Choosing the wrong eye doctor can lead to blindness, loss of vision, and many more problems. That is why you must take your time when picking an eye specialist for yourself or your family. Every day there are around 3 million eye examinations in Melbourne, and that’s a lot of work for optometrists. That might be because they get paid so well. Optometrists in Melbourne use the best equipment for optimal eye care. In fact, some have reported making $500,000 a year, and they often have high-paying and prestigious careers. It is well worth it for them because they can make use of their skills and talents in a very rewarding career. On the other hand, to you as a patient, it is important to choose the most reliable optometrist in Melbourne. In addition, you will get to know about the qualifications and experiences required to be licensed in your area and things that should be avoided when choosing an optometrist. Here are some things you need to consider when finding an eye doctor.
Qualifications and Experience Required to be Licensed
Optometrists in Melbourne are mostly highly qualified and have an optimal experience for the best eye care. However, there are three major categories that optometrists need to meet.
- The first category is general standards of practice, which implies a minimum of five years of post-secondary education, supervised work experience with direct patient contact for at least two years of clinical time, and passing a state board examination or licensure examination. The general standards of practice include the following:
- The second category is practice and procedures. It implies a minimum of ten years of post-graduate experience working in optometry or an equivalent amount of experience and passing a state board or licensure examination.
- The third category is biostatistics for clinical and professional research. It implies a minimum of ten years of post-graduate experience working in optometry or an equivalent amount of experience and passing a state board or licensure examination.
There are some states in Australia, like Melbourne, that require their optometrists to have above mentioned certification from a board of optometry. The license to practice can and should be suspended or revoked if there are any complaints or legal violations.
Things to Avoid When Choosing an Optometrist
When choosing an optometrist, it is essential to remember that people should avoid several things. Some examples are listed below:
- It would help if you avoided optometrists with no published research. Turning to the internet or visiting prospective optometrist sites without a professional opinion is highly unprofessional. You should also avoid optometrists who have no feedback ratings or no reviews as proof of their quality.
- It would help if you avoided optometrists who cannot give you a clear understanding of their costs, services, and payment options. You should also avoid optometrists who have no experience prescribing glasses or contact lenses. In fact, it is not enough for all those opting for the best optometrists in Melbourne by only checking their professional experience, training, expertise and credentials.
- It would help if you avoided optometrists with no physical address or an out-of-date address. You should also avoid listless or generic email addresses and unprofessional websites.”
- It would help if you avoided optometrists who do not have a professional profile on social networks such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Quora, Pinterest etc. People always try to find out if an optometrist is active on social media platforms and what their reviews are.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Optometrist
Specialisation: Choose an optometrist who specialises in your particular eye care needs. For example, choose an ocularist if you need LASIK laser eye surgery. An ophthalmologist will treat eye issues such as glaucoma and diabetes, whereas retina specialists deal with macular degeneration, retinal tears and holes, optic nerve disease, etc.
Location: You should consider your location when choosing an optometrist. Optometrists can provide thorough eye care for individuals of all ages.
Learning by Doing: You should opt for an eye care specialist with a medical or clinical background. It will benefit the doubt that they will be able to perform their job professionally and promptly.
Eye Care Experience: Look for an eye care provider with long experience in ocular health and treatment. It will prevent you from risking your vision in the hands of someone inexperienced with their work procedure or practice.
History: Find out the history of an eye care specialist. It will give you an idea of how they are organised, operate within the community, and deal with unresolved issues.
Friends, Family, Reviews: Choose an optometrist who has a good reputation in your area and the community. It is a good idea to ask your friends and family if they have ever met or worked with this optometrist, especially if they are not registered in your state.
