Health Topics

A Visit to the Eye Doctor


Taking a role in maintaining your eyesight includes choosing a healthcare provider best suited for your needs – one that has the right training and experience, can give proper diagnosis and treatment, is informative, promotes the best possible outcome and guides care through genuine concern.

Getting Started: How to Choose an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist

  • Qualifications
  • Make sure that the professional has the proper and adequate training to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases.
  • Experience
  • An optometrist or ophthalmologist who has more experience will probably be better able to detect eye disease and diagnose disorders.
  • An eye health professional who participates in and is current with the latest research is more knowledgeable about the latest techniques in diagnosing and treating eye disease.
  • Services offered
  • Choosing an eye health professional who is able to provide a wide range of services is beneficial, but you also should select your provider by what services you need.
  • One who provides fewer services may be able to provide more specialization.
  • Patient satisfaction
  • Knowing that patients have consumer loyalty to their healthcare provider and encourage others to see their own doctor is a very good indicator of quality.

When Should I See a Specialist?

You should see a specialist when referred by your physician or eye health provider for specific eye concerns. There is a wealth of information about the eyes and visual system. Specialists, because of the scope of their focus, can better pinpoint disease-related problems.

How Often Should I See My Specialist?

You should visit your eye healthcare provider at least once per year, or immediately if you have any degree of sudden vision loss, eye pain or irritation.