How to Find the Best Optometrist in Your Area (Including Calgary)
The funny thing about having a blog with decent readership that spans the globe is that I can see exactly what searches lead readers to click on it, and recently I’ve noticed a significant number of visitors from around the world searching for phrases like "Best Optometrist in ___." This trend prompted me to write this guide—to give helpful insights on choosing an excellent optometrist, whether you’re in Calgary or any other city. It’s also important to note that in many jurisdictions, local governing bodies for optometrists prohibit any language on websites suggesting superiority over others. We’re not here to claim we’re the best but rather to help you make an informed choice.
Advanced Technology and Experience: A Must-Have Combination
Modern eye care relies on advanced diagnostic tools, and having an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) scanner is essential. However, simply owning this technology isn’t enough—the real value comes from the experience using it.
Malcolm Gladwell’s ideas in Outliers about the necessity of 10,000 hours of practice to gain expertise and mastery of a given subject or task seems accurate here. It’s this deep familiarity of reading tens of thousands of OCT reports that helps distinguish real issues from artifacts.
A Closer Look at “Red Flag Disease”: Despite its ominous name, “Red Flag Disease” isn’t an actual disease. Instead, it refers to instances when the testing software flags a potential issue—often due to an error or artifact—even when there’s no real problem. With sufficient experience, an optometrist can recognize when a red flag is simply a software misinterpretation rather than a genuine concern. This expertise prevents unnecessary stress and follow-up testing, ensuring that you receive care based on accurate assessments rather than false positives. To be clear, these misdiagnosis will always happen, but having a reviewer who is experienced can help reduce their frequency significantly.
Online Reviews: Helpful but They Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Online reviews offer a glimpse into patient satisfaction, but they rarely tell the full story. In fact, our data indicates that only about 1 in 1,000 customers leaves an unsolicited review, making these unprompted reviews truly authentic and rare.
Many businesses, however, have shifted their focus towards soliciting reviews, often at the expense of customer service. Practices frequently use QR codes, follow-up emails, and other methods to gather positive feedback, which can create a skewed perception of quality. Instead of fixating on the number of reviews, it’s more meaningful to assess their content and consider how often an optometrist is recommended by trusted sources.
Take, for example, a business that doesn't need to generate any further demand—such as a Hip and Knee clinic in my jurisdiction. With an aging population and limited surgical capacity in a public healthcare system, these clinics face multi-year wait times for surgeries. They have no need to advertise or chase reviews, and I would surmise they would probably prefer less patients, not more. In fact, the hip and knee clinic in the same building as ours serves over 200 patients daily with its 17 orthopedic surgeons. Yet, in all their years of operation, they’ve accumulated just 160 Google reviews. This aligns perfectly with the 1 in 1,000 pattern. So, when you encounter a business boasting 500+ reviews, it’s a clear indicator they are actively pursuing them.
Float a Trial Balloon
When evaluating whether an optometrist’s goals align with your own, consider asking their opinion on topics like the efficacy of blue-blocking glasses for eye health. This subject is particularly revealing as it is laden with anecdotal evidence and minimal clinical validation in reputable medical journals. By discussing this, you can gauge their approach to evidence-based practice versus reliance on popular trends or personal opinion. An optometrist who provides a balanced perspective—acknowledging the scant clinical support while discussing potential benefits or limitations—might indicate a thoughtful, research-driven alignment with your priorities. Conversely, a response overly reliant on anecdotal claims may reveal a less objective stance. The way they address such nuanced topics can offer valuable insights into their professional philosophy and compatibility with your expectations
Ask People You Trust for Referrals
Your personal network can be incredibly valuable when choosing an optometrist. Consider asking:
Family and Friends: Especially those with discerning tastes or who pay attention to details.
Family Doctors: Healthcare professionals often have reliable recommendations based on their own referrals.
Other Trusted Professionals: Friends in fields where precision is crucial—like law or engineering—can offer honest advice.
The Importance of Clear Communication
An excellent optometrist ensures your exam results are thoroughly explained, highlighting even minor findings—like a harmless, long-standing freckle on your eye—to prevent future misunderstandings. For me, this is a top priority. Patients should feel empowered and well-informed about their eye health at every appointment, as this clarity greatly improves outcomes by helping everyone stay vigilant about what to monitor. When you’re fully informed, making decisions—whether it’s seeking a second opinion or transitioning to a new provider—becomes much more straightforward.
In Summary
When searching for the best optometrist, keep these points in mind:
Advanced Technology & Experience: Ensure they not only have essential tools like an OCT scanner but also the extensive experience to interpret the results accurately. As Malcolm Gladwell suggests, mastery really does come from thousands of repetitions.
Online Reviews: Genuine, unsolicited reviews are extremely rare—only about 1 in 1,000 customers take the time to leave one. The true measure of quality might be found in the trust of personal referrals, not simply a high review count.
Trusted Referrals: Rely on recommendations from family, friends, and trusted professionals.
Clear, Informed Communication: Look for an optometrist who takes the time to discuss your exam results, ensuring you understand every aspect of your eye health.
If you’re in Calgary or searching in any other city for reliable eye care advice, we hope these insights help you find the quality provider you deserve.