Consumers Urged To Learn Mo (NAPSA)—Melissa Baker was diagnosed with nearsightedness aos 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 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 considera- Melissa to an ophthalmologist at age 15 that she learned her true diagnosis: glaucoma, a disease that rarely affects the young. But it was Eye Care Providers tions 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. Despite four surgeries, she eventu- 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. Melissa now dedicates her time cation in today’s challenging health 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 increasing demandfor more preven- also launched a new campaign urging consumers to learn more tions, ask your provider if he/she is about eye care and to take a more active role in it. NCL, the nation’s medical care. Most importantly, NCLprovides a framework to guide consumers as they make eye care provider decisions, ultimately zation, recently commissioned a survey that found consumers— their health care choices. So who does what and when? recovery time you can expect. already too late. The damage to her optic nerve was irreversible. ally lost sight in her left eye. At 22, Melissa’s left eye was replaced with a glass eye. to educating the public about eye Consumers League (NCL) has oldest consumer advocacy organi- 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 under- stand eye care, NCL has produced a white paper about the state of eye care in the United States and cre- ated new Web resources andtips on its Web site, www.nclnet.org/ health/eyes. The white paperclearly describes the need for patient edu- care environment; one in which the tive care, in constant competition with an increasing sensitivity to cost control and productivity, has led to the expanding role of non- physician practitioners providing encouraging them to take control of The eye care arena is often confus- If you don’t know what you need to have done, ask your primary care doctor. Look for diplomas, licenses and other qualifications andcertifications displayed in theoffice. Ask the provider if he/she has sufficient training and experienceto perform the procedure you need, especially when the procedure is more invasive than a regular office visit. e If your eye care needs include surgery or treatment with medica- trained and licensed to perform these services. Ask how many times he/she has performed the service, and what kind of side effects and If you do not have access to however, the services are broken or are unsure about the eye care provider you need, ask your primary care doctor for a recommendation to properly address your Opticians dispense andfit contact lenses andglasses your treatment by an eye care ing due to the numberof professionals who offer services. Generally, downas such: 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 needs. If you encounter a problem in provider that can not be resolved with the provider, do nothesitate to contact the state agency that oversees the conductof the provider. To learn more about NCL’s new education effort, visit nclnet.org/health/eyes. www.
