In the United States alone, as many as 12 million people aged 40 or older have vision impairment. Of these folks, 2 in 3 have correctable eye woes, yet they allow it to remain uncorrected.
Unfortunately, untreated vision impairment increases the risk of vision loss.
That’s enough reason to undergo eye health services, even if you think your vision is okay. After all, some eye diseases don’t exhibit symptoms in their early stages.
This guide lists the top tips to help you choose the best eye care services, so read on.
Determine Which Eye Doctor You Need
Optometrists and ophthalmologists are the two primary types of eye doctors.
Optometrists aren’t medical doctors, but they are Doctors of Optometry. They can perform an eye exam to diagnose and treat eye diseases.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who can do the same things as optometrists. However, an ophthalmologist can also perform eye surgeries as a medical doctor.
So if you only need a periodic eye examination, you can go to an optometrist. This eye doctor can also write you a prescription for glasses, contacts, or eye medicines.
If you have a more serious eye condition that requires surgery, go to an ophthalmologist.
Check Your Insurance Network
Only 8% of people in the U.S. have no health insurance. So if you’re part of the 92% who have it, take advantage of it for better eye health! After all, health plans in the U.S. must provide vision coverage, such as eye exams and glasses.
However, having vision coverage doesn’t automatically mean you can get discounted rates. For example, if you go to out-of-network eye doctors, they won’t charge lower rates. You even have to pay them out of pocket.
Note, too, that an eye doctor who “accepts” your insurance may not be an in-network doctor either. They will accept your insurer’s payment. However, since they’re not participating doctors, they may not give a discounted rate.
Thus, always check your insurance plan’s list of in-network doctors first. That way, you can choose an eye specialist providing quality care at a more affordable price.
Find a Doctor Nearby
Studies link vision problems like glare and field loss to higher crash risk in older drivers. Likewise, impaired contrast sensitivity and visual processing speed can increase accident risks.
So, the last thing you want is to drive or travel far if you have an untreated eye problem. That’s also why you should choose a provider of eye health services near you. Doing so also helps reduce the odds of delaying visits because of an eye doctor’s location.
Find the Best Eye Health Services Today
Remember: Eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration can cause permanent vision loss. That’s why you should get routine eye health services, as you don’t want to have low vision or blindness.
So why not follow our tips as early as today to find the best doctor for your eye health needs? The sooner you do, the sooner you can get your eyes checked and, if necessary, treated.
If you liked this article, you’d surely love our other informative guides, so browse more of our blog now!
