Adjusting to a New Optical Doctor

Getting a new family optical doctor can be tough. You’re used to the way your old optical doctor works, and you now have an unfamiliar face checking your eyes. This can be nerve-racking, especially for young children. Someone new coming into such close contact with them can cause anxiety or fear.

There is a Transition Period for Everything

Think back to starting at a new school or a new job. It takes a little while to get used to new surroundings and different ways of doing things. And, being young, children may be more cautious or shy around adults they don’t know, such as healthcare professionals. Optical doctors in particular require a great deal of trust for one of the most sensitive and fragile parts of the body. Adults may adjust to a new doctor more easily, but children may have a harder or longer transition. This is totally normal.

Prepare of the First Visit

Before going in for your first appointment, research your new doctor and their office to get to know them a little better. If you’re nervous about the experience, knowing more about who you’re meeting with can help you relax. It may be a good idea to let your children know ahead of time that they will be visiting a new optical doctor. Tell them you’re going and assure them that the new doctor will be just as great as the old one.

All Doctors are Different

When meeting your doctor for the first time, expect some differences. Although many optical doctors operate in similar ways, their personalities, appearances, and offices are all different. If the differences worry your children, note the similarities between this new doctor and their old one. Do they have glasses too? Do they have the same posters on the walls? Pointing out similarities between your old doctor and your new one may make your kids more comfortable.

If your children are still very nervous about visiting a new doctor, let them know that things may not feel the same right away, but comfort will come in time. As you and your family build personal relationships with your new optical doctor, you will all feel more at ease in their office.