Routine eye checkup

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
I have routine eye checkups every two years (for which I usually go to Vision Express in the UK), but my doctor here suggested I should consult an ophthalmologist instead. Would anyone know how to go about this? i.e. should I do this via the local eye hospital (Jules Gonin) or should I just ask for a consultation with an ophthalmologist (from the list on fmh.ch)?

2
It depends what you want - do you want a sight test (go to an optician) or a eye health check (go to the ophthalmologist), but yes it is different here the opticians don't do as much on the health side as in the UK.

Didn't your doctor recommend one? Maybe your health insurance would cover it if the doctor will sign for it.

3
There are sufficient private Augenarzts (don't know French equivalent).

Some you contact directly for appointment, some only take doctor referrals.

Check the phone book or ask your doc.

I have an eye problem and started off with an Augenarzt, changed to another (due to dissatisfaction), got referred to Kantonalspital which in turn referred to Inselspital, Bern, where I have twice received laser surgery, and have follow up checkups.

4
The eye check up by an ophthalmologist is covered by basic health insurance.

http://tel.local.ch/en/q?what=Ophtha...Waadt&rid=MwcE

5
Where do you get that information from?

It isn't listed in the summary of cover http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/krank...x.html?lang=en so I'm not sure voluntarily choosing to have a checkup will be paid, unless the doctor refers you.

I'd be very happy to be corrected though

6
I'd like the routine one offered in Vision Express- i.e., the combination of the sight test and health check. And yes, my GP here was surprised when I explained the tests done in the UK via optometrists.

Yes, as Sbrinz commented, it is covered under the basic health insurance. You can go directly.

In the T&C of my insurance model.

It feels odd consulting an ophthalmologist about what I normally consult high street optometrists. But so be it....

7
Everything I've had done, including 2x laser surgery* (which is not always paid by all policies), has been covered by insurance (authorisation had to be confirmed, first, though, by Inselspital ophthalmological dept.)

*laser surgery was for a medical condition and not for 'cosmetic' vision correction.

8
That looks like benefits, not obligations. It is too vague.

Opthalmology is covered by eye doctors. All work by doctors in their registered practice and hospitals is covered by general insurance, (please use a translation program) Original German from the Government Website follows,

Artikel 832.10, Kapitel 3 Leistungen, Art. 25

https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifi...073/index.html

Diese Leistungen umfassen:a. 1 die Untersuchungen und Behandlungen, die ambulant, stationär oder in einem Pflegeheim, sowie die Pflegeleistungen, die in einem Spital durchgeführt werden von: 1. Ärzten oder Ärztinnen, 2.Chiropraktoren oder Chiropraktorinnen,3.Personen, die auf Anordnung oder im Auftrag eines Arztes oder einer Ärztin beziehungsweise eines Chiropraktors oder einer Chiropraktorin Leistungen erbringen;b.die ärztlich oder unter den vom Bundesrat bestimmten Voraussetzungen von Chiropraktoren oder Chiropraktorinnen verordneten Analysen, Arzneimittel und der Untersuchung oder Behandlung dienenden Mittel und Gegenstände;c.einen Beitrag an die Kosten von ärztlich angeordneten Badekuren;d.die ärztlich durchgeführten oder angeordneten Massnahmen der medizinischen Rehabilitation;e. 2 den Aufenthalt im Spital entsprechend dem Standard der allgemeinen Abteilung;f.... 3 fbis. 4 den Aufenthalt bei Entbindung in einem Geburtshaus (Art. 29);g.einen Beitrag an die medizinisch notwendigen Transportkosten sowie an die Rettungskosten;h. 5 die Leistung der Apotheker und Apothekerinnen bei der Abgabe von nach Buchstabe b verordneten Arzneimitteln.

9
The ophthalmologist will do a much more detailed examination of the back of the eye than the ophthalmic opticians back in the UK ( on the first visit at least).

The opticians have different training in the UK compared to here so the Swiss ones are not qualified to offer those services.

And to confirm what everyone else has said the costs are reimbursed by the basic insurance once deductible has been reached and it's not necessary to have a GP referral. Having said that it's not always easy to get an appointment as a new patient when calling directly.

10
An update and information for anyone asking the same question: following the suggestions here, I rang up one of the doctors (found via the FMH site) (interestingly, he is also mentioned here: Advice pls - ophthalmologist (Vaud/Lausanne) ). They were taking patients and thus I took an appointment. It was truly comprehensive and exhaustive and the doctor explained everything in detail. I have to admit that I am very satisfied!

11
To clarify, work that's considered elective/cosmetic or not medically necessary is often not covered by basic insurance. It depends on how the doctor categorizes the treatment.

12
In addition (as I mentioned above), the laser surgery I received (for a medical condition) was not automatically covered by some insurances (depending on coverage), and written confirmation had to be sought, in order to go ahead.

Not sure why this would be, but that's what I told - and what happened (the hospital requested confirmation).

Maybe, because there is no pre-determinable success rate, compared to cost.