I've worn glasses since I was a child. When I was a kid and my parents would take me all the old people in the waiting room would stare at me. It made me very uncomfortable. I have a very tricky prescription and if I change doctors I know very quickly if they know what they are doing. I would suggest that you go to an independent eye doctor and not a big chain. When you make the appointment explain the situation and discuss insurance. My current eye doctor understands my vision problem and he accepts older adults and children. Dealing with a dementia patient can be tricky but having an exam like they did when they got glasses previously could help put them at ease. You might also want to go to an older adult as seniors often times don't trust doctors that look like "Doogie Howser". If they use Physician assistants to do part of the exam you might ask in the Doctor can do the full exam, that way it's viewed as how it was done in the past.
A lot depends on what type insurance you have. If Medicaid, then u need to see a Medicaid doctor. Also depends on your vision provider who falls into their network.
My nephew had glasses at 8 months old. I asked the Eye Doctor how could they tell what prescription was needed. I was told by the way the eye refracts light. So if you are worried about the exam, don't be.
When you call to make an appointment do the following. Tell the person that is making the appointment that you would like the first appointment of the day, or the first one after the lunch break. Explain that the person you are making the appointment for has dementia and will need some extra time. If you can make the appointment for the time of day when your brother is at his best. Explain that you need someone that is most patient and understanding.
I did the above when I scheduled an exam for my Husband and when he would not cover 1 eye I thought well that is the end of this exam. But I was very surprised when he sat in the chair he was compliant and when they showed the letters on the wall he read them. (this from someone that was pretty much non-verbal, it was like his memory of past eye exams came back)
The staff will do the best that they can. Most places deal with adults and children and deal with all sorts of learning disabilities so this should not be as big of a problem as you might think. I hope all goes well..
Bluebird, from your profile you mentioned your brother has Alzheimer's/Dementia.
Check with the ophthalmology doctor's office to see if the doctor takes care of children's eye issues, because with Alzheimer's/Dementia the patient can act like a child.
My nephew had glasses at 8 months old. I asked the Eye Doctor how could they tell what prescription was needed. I was told by the way the eye refracts light. So if you are worried about the exam, don't be.
Tell the person that is making the appointment that you would like the first appointment of the day, or the first one after the lunch break.
Explain that the person you are making the appointment for has dementia and will need some extra time. If you can make the appointment for the time of day when your brother is at his best.
Explain that you need someone that is most patient and understanding.
I did the above when I scheduled an exam for my Husband and when he would not cover 1 eye I thought well that is the end of this exam. But I was very surprised when he sat in the chair he was compliant and when they showed the letters on the wall he read them. (this from someone that was pretty much non-verbal, it was like his memory of past eye exams came back)
The staff will do the best that they can.
Most places deal with adults and children and deal with all sorts of learning disabilities so this should not be as big of a problem as you might think.
I hope all goes well..
Check with the ophthalmology doctor's office to see if the doctor takes care of children's eye issues, because with Alzheimer's/Dementia the patient can act like a child.