How to Choose the Best Optometrist

Choosing a good eye doctor is one of the most important health care decisions you could make. After all, most people fear losing sight more than any other sense. In addition to protecting your vision, your eye doctor will do everything possible to help you see clearly.

Are you experiencing vision problems? Are you looking for a skilled and experienced professional to help fix the problem? If so, you are in luck. There are tens of thousands of optometrists working around the country. Hence, finding an optometrist should not be too difficult.

At least that should be the case. But with so many to choose from, many people with vision issues find it somewhat difficult to choose a good one. If you are having the same problem, you first need to know how to separate the good from the mediocre.

Who Are Optometrists?

Optometrists, previously known as opticians, are trained eye care professionals. They specialize in examining the eyes to detect problems with vision, ocular diseases, signs of injury, and issues with general health, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

They offer clinical advice, make health assessments, and prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses. When necessary, they refer patients with serious conditions for further treatment.

Tips for Choosing the Best Optometrist

The last thing you want to do is delay your much-needed appointment with an optometrist. Some of the steps to finding a good optometrist include:

Understand Different Eye Care Professions

It is important to understand the different eye disciplines to determine the kind of support you need from the outset. People tend to throw around the term eye doctor a lot. However, there are two distinct disciplines in vision care — optometrists and ophthalmologists.

While ophthalmologists specialize in treating eye diseases and conditions, optometrists focus on examining and testing patients’ eyes. They then recommend the appropriate measures to address vision problems, such as eyeglasses and contact lenses. So when looking for the best solution for your vision problem, you might visit an ophthalmologist only to discover that what you needed was an optometrist.

Get Referrals

Optometrists specialize in giving eye exams and prescribing the appropriate corrective measures. They can also diagnose and treat certain eye conditions and diseases. But if you have a more complex condition or need surgical intervention, a good optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

If you are looking for the best optometrist for your specific condition, ask your friends, family members, or even your primary care physician for recommendations. You should also research each optometrist’s experience and credentials to make an informed decision.

Look for Reviews

When trying to decide where to eat, you probably look for reviews of different restaurants. This is why certain websites quickly became so popular. Reviews are a good way to find independent ratings without having to try out a service or product first. You should take the same approach in finding a good optometrist. Always seek ratings and reviews of their services.

Level of Availability

You do not want to call your optometrist and find that they cannot see you for another week or two. If you have a problem requiring immediate attention, waiting for an appointment is not good for you. The best optometrists know this and make themselves available to meet their patients’ needs.

For more information about choosing a good optometrist, visit Westchester Eye Care Center at our office in Los Angeles, California. You can call (310) 670-1888 today to schedule an appointment.