As the name may suggest, an eye doctor is someone that specializes in treating eyes. There are so many conditions that affect the eyes, and your general physician will often always refer you to an eye doctor when you have persistent headaches, blurred vision, and probably eye strain. Even if your family physician does not refer you to an eye doctor, you might want to have your eyes checked regularly by an eye doctor should things start to look fuzzy. Just like a visit to the dentist, it is often recommended you have an eye doctor appointment at least twice a year, even if things aren't fuzzy. This way, you can have a clean bill of health and get advice on how best to care for your eyes.
If you have never been to an eye doctor appointment before, choosing one can be a very tricky affair. There are various types of eye care specialists and experts who have specialized in different things. However, visiting the most basic eye doctor should guide and direct you on the eye specialist to visit should you need further attention. How do you find the best eye doctor? This is where you talk to your pediatrician, gynecologist, dentist, or family physician. They can almost always have someone on their speed dial to recommend to you. They will give you a list of the leading eye specialists in your area, and it will be upon you to do your due diligence and find the most appropriate eye doctor for your needs.
Do you know anyone in your circle who wears glasses? Co-workers, colleagues, friends, family, business associates? They are also good leads when it comes to finding the best eye doctor. Everyone who wears glasses definitely has an eye doctor, and they can always provide contacts. Of course, you can always ask about their experience with the eye doctor and whether or not they can recommend the doctor to their loved ones. While experience will always differ from one person to another, no doubt, you want to work with an eye doctor who will put your best interests to ensure you get the best possible care and advice.
You can find a reputable eye doctor through professional organizations such as the American Optometric Association or the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The websites of these organizations should definitely have enough information to help you make an informed choice when it comes to the best eye doctor that you can work with. One way to know how best or how competent your eye doctor is would be to schedule an appointment with them. Did you have to wait for a very long time before being attended to? This should give you an idea of how long you will be waiting before the eye doctor attends to you. Most eye doctors will schedule an exam to check your eyes. You want to establish whether or not the exam felt complete, or probably you felt rushed by the eye doctor. Is the doctor attentive to your questions, or are they answering them to your satisfaction?