How To Find A Good Eye Doctor For You
Having a yearly eye exam is very important to ensure the health of your eyes and will also enable the proper treatment of any issues that may develop in it’s early stages. What many people are surprised to find out is that your primary eye doctor can also detect certain health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol through a comprehensive examination of your eyes. It is important to choose the right eye doctor that you trust and feel comfortable with to see on a yearly basis. So how do I find the right eye doctor? In this article we will focus on what to look for in an optometrist.
What to look for in an optometrist
Many people like to choose their optometrist based on the school they graduated from. The optometrist has completed undergraduate education and a four years post-baccalaureate program leading to the degree, Doctor of Optometry (O.D.). In addition, some optometrists may have completed a one-year optional residency in a specialized area.
Given the optometrist has received the right credentials, personality and customer service are important qualities to look for. Some optometrist or practices are more business oriented. The exams are quick and the staff is eager to up-sell. Some people like optometrists that only tell them what they need to know so the yearly exams are quick and simple. Some people like optometrists who are not as rushed during the exams and willing to take their time in answering the patients questions. Some practices are more service oriented and offer to explain to their patients all of the different options that are available without trying to pressure the patient into purchasing something they do not need.
The optometrist’s experience is just as important as proper credentials. If you have complicated eye conditions you may need to seek a more experienced optometrist. Most people find a good eye doctor simply by getting a referral from someone they know an trust. Ask friends or family members if they know a qualified optometrist they would recommend.
You may also want to understand what services the optometrist offers. For example if you are considering Lasik surgery, you should consult with an optometrist who co-manages lasik surgery and understand which ophthalmologist they work with. You can always call ahead of time to review a providers qualifications.
Search Engines and Customer Reviews have become a prominent way that people search for products and services. To find an optometrist in your local area run a search in Google, Yahoo or Microsoft’s Bing using the keywords “optometrist” along with the city that you are in. For example “San Jose Optometrist” or “Milpitas Optometrist” , you can expand your search using keywords such as “Sunnyvale Eye Exams” or “Santa Clara Eye Doctor“. You’ll see the listing generally also have customer reviews that you can look at to get a feel for the number of reviewers along with their star rating.
Last but not least you will want to understand if your vision insurance is accepted by the provider. Generally you can check on the provider’s website or call directly and they can tell you what benefits you are entitled to.
Dr. Tarryn Ngo is a San Jose based Eye Doctor – Optometrist serving San Jose, Sunnyvale, Milpitas and Santa Clara (CA).
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