choosing the right eye doctor can help ensure that you will enjoy healthy eyesight for years to come so take time to choose the best. You deserve it.
