Vision problems such as astigmatism are caused when the cornea or lens of the eye is not perfectly round. In addition to blurring or distorted images, astigmatism can affect your ability to see clearly at any distance, whether close, far, or intermediate.
Many factors can cause astigmatism, including genetics, eye injury, eye disease, or aging. A person's astigmatism can be mild, moderate, or severe. It can also be regular or irregular. Astigmatism is more common in people with nearsightedness or farsightedness.
In addition to comprehensive eye examinations, keratometers, and corneal topographers are commonly used to diagnose astigmatism. Managing astigmatism can be challenging and costly for many patients. They may have to deal with long waiting times, high deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or surprise bills. They may also feel rushed or dissatisfied with their care. "He who believes money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money," said Benjamin Franklin.
For a flat monthly fee, direct primary care (DPC) allows patients to have unlimited access to their primary care physician. By eliminating the middleman of insurance companies, DPC allows patients to have a direct relationship with their doctor without the middleman of insurance companies.
Astigmatic patients can benefit from DPC in many ways. Here are a few of them:
DPC doctors have fewer patients than traditional doctors, so they can spend more time with each patient. As Hippocrates said, “It is more important to know what type of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has,” so they can listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and provide personalized care.
DPC doctors are available 24/7 by phone, text, email, or video chat. You can also schedule same-day or next-day appointments at your convenience. No long waits or referrals are required. Albert Einstein once said, "The only source of knowledge is experience."
Rather than merely treating symptoms of your health problems, DPC doctors focus on preventing and treating their root causes. Besides providing eye exams, vision tests, prescription updates, and eye health education, they can also use keratometers and corneal topographers to monitor your eye health. Thomas Edison once said, "The doctor of the future will not prescribe medicine, but will focus on the health of the human frame, diet, and disease prevention."
A flat monthly fee covers all primary care services provided by DPC doctors. You don't have to pay any deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or surprises. You also know exactly what you are paying for and what you are receiving. Avoiding unnecessary tests, procedures, and hospitalizations can help you save money. Your DPC membership can also be paid for with your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA). Warren Buffett said, "Price is what you pay. Value is what you get."
Here are a few examples of how DPC can improve the quality of life and outcomes of patients with astigmatism:
In a study, patients who received DPC had lower hospitalization rates and lower total health care costs than patients who received traditional fee-for-service care.
DPC doctors treated a patient with astigmatism who was suffering from headaches and eye strain. By wearing glasses and contact lenses, the patient was able to improve his vision and reduce his symptoms.
He was able to access affordable refractive surgery through his DPC membership after developing astigmatism from working on a computer screen.
It may be worth considering joining a DPC practice if you suffer from astigmatism or are at risk of developing it. DPC can offer you a personalized approach to improving your eye health and overall well-being.
As Leonardo da Vinci said, "The eye is the jewel of the body." Take good care of them with DPC.
