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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for an Ophthalmologist in Silver Spring, book an appointment, and see the Ophthalmologist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Ophthalmologists in Silver Spring who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Silver Spring Ophthalmologist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Ophthalmologists in Silver Spring and book appointments instantly. You can search for Silver Spring Ophthalmologists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Silver Spring Ophthalmologists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Ophthalmologists in Silver Spring who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Silver Spring Ophthalmologists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Ophthalmologists in Silver Spring who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Ophthalmologists in Silver Spring on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Ophthalmologists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Ophthalmologists in Silver Spring who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for an Ophthalmologist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Ophthalmologists in Silver Spring. Many Ophthalmologists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
Ophthalmologists are skilled doctors and surgeons knowledgeable of various medical issues related to the eyes or vision. They specialize in diagnosing and treating the eye or any vision-related problem with medicine or surgery.
In the US, one has to finish around 12 years of study and training to become an ophthalmologist. It consists of four years of medical school and 4-5 years of additional training. A doctor who studies ophthalmology may choose to complete a fellowship to become a subspecialist in a specific field of eye care. This training allows them to handle more complicated or specialized issues in various eye regions or with a particular population. An eye specialist can conduct eye examinations, identify and cure illnesses and conditions of the eyes, perform ophthalmic surgery, and prescribe contact lenses or glasses.
Subspecialists may further choose to focus on:
There are many eye or vision issues that a patient may face. Some of these are:
Thus, an ophthalmologist helps relieve the patient of all their visual impairments so that they can lead a hassle-free life. To put it simply, an ophthalmologist is an expert at treating:
Whether a patient requires a routine eye exam or has a particular eye-related concern, ophthalmologists can help them by performing the appropriate tests. A thorough eye examination may last 45 to 90 minutes. The ophthalmologist may inquire about the patient's medical history, including their family members. The eye specialist may then examine the eyes to test some of the following factors:
Patients stand 20 feet away from a chart, close one eye, and describe what they see. A Snellen chart, which shows letters that get smaller from top to bottom, is the most used eye chart. It aids the physician in determining how clear the patient's eyesight is.
Ophthalmologists do visual field evaluations to determine a patient's overall field of vision, any blind patches, and other problems that can impair vision.
The optic nerve may get damaged by excessive pressure, which can occasionally cause glaucoma. Tonometry is the measurement of ocular pressure.
If a person has any of the following signs, they should see an ophthalmologist:
You may visit an ophthalmologist near you as part of a routine examination or for a specific eye concern. In either case, knowing your eye health in detail is essential. Here are some questions you can ask them:
Diabetes may damage your eyes over time, causing vision loss and even blindness. The good news is that managing your diabetes while getting periodic eye examinations can help prevent and treat vision impairments.
Diabetic retinopathy, macular edema (which commonly develops alongside diabetic retinopathy), cataracts, and glaucoma are various eye illnesses that can affect individuals with diabetes. All of these conditions can affect vision, but early detection and treatment can help safeguard it.
A cataract is the clouding of the typically clear natural lens of the eye. For individuals with cataracts, seeing through a cloudy lens is similar to looking through a frosty or fogged-up window, making daily activities like reading, driving at night, or recognizing facial expressions more challenging. Cataracts usually develop gradually and may not immediately impact vision, but they will likely cause noticeable vision impairment over time.
In the early stages, brighter lighting and stronger eyeglass prescriptions can help manage cataracts. However, cataract surgery—a generally safe and effective procedure—may be recommended to restore clear sight if vision becomes significantly affected.
There are several types of cataracts:
Each type of cataract affects vision differently and may require specific management or treatment approaches.
You can protect your vision and decrease your risk of vision loss by taking the following steps:
You must consult an ophthalmologist if you have a family history of eye problems, diabetes, or vision problems. Sometimes, your family physician or optometrist may refer you to an eye specialist if you have had surgery or injections to treat macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
References may work, but finding a top-rated ophthalmologist can still be challenging. Extensive research is required to see whether hospitals or doctors will accept your health coverage, whether an ophthalmologist will be readily accessible on weekends, whether you can schedule online or digital appointments, and so on. The search just got easier with Zocdoc!
Head to the Zocdoc website and search from the library of options provided by our regularly updated provider directory. Simply type in your preferred specialty, condition, and symptoms in the search bar. You may also filter your search by choosing the preferred date and location. You can also filter those ophthalmologists near you who accept your insurance carrier plan, which may help you save some money.
If you prefer not to share your insurance information with your provider when booking an appointment on Zocdoc, you'll be prompted to either provide your insurance details or indicate that you'll be paying out-of-pocket. Some providers may require insurance information to schedule an appointment. However, if you don't have insurance or choose not to use it for your visit, you can easily find another provider on Zocdoc who meets your needs. For more insurance-related questions, you can visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
Not only are the features above limited, but the provider profiles further tell you about the healthcare provider's educational qualifications, board certifications, expertise, and languages. Zocdoc also believes in making the best kind of healthcare available to you. Hence, we are constantly updating the verified patient reviews and ratings for the providers so that you can make an informed decision.
All bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and 100% free!
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vision disability shows up as one of the top 10 disabilities in adults and one of the most prominent disabilities in children. In the USA, approximately 12 million people over the age of 40 have vision impairment. This includes almost 1 million people who are blind, nearly 3 million who have vision impairment despite correction, and 8 million who have vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error. The CDC estimated 93 million adults in the United States are at high risk of vision loss.
In the state of Maryland, a total of 111,669 people (according to the American Foundation for the Blind) had vision difficulties in 2019. This included 50,125 males and 61,544 females. Out of these, the most common age group was between the ages of 35 and 64, with 38,728 people reporting vision difficulty. Children under 5 had 641 reported cases, while children between 5 and 17 years of age had 8,658 reported cases of visual difficulty. In older citizens, 19,685 people between the ages of 65 and 74 suffered from these difficulties, while 30,870 adults over the age of 74 had vision difficulties.
American Academy of Ophthalmology[1]
British Journal of Ophthalmology
National Federation of the Blind
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
American Foundation of the Blind
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.