Factors To Look For When Choosing The Right
Optometrist
Generally, one would think that with aging,
eyesight will begin to deteriorate. But with the advent of smartphones, people
are becoming victims of poor vision no matter what their age is. The stress on
the eyes and nerves has made it difficult to keep perfect eyesight. There is no
point in ignoring any eye problem. Sooner or later, you would have to visit an
optometrist. Then why delay the much-needed appointment? The important thing is
choosing the right optometrist.
Unwavering Reputation Throughout
What do you do when you look for a new
service or product? Read its reviews online, right? This helps you know what is
best for you based on other’s opinions. Same goes for choosing the right
optometrist for you. Search for optometrist near you and go through the Google
reviews
Go The Referral Route
Before knowing how to choose an
optometrist, one should know the difference between an optometrist and
ophthalmologists. An optometrist would conduct an eye exam and prescribe you
glasses and detect eye issues if any. An ophthalmologist, on the other hand,
would treat your diseases. Before going for an eye exam, you should be clear on
their differences.
Qualifications Matter A Ton
If you have looked through a list of
optometrists and are confused as to which one to choose, check for credentials
of the optometrists. The qualifications ensure that the optometrist is the
right doctor to consult. The doctor should have an eye specialty degree to
start with
Affordability That Adds Convenience
Eye checkups are an important eye exam you
should not skip. One needs to check in advance as to what an optometrist
charges. It is better than paying through the nose later on
How to choose an eye doctor
Choosing an eye care provider is an
important health care decision. After all, you will be trusting your eye doctor
to safeguard your precious sense of sight and help you maintain a lifetime of
good vision.
What is an optometrist?
An optometrist is an eye doctor who has earned
the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. Optometrists examine eyes for both vision
and health problems, and correct refractive errors by prescribing eyeglasses
and contact lenses. Some optometrists also provide low vision care and vision
therapy.
Optometrists also may participate in your
pre- and post-operative care if you have eye surgery performed by an
ophthalmologist. With a few exceptions, optometrists in the U.S. are not
trained or licensed to perform eye surgery.
An optometrist generally must complete a
four-year college degree program in the sciences, plus four years of
post-graduate professional training in optometry school. In this regard, the
educational requirements of an optometrist are similar to those of a dentist.
What is an ophthalmologist?
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD)
or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in eye and vision
care. Ophthalmologists are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and treat
disease, prescribe medications and perform eye surgery. They also write
prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Tips for Choosing an Optometrist
Get Referrals
Optometrists give eye exams, prescribe
vision-correcting eyeglasses and contact lenses, and diagnose and treat eye
diseases and conditions. For more complex conditions or when surgery is
necessary, optometrists refer patients to ophthalmologists (medical doctors who
treat eyes). If you need a new optometrist, ask your family, friends, and
perhaps your primary care doctor for recommendations. Take the time to research
the doctors’ credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. You can also
search the American Board of Optometry’s website.
Research the Optometrist’s Credentials
Education tells you an optometrist has the
necessary training and skills to treat a variety of vision and eye problems.
Optometrists must complete four-year Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degrees, in
addition to four years of undergraduate college. Also confirm the optometrist
has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. You can find the
eye doctor’s optometry school, training, certifications, and malpractice and
disciplinary history on Healthgrades.com and state websites.
Consider the Optometrist’s Experience
Experience matters when you’re facing eye
problems or conditions that could affect your vision. The more experience an
optometrist has with a condition or procedure, the better your results are
likely to be. Ask how many patients with your specific condition, such as glaucoma,
the optometrist has treated. A few states allow optometrists to perform certain
types of eye surgery, such as LASIK. If you need a specific procedure, ask how
many of the procedures the optometrist has performed. Ask the eye doctor about
complication rates—complications the optometrist has encountered, as well as
your own risk of complications.
