Taking proper care of your eyes is important. Most eye care professionals recommend that everyone should have an annual examination to evaluate the overall health of their eyes. Eye doctors diagnose and treat various ailments that affect the eyes. By visiting the right eye doctor Bensonhurst Brooklyn residents can receive effective treatment for any problem that affects the eyes.

One of the doctors you can consult with is an optometrist. This eye physician becomes qualified and gets a license to practice after he or she successfully completes a 4 year post graduate program at an optometry school. The duties of an optometrist include conducting eye exams, prescribing medicines and prescribing contact lenses or eyeglasses. This professional also checks for defects like nearsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia and farsightedness.

An optometrist can also detect your ability to identify colors. He or she can examine your eyes to check for ailments like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. This professional can also perform surgeries to remove foreign bodies from eyes, bumps around the eyes, corneal injuries and lumps. If your condition is serious or is beyond the scope of treatment of this professional, he or she can refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Ophthalmologists specialize in diagnosing and treating various disorders of the eyes. Before they can start practicing, these professionals are required to complete 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship and a 3 year residency program in ophthalmology. They can treat you by prescribing medications or by performing surgeries on your eyes.

You can visit an ophthalmologist if you are suffering from a condition such as iritis, glaucoma or chemical burns. The other conditions that this professional can successfully treat include crossed eyes, trauma, cataracts and eye conditions related to diseases like arthritis and diabetes. Ophthalmologists can also perform plastic surgery in order to smooth wrinkles around the eyes and correct dropping eyelids.

As you look for an eye physician, you should to start by considering your needs since the services offered by one doctor may be better than those offered by another one. Visiting an optometrist if you are looking for contact lenses or eyeglasses is wise. If you are suffering from a specific eye problem, it is advisable to visit an ophthalmologist. Before deciding on the professional to visit, you can ask your friends of relatives for recommendations.

You should also look for a specialist who is experienced because he or she is likely to be better at diagnosing your problem. If you are suffering from a specific eye condition, make sure that the physician you visit has successfully treated other patients who were suffering from the condition. Another thing to consider is if the physician will accept your insurance.

Checking the credentials of a physician is also important. It is easy to perform a background check of such a professional online. The websites of the state board of optometry or state medical board can provide you with information about qualified and licensed eye doctors in Bensonhurst Brooklyn. It is also wise to ask a physician about the kind of patients that he or she specializes in treating. Some ophthalmologists specialize in treating children while others specialize in treating people with specific ailments such as glaucoma. Find a physician who is a good match for your problems and age.