Visiting an optometrist can take some time. By the time you drive to your optometrist's office, sit in the waiting room, have the exam and consultation, and then check out and drive home — you may have dedicated at least an hour of your time, if not more. It only makes sense, then, that you would want to get as much as possible out of your optometrist's appointment. Here are a few ways to maximize your benefits when you visit an optometrist.

Bring along your glasses or contacts.

Even if you do not wear them all of the time, bring your glasses or contacts to the eye doctor's office. This will save the eye doctor the time of having to look up your prescription. Also, they can look over your glasses for any problems and address complaints about the fit or adjustment while you are there. Some of the visual tests are best done with your glasses on, too. While your eye doctor can adjust the way they conduct these tests if you don't have your glasses on-hand, it's still easiest and most productive to assess your vision with your glasses or contacts present.

Write down a list of questions.

You likely have questions about your vision, eye health, or lens use that pop into your head from time to time. But when you're actually sitting in the optometrist's chair, you may only remember a fraction of them! About a month before your appointment, start jotting down questions as they come to mind. Bring your list to your appointment, and ask away. Your questioning may give your eye doctor an opportunity to recommend better management practices for an eye health condition that is bothering you, or it may even lead to a diagnosis that would have otherwise gone overlooked.

Schedule the appointment when you have some free time afterward.

Don't schedule your optometrist appointment right before something else important or vital. Not only will you be rushed and not have a chance to ask your questions, but you may be so anxious about having to get out of there on time that you don't pay close attention to what the doctor has to say. Leave an extra hour of free time in your schedule so that if your eye doctor requests some extra diagnostic tests or you get into a discussion about glaucoma, you can actively participate without rushing.

If you're going to take the time to see an optometrist, then you might as well make the most of that time! With the right preparation and scheduling, you can do just that.