Find an Optometrist
near Cleburne, TX

Optometry is a specialty that focuses on the care of the eyes. When you make an optometry appointment, you’ll see either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. There are slight differences between the services these two doctors provide. For example, an optometrist usually handles routine eye examinations. They can look for problems with your eyes as well as check to see if your vision is normal. This might include doing a distance vision test, eye movement test, refraction test, and more. If you can’t see clearly, they will prescribe glasses or contact lenses. An optometrist may also be able to prescribe prescriptions to help you with small problems, such as dry eye or an eye infection. However, for more serious issues, they’ll refer you to an ophthalmologist.

An ophthalmologist is different from an optometrist because they not only provide routine eye care, but they are also trained to perform eye surgery for various conditions. This might include cataracts, glaucoma, cornea and retina issues, and more. Many of these diseases can be treated with laser surgery, refractive lens exchange, and implantable lenses.

For those individuals who have vision insurance, it should cover all visits related to optometry. However, this type of insurance package is usually an add-on to normal health insurance. Additionally, if you have insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, most plans do not offer any adult vision coverage. If you’d like to purchase a vision care plan on your own, these typically cost between $150 to $180 a year. In most cases, they cover the cost of one eye exam as well as either new frames or lenses up to $120.

If you’re going to the optometrist or ophthalmologist without insurance, expect to pay anywhere from $50 to over $100 for a standard eye exam. If you wear contact lenses, you may also have to pay an additional fitting fee. If you need testing for glaucoma, expect your eye exam cost to be somewhere between $100 and $150.

References:
www.allaboutvision.com
www.ehealthinsurance.com

Rather than waiting on hold to make an appointment with your local optometry center,  try using Solv. It’s a fast and easy solution that lets you browse doctors in your area, find one with an opening, and book a same-day appointment all through an online system.

Most optometry offices hold standard business hours, meaning they’re open from approximately 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Of course, many do offer evening and weekend appointments to accommodate those with busy lifestyles, so you may be able to schedule a visit without taking time off work.

Fortunately, you should only need an optometry appointment every one to two years, depending on your doctor’s recommendation. If you have an eye condition, they may recommend coming back sooner or more frequently. Unless you require additional testing, the average eye exam only lasts 20 to 30 minutes, meaning you can get back to your daily routine quickly.