Do you have blurry vision or double vision? Do you face trouble seeing objects that are too close or too far? Do you need to update your prescription glasses or lenses? Seeing an optometrist may be the right solution. Optometrists are healthcare professionals specializing in diagnosing, treating and managing the most common eye and vision issues.
Here are some interesting facts you need to know about optometrists and where you can find the best optometrists in Washington, MO.
Optometrists Are Not Doctors
Optometrists are healthcare professionals, but they are not doctors. They don’t get a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree. Rather, they get a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree, for which they attend optometry school for four years. Most optometrists also get four years of undergraduate degrees.
An optometrist may also complete a one-year residency after getting an OD degree.
Optometrists are different from Ophthalmologists.
Both optometrists and ophthalmologists provide eye care. But, unlike ophthalmologists, optometrists cannot perform surgery on eyes and may refer you to an ophthalmologist if they think your eye condition needs specialized surgical or nonsurgical care.
What an Optometrist Can Do
An optometrist can treat various common eye health and vision-related problems, including:
- Nearsightedness
- Farsightedness
- Double vision
- Astigmatism
- Color blindness
- Eye infections
- Eye inflammations
- Presbyopia
Additionally, they can identify the early signs of some serious eye problems like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal disorders. They may also detect the early signs of systemic problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid cancers during an eye exam.
You may also visit them for vision tests and to get prescription glasses or corrective lenses.
How to Find a Good Optometrist
Finding a good optometrist in your area can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be as long as you have the right knowledge and information about the optometrist. To find a good optometrist in your area, you can follow some simple tips mentioned below.
- Ask your social circle
- Look up search engines
- Get a referral from your primary care doctor
- Check the credentials and experiences of the optometrists
- Read what other people say about the optometrist
- Consider services offered by optometrists
- Consider your insurance plan
- Make a one-on-one consultation with the optometrist
Optometrists in Washington, MO
At Advanced Sight Center, our highly experienced and talented optometrist Dr. Becky Lory is committed to providing the highest quality vision care to people of all ages located in and around Washington. Our eye center also has board-certified ophthalmologists who provide comprehensive and individualized care for a wide range of eye problems.
If you think it’s time for you to get some eye care, make an appointment with our compassionate and talented optometrist by calling us today at (636) 239-1650, or using our convenient online request form.
