I really value my eye doctor. I’ve been a patient at his practice for years, and I’ve learned to trust him to not only provide great care, but also to play an important role in my overall health.
He’s one of VSP’s 25,000 private practice eye doctors across the country that is specially trained to diagnose and treat eye disease and also detect early signs of serious chronic health conditions. When VSP doctors recognize potential signs of diseases like diabetes or hypertension in their patients they are particularly adept at coordinating care with physicians, which helps people manage their conditions and live healthier lives.
When I began working for VSP, I was interested to learn that 90% of diabetes-related blindness can be prevented by early detection and diligent management through regular eye exams. The facts show that millions of Americans have pre-diabetes and don’t even know it, and eye exams can be the key to identifying the threat and preventing irreparable damage from diabetes.
Private practice eye doctors serve a significant role in helping patients with diabetes manage their disease. Among the principal factors is that these doctors consistently have the longest relationships with their patients and provide the best care. This allows them to monitor for early signs of disease during annual exams, provide education on how to prevent and control diabetes, track progress and coordinate care with primary care physicians. The sound advice from independent doctors helps keep eyes healthy whether you’re living with pre-diabetes or diabetes.
With the potential to detect, treat and manage eye and chronic diseases through an annual eye exam, the opportunity is clear; annual eye exams must be an essential part of Americans’ healthcare. And private practice eye doctors are the trusted source for this care.