You have certainly seen the commercials for walk in eye clinic exams but are the exams you get in a walk in clinic as good as the by appointment only eye doctors?
We found that walk in eye exams are just as thorough as the normal by appointment only exams. Each one examines the eye for health issues and problems with vision. If you have vision issues each can fit you for either contacts or glasses, the walk in eye clinic may even have an in house lab in which they can get you glasses quicker than the regular eye doctor.
The walk in eye clinic has licensed optometrists to do the exams. They are like a private owned office that requires appointments, have glasses you can choose from or they can fit you for contact lenses. They can also prescribe prescriptions for issues such as dry eye or glaucoma, prescription lenses for myopia (nearsighted) or hyperopia (farsighted), cataracts, and other eye issues.
Field vision tests, eye mapping, and other diagnostic tests are done at walk in clinics just like a regular appointment only eye doctor. These tests are important to make sure your eye health is good or if you are developing glaucoma or a degentative eye disease. The sooner such diseases are caught the easier it is to treat and slow down the progression. These walk in clinics are just as adept at catching eye disease as an appointment only eye doctor.
The walkin eye exam clinic is able to diagnose cataracts, Fuchs’ Corneal Dystrophy, or inner ocular pressure issues which will need surgery and help you get an appointment set up for that, some may even have a doctor who specializes in those surgeries that comes in once a week or once a month to those types of surgeries there which can be a great benefit as you may not have to drive as far to get the surgery done or go back for follow up visits.
With Fuch’s if it progresses too far it will generally require a corneal transplant. What happens with this eye disease is the endothelium layer of cells in the cornea which is responsible for maintaining the proper amount of fluid in the cornea undergoes degenerative changes. It generally happens to people 50 and over, more often to women than men. If your mother had this condition you have a 50% chance of getting it as well.
How they differ?
Here is where the walk in clinic differs from a normal eye doctor office;
- Because you do not need an appointment you can walk in anytime and it will fit into your schedule as most walk in clinics will have evening hours as well as Saturday hours to fit into the working people’s schedule. This is also good for the kids; they do not have miss any time from school for an eye exam.
- They can offer deals such as buy one pair get one pair free, or free regular eye exams with the purchase of a pair of glasses or 6 months to 1 year supply of contact lenses.
- While regular appointment only eye doctors may only take certain insurances the walk in clinics take almost all eye insurance.
- Some walk in clinics will have their own on site lab in order to get you in and out in about an hour so you can see better with new glasses.
- Many of them have the latest in eye exam and diagnostic tools.
If you are looking for a new eye doctor
If your regular eye doctor is retiring or moving away, try one of the walk in eye clinics. You may find it much easier to fit into your schedule and the exam is just as thorough as what you are used to. You will also find a large supply of frames to choose from, some great deals on glasses and contacts, as well; and the price may be less than you are used to paying.
We recommend the walkin eye exam clinic that have the most up to date diagnostic equipment to find eye issues from cataracts to Fuch’s . They give exams that are just as thorough, and have plenty of contacts should you need a specialized eye surgery. Another reason is because these walk in clinics can often save you money with deals on glasses, contact lenses, and even the price of exams.
