So you’ve decided you need to find an eye doctor near you. Maybe you’ve just relocated to a new town and had to leave your old doctor behind. Or maybe you’ve never seen an eye doctor because you see well, but just want to make sure you are taking care of your eye health. You could ask around, find out who your friends and co-worker’s see. But you might want to also do a little research on doctors near you to find the right fit.
Do You Need An Optometrist?
To determine if you need to find an optometrist near you, you first should understand the difference between them. An optometrist is a doctor of optometry (OD) and specializes in vision and vision care. He can perform exams for eyeglasses or contacts and prescribe certain eye medicines for certain eye diseases. An optometrist is neither trained nor licensed to perform ocular surgery. But he may work in conjunction with a surgeon and may participate in pre- and post-operative care.
Insurance May Make a Difference
You may decide you like your friend’s recommendation, but the doctor doesn’t accept your vision care insurance. You might need to contact several offices to find one that takes your insurance. And if you are on Medicare, it won’t pay for routine eye care unless you have a pre-existing condition like cataracts or macular degeneration. You may have to pay outright for your eye exam unless you have supplemental insurance that covers your visit. Check with the office before making your appointment so you don’t have any nasty surprises upon checkout.
Find the Right Fit Near You
Like any other medical practitioner, you want to find an eye doctor near you who is the right fit for you, whether you need glasses or just want to be sure your eyes are healthy. Ask around, do your research and you should have no trouble finding an eye doctor near you that you will like.