Evaluate Communication Style
Choose an optometrist with whom you are
comfortable talking and who supports your information needs. When you first
meet the optometrist, ask a question and notice how he or she responds. Does he
or she welcome your questions and answer them in ways you understand? Find an
optometrist who shows an interest in getting to know you, who will consider
your treatment preferences, and who will respect your decision-making process
Review Patient Satisfaction Surveys
Reading what other people have to say about
an optometrist can provide insight into how a provider practices eye
healthcare, as well as how his or her optometry practice is operated. Patient
satisfaction surveys typically ask people about their experience with
scheduling appointments, wait times, office environment, and office staff
friendliness. You can learn about how well patients trust the eye doctor, how
much time he or she spends with their patients, and how well he or she answers
questions.
Tips for Choosing an Ophthalmologist
A Personal Decision
Seeing an ophthalmologist for early
treatment or preventive eye care is the best way to reduce the risk of
permanent eye damage and vision loss. Your ophthalmologist will guide you
through many decisions about protecting your vision or treating an eye condition.
How do you find the best ophthalmologist who is right for you? Here are some
important factors to keep in mind.
Get Referrals
Start with a referral list from your
optometrist or primary care doctor. You can also ask family, friends and other
healthcare providers for recommendations. Take the time to research the
doctors’ credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. Keep in mind there are
many different ophthalmology subspecialties including those who specialize in
treating glaucoma, or diseases of the cornea or retina. As you narrow down your
list, call each ophthalmologist’s office and ask for a consult appointment to
meet and interview the doctor.
Research the Ophthalmologist’s Credentials
Board certification is one of the most
important factors to consider when you are choosing an ophthalmologist. It
tells you that the doctor has the necessary training, skills and experience to
provide the best ophthalmic care.
Subspecialty fellowship training is especially valuable. Also confirm
that the ophthalmologist has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary
actions. You can find the ophthalmologist’s medical school, training hospital,
certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history on Healthgrades.com
and state websites.
Consider the Ophthalmologist’s Experience
Experience matters when you’re facing eye
problems or conditions that could affect your vision. The more experience an ophthalmologist
has with a condition or procedure, the better your results are likely to be.
Ask how many patients with your specific condition the ophthalmologist has
treated. If you need a specific procedure, ask how many of the procedures the
doctor has performed and find out about complication rates—complications the
doctor has encountered as well as your own risk of complications
Consider Gender
It’s important to feel comfortable with
your ophthalmologist’s gender because you will need to openly discuss personal
information. When it comes to eye diseases and conditions, your own gender is
also an important consideration. Ophthalmologists are becoming more skilled in
caring for women and men differently. Ask the ophthalmologist about his or her
recent training and experience specifically related to your condition and your
gender.
How to choose an eye doctor
It may be human nature to surround
ourselves with people who see things the way we do. But we should also include
a few who see things a little differently. This applies especially to your eye
doctor.
The person you choose to provide your
annual eye exam should be as much an ally as an expert. Above all, he or she
should be able to tell you what you need to know about your vision health —
even when you don’t see it coming
Eye care experts generally recommend a
comprehensive eye exam every year or 2, depending on age or vision needs. And
with roughly 60,000 optometrists and ophthalmologists operating in the U.S.,
there are plenty of choices. Here are 6 considerations we recommend when
deciding on the best eye doctor for you.
Get a read on your network
More than 87% of Americans with vision
benefits intend to get eye exams within 12 months.3 Many carriers, including
EyeMed, offer online portals that enable you to search by proximity, and get a
feel for the mix of in-network independent and retail providers. Remember:
Staying in-network translates to lower out-of-pocket costs — that means more
money in your pocket.
Know the O’s
Eye care professionals fall into three
categories.4 Be sure to see the right one.
Optometrists are primary healthcare
professionals for the eye. Doctors of Optometry examine, diagnose, treat and
manage diseases, injuries and disorders of the visual system, the eye and
associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting
the eye.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors,
licensed to diagnose and treat all eye diseases, as well as perform surgery.
Think about optometrists and ophthalmologists like your family doctor and a
surgeon — except within the vision world, ophthalmology is a specialty within a
specialty.
Opticians are technicians who fit frames
and lenses that have been prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to
correct the patient’s vision