Choosing an ophthalmologist and optometrist
Choosing an ophthalmologist and optometrist that is right for you and your family.
Just like the choice of paediatrician, ophthalmologists and optometrist should be chosen carefully with a view to how they treat young and older children.
Always consider how child-friendly the physician or optometrist is and how much experience has with children. There's nothing worse than when the therapist makes your child feel afraid. Spectacles should never be "sold" to children as something negative or like a burden. Instead, emphasise that spectacles are a great thing! Spectacles can make magic: you can suddenly see really small things.
In addition to a friendly and easy-going manner with children, the specialist's expertise is obviously a decisive factor. Make sure that they first perform a child-friendly, yet complete an initial assessment (medical history). As for adults, the optometrist should speak with you and your child specifically about the situations in which the vision problems usually occur, the situations in which the child will need the spectacles the most, whether the child is very active, plays a lot of sports, reads a lot (including in bed during the evening by twilight)...The more specific you and your child are about these daily habits, the better it will be when selecting and adjusting the vision aid.
The optometrist should be prepared to have time and patience when consulting with you and your child. Listen to what the child wants when choosing the spectacle frames. Avoid compulsion – ideally the child should accept the spectacles and put them on by him or herself.
Ask for detailed information about spectacle lens refinements, such as a coating for increased hardness or an anti-reflective coating. These additional coatings don't have to cost a lot more, while they can make the spectacles more durable and long-lasting – and make seeing more pleasant for your child. Look for shatter-proof spectacle lenses and frames with temples and nose bridges which are safe for children.
Please notice, that some optometrist have special subscription offers for children's spectacles for you to take advantage of: "The spectacles that grow with you". These offers allow you to continue to obtain new spectacles when your child grows out of the old ones – for a fixed price. Take advantage of the aftercare offers and inspections for children's spectacles. A professional spectacle cleaning or inspection as to whether the spectacles sit correctly, plus any necessary correction, is very useful, especially for active children, and also increases the spectacles' service life.
Help! Does my child need spectacles? Read More...
We love Christensen Harbison Optometrists. They are centrally located on Barolin Street, opposite AusWide Bank, right in the heart of Bundaberg CBD. Contact the team for an appointment with one of the local optometrists Anthony and Sarah. Phone (07) 4151 2767 or email info@choptom.com.au or pop into the office at 7 Barolin Street Bundaberg. Learn more about Christensen Harbison Optometrists here.
