Melissa Baker was diagnosed with nearsightedness early in childhood-an
unremarkable diagnosis. But with each regular visit to her family
optometrist, she became more nearsighted and her glasses became thicker.
It wasn't until a skiing accident led Melissa to an ophthalmologist at
age 15 that she learned her true diagnosis: glaucoma, a disease that
rarely affects the young. But it was already too late. The damage to her
optic nerve was irreversible. Despite four surgeries, she eventually
lost sight in her left eye. At 22, Melissa's left eye was replaced with a
glass eye.
Melissa now dedicates her time to educating the
public about eye care so that others won't needlessly loose their sight.
She was recently named an honorary co-chair for the Glaucoma Research
Foundation.
She's not alone. The National Consumers League (NCL)
has also launched a new campaign urging consumers to learn more about
eye care and to take a more active role in it. NCL, the nation's oldest
consumer advocacy organization, recently commissioned a survey that
found consumers-including those who wear glasses or contact lenses-are
confused about the credentials and training of eye care providers.
Nearly a third of respondents incorrectly thought optometrists have
earned medical degrees.
To help consumers better understand eye
care, NCL has produced a white paper about the state of eye care in the
United States and created new Web resources and tips on its Web site,
www.nclnet.org/health/eyes. The white paper clearly describes the need
for patient education in today's challenging health care environment;
one in which the increasing demand for more preventive care, in constant
competition with an increasing sensitivity to cost control and
productivity, has led to the expanding role of non-physician
practitioners providing medical care. Most importantly, NCL provides a
framework to guide consumers as they make eye care provider decisions,
ultimately encouraging them to take control of their health care
choices.
So who does what and when? The eye care arena is often confusing due to
the number of professionals who offer services. Generally, however, the
services are broken down as such:
• Opticians dispense and fit contact lenses and glasses
•
Optometrists examine the eye to diagnose vision problems and
abnormalities, and prescribe glasses, contact lenses and some
medications
• Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who deliver
total eye care services, treat eye diseases and injuries and perform eye
surgery.
Depending on the services you need, one type of
provider may be more appropriate than another. In addition to the usual
considerations of convenience, cost and established relationships, use
these tips when selecting an eye care provider.
• Know what your
needs are when going to an eye care provider. If you don't know what you
need to have done, ask your primary care doctor.
• Look for diplomas, licenses and other qualifications and certifications displayed in the office.
•
Ask the provider if he/she has sufficient training and experience to
perform the procedure you need, especially when the procedure is more
invasive than a regular office visit.
• If your eye care needs
include surgery or treatment with medications, ask your provider if
he/she is trained and licensed to perform these services. Ask how many
times he/she has performed the service, and what kind of side effects
and recovery time you can expect.
• If you do not have access to
or are unsure about the eye care provider you need, ask your primary
care doctor for a recommendation to properly address your needs.
If
you encounter a problem in your treatment by an eye care provider that
can not be resolved with the provider, do not hesitate to contact the
state agency that oversees the conduct of the provider.
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