Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in General Eye Health on April 15, 2020
Are you trying to figure out how to get an eye condition checked without going to your eye doctor’s office? Are you aware of what telemedicine can involve?
Sometimes it is challenging to make it into the doctor’s office or they don’t have the same availability as you. A great way to still see your doctor when you can’t go into their office is telemedicine.
Telemedicine is a form of medicine that lets doctors treat their patients via video chat. Keep reading to learn more about why you should consider using telemedicine!
Convenience
Telemedicine makes medicine more convenient for patients. Patients don’t have to drive long distances to see a doctor because they can see their doctor in their home.
This makes it easier for people who don’t have access to doctors or need a specialist that’s far away. Telemedicine makes it less of a burden for patients to see doctors without having to spend time on transportation.
Saves Money
Medical care can be expensive. Telemedicine appointments can help with follow-up appointments. By using telemedicine, patients can avoid emergency room or urgent care visits.
This allows them to spend less on travel and any costs that come with visiting the ER.
See a Specialist Faster
Sometimes you need a specialist that doesn’t live near you. You don’t want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars traveling there, so how do you see them? Telemedicine!
While not everything can be done using telemedicine, you can review records or conversations.
Build a Better Relationship with Your Doctor
Telemedicine lets patients connect with doctors more easily and faster. You can set up an appointment to have your doctor answer questions or schedule a follow-up appointment.
Telemedicine makes it more convenient to quickly address any issues.
What can eye doctors check when they use telemedicine?
There are times that patients have a quick question for their eye doctor. In these situations, they may not need to come into the office.
Telemedicine makes it simpler to address these questions. Conditions that usually can be covered during a telemedicine appointment include:
- Dry or irritated eyes
- Red eyes
- Pediatric eye disease
- Eyelid conditions
- Oculoplastics questions
- Glaucoma medication follow-up appointments
- Initial exams to help determine the need for an in-person consultation
- Uveitis/inflammation follow up
It is important to remember that these are some of the conditions that your doctor can check using telemedicine. If you are experiencing an eye issue, find out if a telemedicine appointment might be appropriate.
Can vision-related appointments be performed with telemedicine?
Unfortunately, routine vision care cannot be performed through a virtual appointment or telemedicine. This includes new prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses.
If you are experiencing a problem with your glasses or contacts, talk to your doctor using telemedicine. They’ll let you know if they think you should come in for an appointment or not.
Telemedicine is a great way to receive medical care without having to take the time to come in for an appointment. There are situations where using telemedicine is not appropriate.
In these cases, you will need to come in for an in-person appointment. The good thing is that using telemedicine can reduce the time of your next in-person appointment.
Are you ready to try telemedicine for yourself? Schedule a telemedicine appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR now!
