If there is something wrong with your eye or eyes you will need to see an eye doctor very quickly. It is most important that you have any loss of sight or injury to your eye attended to immediately. You do not get a second chance with your eyes. The result of you not taking care of them is blindness.
Who should you visit? Who is a good eye doctor? What does an eye doctor do? Word of mouth will certainly help. Ask your family and friends who they would recommend. Also ask them the cost and whether they were satisfied with the service they received. All these questions should be considered before you make an appointment. Visit their offices and check the certificates and licenses which should be displayed. If you are not sure, then check with the state board of optometry. Once you are happy that you have found the right eye doctor for you and your family, then go ahead and make an appointment.
The term ‘eye doctor’ covers a multitude of different specialties and qualifications. So do some research and find the right doctor for your eye care requirements. For example you will definitely not need an eye surgeon to fit you with a pair of eye glasses to watch television and likely you will not be able to have cataracts removed by an optician. So be smart consider carefully what your needs are before you make a visit.
When you do make an appointment with an eye doctor, then take with you a list of what you would like to have checked. You will be surprised what a difference that will make. You will think that the eye doctor is absolutely brilliant because he answered all your questions, and he will be mightily impressed with your efficiency.
You should visit an optician if you are over 40 years of age. It is a well known fact that your vision will deteriorate when you are over 40. There are a number of reasons for this; if your parents sufferered with age related degeneration, or cataracts or glaucoma then you should pay particular attention to having your eyes tested for any of these possible problems. An optician will refer you to the correct specialist if he detects anything untoward.
If you have high blood pressure and if you smoke your eyesight will be affected. You need to have regular eye tests to ensure that any change in your vision is treated immediately. Of course doctors do not like to do invasive surgery and you may not need to have laser surgery but your eye doctor may suggest high doses of antioxidants like Vitamin C and E and zinc.
If you have a cataract then it can be removed fairly easily by an eye doctor but you may be able to avoid it by having your eyes screened from an early age and visiting your eye doctor regularly. You should get your children into the habit too. Like a visit to the dentist, make it a part of your annual health routine.
