Tips to Help You Pick the Best Eye Clinic in Your Area

Tips to Help You Pick the Best Eye Clinic in Your Area

Nowadays, most people need to use eyeglasses. Vision problems are divided into nearsightedness or farsightedness. Each of these problems can be corrected with the right pair of glasses; but where should you get your pair? This is the major question that most people ask, and the purpose of this post is to help you find the best eye clinic in your area.

  • When should kids see an eye doctor?

Prior to looking at the steps you need to take to find a good doctor, first you need to understand how soon your child should start seeing an eye doctor. Studies have shown that one in every 4 children have vision problems. The problem is that parents with kids under the age of 12 seldom take their kids to see eye doctors. Doctors recommend that kids start seeing an eye doctor as early as 6 months.

Even when the eyes of your child are fine, you are advised to take your child to an eye doctor after they attain the age of 3 years. If you suspect your child has a vision problem, you should contact your doctor early. The sooner the problem is identified, the easier it will be to correct it. If glasses are prescribed, your child should see an eye doctor once every year. For adults, a prescription change is recommended once every two years.

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the things you need to do when searching for the right eye doctor. The following steps will come in handy when deciding on the clinic to visit.

  • Determine if you need an ophthalmologist or an optometrist

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy. He specializes in medical and surgical treatment of eye injuries and eye diseases. They are licensed to perform major eye surgeries like cataract removal, LASIK surgery, lens implants, and retinal detachments. They also prescribe medication. Most ophthalmologists offer a range of services like prescribing eyeglasses.

Optometrists, on the other hand, are specialists in optical disorders and vision. They are licensed and trained to diagnose, as well as treat vision problems. They can prescribe contact lenses, eyeglasses, offer low vision aids, provide pre- and post-operative care, as well as offer vision therapy. Some can also offer laser surgery. If your eye condition is serious, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist.

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When deciding on the eye clinic to use, you have to determine if you need an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. For routine eye exams and checks, an optometrist will be the logical choice. If you have serious vision problems, you will need to contact an ophthalmologist. In some clinics, you will find both the optometrist and an ophthalmologist. With that out of the way, let’s now take a look at the important steps you have to take when choosing a Poughkeepsie opto clinic.

  • Contact your insurance company

The last thing you want is to have to foot the whole bill while you have an insurance cover. This is why the first step you need to take is to contact your health insurance or vision insurance company to learn about your policy. Does it cover eye treatment? If yes, is the clinic you are thinking of getting treatment from included in the cover?

You can call your insurance company to learn more about the coverage. It is good to note that some insurance policies don’t cover routine eye exams. In addition to making sure your insurance policy will cover the treatment, you need to check with the clinic to learn how they handle insurance claims. Do you have to pay for the exam then claim from your insurance company yourself, or will the eye doctor bill the insurance company for the exam?

If you don’t plan on using an insurance policy, you need to know how much the treatment will cost. Understand the eye doctor’s fee for the routine exam. All in all, you must never pick an eye doctor based on cost alone. There are many other factors you will have to consider.

  • Get references

The next step you need to take is that of asking friends, family, neighbors and coworkers for recommendations. There is a good chance that one of them has been to an eye clinic. Please note that people have different preferences. Make sure that you don’t listen to the recommendations of just one friend. You need to compile a list of eye clinics in your area.

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Still on getting recommendations, you should talk to your health professionals. Start with your family doctor, nurse, dentist or pharmacist. They have the connections, and will help refer you to the most qualified eye doctors in your area. You should also consider contacting the county or state association of ophthalmologists or optometrists. They have a list of eye doctors in your area. They will give you specific information to educate your choice of eye clinic.

  • Compare the clinics

With the list of qualified eye doctors in your area, you can go ahead and narrow it down by reviewing their services. The first thing you need to do is to consider their reputation. Online reviews will give you more information about an eye clinic. Take note of the negative reviews, and focus more on what people are complaining about.

The second thing you need to consider is the range of services they offer. The last thing you want is to have to move from one eye doctor to another just to get the comprehensive services that you need. You should be able to get all the services you need under one roof. If possible, go with a clinic that has both an ophthalmologist and an optometrist on site.

Experience is yet another thing you will have to look at. You want to get treatment in an eye clinic that has been in the business the longest.

The above points will certainly help you find the best eye clinic for your eye checkups and exams. The rule of thumb is to select one that you feel comfortable getting treatment in.

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