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5 Tips for Choosing a Qualified Ophthalmologist

Most men and women choose their primary care physicians and dentists before they’re sick or have cavities. However choosing an ophthalmologist isn’t something people consider until they need treatment for an eye condition or need help for chronic issues, such as diabetic eye care. At our 5 locations in Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, serving people in New York City and Long Island, our talented ophthalmologists provide comprehensive eye care for patients at all stages of their lives.

In fact, scheduling regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist for preventive eye care is the most effective way to reduce the risk of permanent eye damage or vision loss. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to get access to a qualified eye doctor without having to travel. That’s why New York Ophthalmology prides itself on having convenient locations in the neighborhoods where our patients live. We have locations in Jamaica, Jackson Heights, Washington Heights, the Bronx, and Brooklyn to serve you.

But how do you choose an ophthalmologist? In this blog post, we’ll provide a few tips about what to look for and what questions to ask to ensure your eye doctor is qualified to provide the care you need.

Check Experience and Credentials: Knowing the educational background, training, and experience of ophthalmologists and optometrists you’re considering is an important first step in choosing an eye doctor. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor, while optometrists earn doctor of optometry degrees and specialize in diagnosing and caring for both vision and eye health problems. Our practice includes eye doctors with impeccable credentials covering all aspects of vision care. Some of the credentials you should check for include:

Engage in a conversation: Most patients get referrals to ophthalmologists from primary care physicians or hear about eye doctors from their friends. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the recommended individual is the right person for you. Being comfortable talking with your eye doctor is important, too. He or she should welcome all questions and answer them in a way that’s easily understood. At New York Ophthalmology, we can communicate with patients using multiple languages, including Bengali, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Hindi, Russian, and Spanish.

Specialized Training: Depending on the specific reasons for choosing an ophthalmologist, you should ask about advanced training in specific areas of eye care. For example, patients with retinal diseases would want to select a vitreoretinal specialist such as Dr. Neil S. Patel.

Check online reviews: These can be a valuable tool for selecting either an optometrist or ophthalmologist in Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan or Brooklyn.

Insurance coverage: This is more of a practical matter because some health insurance requires choosing an eye doctor participates in your plan to receive the most insurance benefits and pay the least out-of-pocket for your care. New York Ophthalmology works with all patients to ensure they have access to vision care.

If you’re looking for an eye doctor, you can contact us using the online form or call 866-599-8774 to schedule an appointment at one of our offices.

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