Your eyes are one of the most precious organs in your body, which not only a window to the outside world, but also your overall well being.
Since your eyes are such an integral part of your daily life, finding a good eye doctor is not a decision to be made in hurry.
Keep these 5 points in mind before selecting the right eye doctor for you.
There are two categories of an eye doctor; the first one is called Optometrists and another called Ophthalmologist.
Optometrists are specialized practitioners who diagnose, treat certain eye diseases, as well as prescribe medications, but they are not authorized to perform eye surgery.
Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat a wide range of eye diseases, as well as administer medications and perform eye surgery
First Ask Yourselves
When choosing an eye doctor, it’s a good idea to think about the type of treatment you need. A general eye test can be done by either an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, so if you have a serious eye condition, you should visit an ophthalmologist for ongoing treatment for the particular issue.
Optometrists are commonly thought of as the go-to specialist when it comes to fitting contact lenses and educating you on all of your choices for contacts, spectacle lenses, and contact lenses.
Research the Ophthalmologist’s Credentials
It is always a great idea to do some background evaluation about anything before you get into anything. Thorough research about the ophthalmologist should be done to be sure that the ophthalmologist has the necessary skills, qualifications to operate any serious eye diseases.
Often, make sure the ophthalmologist hasn’t had any malpractice lawsuits or disciplinary proceedings in the past. The state medical licensing board is the best source of knowledge, where you can learn about the eye doctor’s school, qualifications, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary background
Research the Ophthalmologist’s Experience
When it comes to eye disorders or conditions that could hinder your vision, experience counts. The more experience an ophthalmologist has with a particular condition or treatment, the better your outcomes will be.
Inquire about the ophthalmologist’s experience treating patients with your particular disorder, such as glaucoma. If you need a particular procedure, inquire as to how many the ophthalmologist has done. Inquire about complication rates—both the ophthalmologist’s experience with complications and your likelihood of complications.
How Well a Patient is Treated
As human beings, we are more comfortable when someone is listening to us carefully. While selecting an eye doctor with whom you feel at ease and who is willing to help you with your knowledge needs.
When you visit the eye doctor for the first time, make a list of questions and ask the doctor and observe the response.
Your eye doctor must be a good listener, understanding, and must welcome all your doubts and questions.
He or she should be interested to know more about you and the problems you are facing. It would be great if he or she can make you understand the cause and your treatment methods.
Patients Satisfaction Survey is Key
It is very important to know what people have to say about an ophthalmologist will give you an insight into how he or she performs eye care and runs his or her practice.
Patients are usually asked about their experiences with scheduling appointments, wait times, office climate, and office staff friendliness in patient satisfaction surveys.
You will find out how much confidence and trust patients have in their eye doctor, how much time he or she spends with them, and how often he or she answers questions.
