Our awareness of problems leads us to look for solutions.
For most people, their eye care journey starts when they notice a problem with their vision and sight. (Notice I used the words vision and sight; they are not the same.).
For instance, when they cannot see tiny prints clearly, when they have pains in or around their eyes, or when seeing becomes very uncomfortable,
The next thing most people do is discuss these issues they have with their significant others—a spouse, a colleague in the office, a friend or sibling, etc.
Some would rather keep their matter private. At this point, many suggestions come, and significant others who have experienced eye care will either make suggestions or tell their own stories.
These stories of the experiences of significant others begin to shape the ideas of the individual with the eye problem and, to some extent, the choices they make.
Most of the time, these suggestions may be misleading.
This Article is written with you in mind To serve as a guide in your eye care journey.
It is designed to give professional answers to Some pertinent questions most people ask.
1. How do I know if I Have An Eye Problem?
The eye is the organ for sight and vision.
Think of the eye as an instrument that gathers data, and the brain as the high-powered computer system that interprets what we are looking at.
The actual seeing takes place in the brain.
However the eye as a data-gathering instrument requires some level of precision and a feedback loop mechanism; if not, the data gathered may be inaccurate or poorly transmitted.
Either way, vision and sight become problematic.
The most common eye problems are indications that the data gathered by the eye is inaccurate due to several factors.
Every data collection device has an input system, data processing system, output system, and support system.
The eye also has these four systems. Every eye problem affects the input systems (cornea, tear film layer, crystalline lens, the ciliary body, etc.).
Or the output system (optic nerve, visual pathways, etc.), the data processing system (the retina, refractive, and binocular systems, etc.), or the support system (choroid, sclera, muscles, etc.).
Accordingly, the symptoms one experiences reflect the aspect of the data collection system that is affected.
Every symptom or sign (effect) is peculiar to the underlying cause.
The individual gets the feedback as either blurred vision, discomfort with vision, pain, the appearance of dark spots in the visual field, headaches, itching eyes, or a combination of these signs and symptoms.
The challenge with noticing eye problems, as with most “devices,” is that the beginning of a problem rarely coincides with the day you become aware of the problem.
The day we noticed the problem wasn’t when it started. Imagine a knocked engine.
The day you hear the knocking sound, it indicates that the engine is bad already, but that isn’t when the problem started.
Because our human systems are not precise like what we find in new generation machines, we can’t tell the slightest difference in our vision and sight; we cannot tell the processes taking place in our eyes that may lead to an issue in the future; therefore, we cannot rely on this ability to keep our eyes healthy.
That is why we advocate for a yearly or biannual eye care/examination routine.
Here are some common symptoms of eye problems:
- Blurred vision
- Sandy sensation
- Floaters and halos around light
- Pain in or around the eye
- Headaches, especially temporal headaches
- Red eyes
- Discharge
- Sensitivity to light
- Squinting
2. How do I choose the right eye clinic?
Selection of an eye clinic to visit: I realized that most people don’t know which eye clinic to visit; the challenge is that we don’t know how to vet a practice.
I get calls often, and I realize that most people make their choices based on cost.
While cost may not be a bad way to vet an eye clinic, it is certainly not the best way to vet one.
Because cost relates to the accessories you get, what is more important is the process that leads to the diagnosis for the subsequent treatment protocols that will follow.
To vet an eye clinic, it is often best to have some level of interaction with the clinic in question. Not an interaction based on money but on the philosophy of the practice.
What drives the existence of the practice? What values do they have?
These are better indicators to rely on in determining an eye clinic than just cost. Nothing says that the most
expensive clinic is the best; neither is the cheaper clinic the best for you, but the one that shares similar values with your values and beliefs.
Eye care is not a commodity; one size does not fit all.
At every price point that you are comfortable with, there are practices that hold values that are similar to your values. That is often the best clinic to use, and you will get the best value for your time and the best care you need.
There are so many other factors to consider, including the level of experience of the clinician in the clinic, the level of instrumentation, etc.
All these are important, but in my opinion, they are not as important as the underlying philosophy of the practice.
The best-equipped clinic with very poor values will be as bad as a clinic with poor values; the presence of equipment doesn’t make it better.
3. In-Clinic Procedures:
Patient admission: Every clinic has a system for admitting new patients.
I recently visited a clinic, and I was impressed with how I was admitted. It didn’t take long.
There were very few protocols, and in a few minutes, I was with the doctor in his consulting room.
The sharp contrast to this will be visiting a government-run hospital; the protocols of seeing a doctor are not ones I personally enjoy, and I feel that is the position of most people.
Clinics that are patient-centric usually have seamless patient admission procedures.
I often group clinics into 2 extremes, those that are patient-centric and those that are protocol and procedures-centric.
Also, it is wise to let the clinic know you are coming.
In my personal opinion, patients get more from their doctors when the doctor is aware of their visit in advance.
Diagnosis and treatment: the outcome of your visit to the eye clinic is 80 percent diagnosis and 20 percent management.
If the diagnostic process is poor, the outcome will definitely be poor.
The best eye clinics today rely on an evidence-based diagnostic and treatment method.
Quality diagnosis is a combination of the appropriate equipment and instrumentation, well-trained clinical personnel, and detailed standard operating procedures.
The treatment protocol takes its basis from the diagnosis. When the diagnosis is accurate, treatment is most effective. Treatment protocols are mostly documented.
Even though the experience of the clinician could make a difference.
Patient care: patient care for most clinics starts when the patient enters the consulting room.
For patient-centric clinics, patient care starts from the moment the patient walks into the clinic and continues long after the consultation in the clinic.
Patient care is highly subjective and personal.
Every case should be treated according to the merits of the condition and the peculiarities of the patient.
It’s your right to know what the doctor is treating and what drugs you are taking.
It is common practice for doctors to discuss their treatment plan with the patient and involve the patient in the decision-making process.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Never feel intimidated or like you are asking too many questions; you reserve the right to know what’s going on with your body.
4. How to choose the right frame and lens:
One of the questions I’m often asked by patients is; Doctor, can I bring my own frame?
And the answer is a simple yes. But here are some things you need to know. The basic function of a frame is to hold the lens in front of your eyes and enable you to see.
Because frames sit on a prominent and conspicuous part of the face, they form part of the first impression people have of us.
If you wear glasses, trust me, that is the first thing people see when they encounter you, and it forms the first impression they have about you.
As a result, most people are concerned about the fashion of the frame more than the actual function of the frame.
There is a common saying among eye doctors that the frames that look most fashionable may not be the frames that fit best.
The best frame is the one that fits best and is fashionable for the patient. The fitting comes before the fashion
5. How do I know a frame fits perfectly for me?
A frame should sit on your nose bridge and rest on the back of your ears.
And should not compress your temples, nor should it be too distant from the temples on both sides.
Your eyes should be positioned in the upper third of the frame.
Post-clinical care:
your eye care journey doesn’t end at the point you leave the clinic or when you have gotten all the accessories and drugs you need.
It is also important to note that your eye care journey doesn’t end at the point when your symptoms stop.
Sometimes, your symptoms will stop before the medication given to you is finished. You are to complete the medication as prescribed by your doctor.
This is how I look at eye and eye care; your eyes are given to you at birth; there are no known systems for replacing the eyes yet, so they are expected to last you throughout your life.
To ensure that happens, someone is supposed to take proper care of it.
You should have an eye care practitioner on speed dial, someone who will respond to you whenever you call.