Getting the right doctor can help you stay on top of any vision issues that you may be experiencing. Preventive care is the best way to reduce the risk of permanent eye damage or vision loss. An ophthalmologist can guide you with regular checkups and preventive measures, suggest eye exercises, and more to help you with any eye issues. Below you can find some tips on how to find the best ophthalmologist near you.

Speak to your primary care doctor
The easiest way to get a headstart with recommendations for an eye doctor is to speak to your trusted primary care doctor and get referrals from them. Since they have a trusted professional network, they may be able to help with the right doctor. Also, you can speak to your friends and family who have an eye doctor and recommend their names to you. One of the pros of speaking to a trusted person in your social circle is getting an honest review about the doctor and their skills, along with the customer experience.

Check credentials
This is crucial when you are looking for any type of doctor. Do not be hesitant to ask for their educational or work history. Always ensure that they are board certified, meaning they have finished several years in training and are qualified enough to have the skills to guide you through eye exams and any other related queries. If they are part of the American Board of Ophthalmology, then you can rest assured that the doctor has a degree from an accredited medical school in the country.
The doctor is then expected to finish their post-graduate clinical year, followed by a minimum of 36 months of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approved ophthalmology residency program. Not just this, the doctor also needs to have a valid and unrestricted medical license to practice in the country. The doctor must also pass a written and oral examination for their board certification.

Ask questions
When consulting your eye doctor, you must have a list of questions ready to ask them. This is crucial because you will know how the doctor can respond to your questions and if they can make you feel better about your concerns. If you’ve gone to them about a particular problem, you can ask specific questions or even generic eye health questions are encouraged. Some of the questions you can ask are:

• Which tests will be performed today?
• What do these results indicate?
• What preventive measures should I take for my eye health?
• I work in front of a screen 9 hours a day; what can I do to keep my eyes healthy?
• What is a good frequency of eye checkups?
• Are any follow-ups necessary?
• What are the kinds of foods I can incorporate into my nutrition plan for good eye health?
• Any lifestyle changes I should make to improve my eye health?
• Do I need any treatment for my condition?
• What is the recovery period for the same?
• Any side effects or infections I need to worry about?
• What are the signs and symptoms I should pay attention to?
• Will there be any drastic vision or sight changes with age?

These questions need a detailed conversation with your doctor, and the answers vary from person to person. During your initial consultation, be prepared with some of these and any specific questions.

Communication
When speaking with a doctor, observe their responses to your questions. Are they composed and enthusiastic about assisting you? Can they clarify technical terms and put you at ease? Practical communication abilities enhance the credibility and trust of doctor-patient bonds, so be attentive when selecting a physician. Additionally, note the staff’s conduct and how comfortable you feel interacting with them. Was the reservation process too complex? Were they adaptable enough? These minor details can be crucial, particularly when seeking urgent appointments and unable to contact the doctor.

Logistical bonus
Another important detail is how far or close your eye doctor’s clinic is. If there is an emergency, is it easy to reach the location, or may you have to find different ways to reach the clinic? These logistical details matter, especially in an emergency, and it is also essential to know if your doctor is easily accessible. That makes staying on top of your appointments and meeting them regularly much more effortless.

Apart from the above, it is imperative to consider online patient reviews. These could reflect people’s experience regarding appointments, wait time, office and clinic environment, etc.