Why are people more reluctant to go the Eye Doctor then they are to go to the dentist?

Question

I work in the Eye care industry and I encounter people all day who get upset because they have to come in for an exam to get a new prescription for contacts. Most of them have the response that it is their eyes and they KNOW that their eyes are fine. A doctor once told me the average american goes to the Dentist 2 times a year but when it comes to Eyecare most people try to not go to the doctor even every 2 years. I know that there are 6 states that the law requires Eye care providers to write the prescription for 2 years but the rest it's 1. And there is a reason for that. Contacts can cause so many problems with your eyes. I just don't understand why people are more willing to go into the Dentist then they are the eye doctor. I would think it's the other way around cause something happens to your eyes and you can go blind. You can get false teeth if you have a problem with them.

Answer 1

This is so true. I think there are a couple of reasons. First, as you indicated they think they can see so why would they want to waist their time and money going to have their eyes checked. What most of them do not know is, your eyes can be like cancer, a problems can exist a long time before the person has a clue or any symptoms. So they diangosis themselves and just do not go.

The other reason is financial. They just cannot justify "going to the eye doctor for nothing" and wasting money. They are so sure they will know if and when they need treatment. They have no idea of the number of eye dieseas and problems that can occur. 95% of those who were contacts do not keep them cleaned or take them out and let their eyes get enough oxygen. I think those who were contact abuse their  eyes more than those of us who where glasses.

Some people say it is a waste of money because you have to keep incresing the strength of the lense more often, and  this may be true, but at least if forces us to keep our eyes checked more often.

It does not make sense to me either that on of the most major organs we have (our eyes) are the least taken care of manily because most people ar too stingy to spend a few hundred dollors a year to be able to see. It truly a case of ignorance.

However, God forbid, if they do come down with an eye diesease, they will go to the doctor (atfer the fact) instead of using the preventative measures.

I am glad you brought this up and I hope it willl help others

"See" the need to keep their eyes checked and take care of them.

Answer 2

I totally disagree.  I would much rather go to the eye doctor over the dentist.  However, it could be about insurance.  Most insurance companies will only pay for eye doctors every two years.

People I know don't go to the dentist on a regular basis either.  They go when a tooth is bothering them and they can no longer stand the pain.

I have been wearing contacts for 15 years and my prescription has never changed since I started wearing them.  Therefore I only go to the eye doctor when my contacts have to much of a build up or I have broken one.

Answer 3

It is a million times easier to put up with poor vision than an abscessed tooth.

Vision may degrade but hang on to a usable point for years at a time, while once a tooth starts to go, the pain just increases til its unbearable and at that point you can wind up physically scarred in a part of your body that everyone will see.

Answer 4

I have no qualms about the eye doctor, I go every 2 years like recommended.  I hate the dentist!!

Answer 5

I don't know.  My patients think they need only one exam for life when it comes to contact lenses.  Some don't want any exam at all.

Answer 6

i think it is a cosmetic thing. people can see that your teeth are bad, however, most times they cant see that your eyes are bad. also some do not want to wear glass for cosmetic reasons.

also another reason is my insurance will pay for me to get my teeth cleaned, 2xs a year, with no co pay. however if i go to the eye dr, i have to come out of pocket for my glass/contacts. and i just simply cant afford it.

Answer 7

Than not then.  I guess I am weird I like going to the dentist and eye doctor or any doctor for that matter.