I am an Optometrist, Ask me Anything.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Hesla

It is a tough decision. Some people will yell and scream if there is a charge associated with it as well.

Your thoughts on it are the reason that flat out refusal is not an option in my office. We have had great feedback by spending the time while doing a PD measurement to educate patients on the benefits of purchasing in store and I think our patients really appreciate the information.

Yes, that is definitely the best way to handle it.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Hoping Hesla or someone can help

Over the weekend my wife found out she has a retinal tear or detachment (not sure which). Its not especially bad now. her optometrist did a test and said it is small and far from the macula. She was referred to a clinic for a consult and eventually treatment. Expect a call Monday. Call comes and the consult can't happen for a month. Who knows for treatment.

Does the consult have to be with the specialist or can any ophthalmologist answer questions and talk about options?

Is there only one clinic to go to if it does have to be a specialist?

I'd be a happy guy if a private clinic were available.

[MoneyGuy]

Hesla, is it safe to have a second laser eye surgery? It's on one eye only. Both eyes have been done once before. The person says his eyes are not as good as when the surgery was done before. Do lasered eyes get weaker? Can you have laser surgery redone?

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Hoping Hesla or someone can help

Over the weekend my wife found out she has a retinal tear or detachment (not sure which). Its not especially bad now. her optometrist did a test and said it is small and far from the macula. She was referred to a clinic for a consult and eventually treatment. Expect a call Monday. Call comes and the consult can't happen for a month. Who knows for treatment.

Does the consult have to be with the specialist or can any ophthalmologist answer questions and talk about options?

Is there only one clinic to go to if it does have to be a specialist?

I'd be a happy guy if a private clinic were available.

Tough one to judge without seeing it myself. It is likely a tear though as a detachment needs immediate repair. I would call back to the Optometrist (or book back with them). At the very least they can follow you until the appointment date.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Hesla, is it safe to have a second laser eye surgery? It's on one eye only. Both eyes have been done once before. The person says his eyes are not as good as when the surgery was done before. Do lasered eyes get weaker? Can you have laser surgery redone?

Lots is factors determine the safety. The amount of cornea left, present Rx and age are all factors. It is likely a good idea to see your Optometrist/laser clinic to make that determination.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Tough one to judge without seeing it myself. It is likely a tear though as a detachment needs immediate repair. I would call back to the Optometrist (or book back with them). At the very least they can follow you until the appointment date.

Thanks. The optometrist is pretty available but doesn't have all the answers (which I understand). She's deferring to the specialist.

We are supposed to go on a trip in a couple weeks so not sure about flying, vacation activities etc. even work.

Are there any specialists you can recommend who might have a shorter wait? Maybe you are saying we don't need a specialist?

[GP_Matt]

Hi Hesla, I was hoping for a second opinion.
I took a pretty hard finger in the eye this weekend during a game of water polo. It cut the white part of the eye which bled for a while. It wasn't a ton of blood, but any blood seems like too much. From there the eye wasn't dilating properly for the rest of the day and I had a pretty headache. The headache has lessened and my eye is now pretty tender to the touch or closing my eyes very hard but it isn't too bad. As far as I can tell there is no loss in vision and now about an eighth of my eye is solid red.

I called my Optometrist Monday morning to get an appointment but the receptionist told me to go to my doctor instead. I saw my doctor, but it was a quick visit in which he didn't look at my eye and gave me a prescription for drops that he said would get rid of the redness.

Is there anything else I should do or just use the drops as prescribed and wait for the headache/swelling to go away?

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Thanks. The optometrist is pretty available but doesn't have all the answers (which I understand). She's deferring to the specialist.

We are supposed to go on a trip in a couple weeks so not sure about flying, vacation activities etc. even work.

Are there any specialists you can recommend who might have a shorter wait? Maybe you are saying we don't need a specialist?

Definitely needs a specialist as it does need to be repaired.

Without actually seeing the tear I can not make a recommendation on activities/travel. I would defer to your Optometrist. As for specialists. They are all crazy busy and wait times will likely be the same everywhere.

No heavy lifting, strenuous activity and sleeping propped up (think gravity) are recommended. First signs of increased floaters, increased (or new) flashing lights or a curtain/Vail in the vision she should go back to the Optometrist immediately. Central vision loss = ER.

Sorry. Tough to advise on this as I haven't seen the retina.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

Hi Hesla, I was hoping for a second opinion.
I took a pretty hard finger in the eye this weekend during a game of water polo. It cut the white part of the eye which bled for a while. It wasn't a ton of blood, but any blood seems like too much. From there the eye wasn't dilating properly for the rest of the day and I had a pretty headache. The headache has lessened and my eye is now pretty tender to the touch or closing my eyes very hard but it isn't too bad. As far as I can tell there is no loss in vision and now about an eighth of my eye is solid red.

I called my Optometrist Monday morning to get an appointment but the receptionist told me to go to my doctor instead. I saw my doctor, but it was a quick visit in which he didn't look at my eye and gave me a prescription for drops that he said would get rid of the redness.

Is there anything else I should do or just use the drops as prescribed and wait for the headache/swelling to go away?

Call back the Optometrist. Pupil dysfunction can be serious. If your Optometrist will not see you. Go to another one. Alberta Health care would cover a medically necessary checkup like that.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Definitely needs a specialist as it does need to be repaired.

Without actually seeing the tear I can not make a recommendation on activities/travel. I would defer to your Optometrist. As for specialists. They are all crazy busy and wait times will likely be the same everywhere.

No heavy lifting, strenuous activity and sleeping propped up (think gravity) are recommended. First signs of increased floaters, increased (or new) flashing lights or a curtain/Vail in the vision she should go back to the Optometrist immediately. Central vision loss = ER.

Sorry. Tough to advise on this as I haven't seen the retina.

Really appreciate the thoughts. Thanks.

[MoneyGuy]

Hesla, are optometrists, etc. really entitled to use the term doctor (like a medical doctor), or is like chiros who seem to grant the title to themselves through their governing body or something?

Your great thread has inspired me. I just booked an appointment for an eye exam next week.

[Knut]

^ we use the term in our office only and not in general public. We have a Doctorate of Optometry as a degree. I only use the term in tha sense and I am MR on everything else.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Hesla

^ we use the term in our office only and not in general public. We have a Doctorate of Optometry as a degree. I only use the term in tha sense and I am MR on everything else.

So should I refer to my optometrist as Dr. "Smith?" I refuse to call my chiropractor doctor because I don't feel he is a doctor. Same thing?

I admit that I felt uncomfy today when I called for an appointment. The person who booked me used the term Dr. "Smith." Unless you can tell me that the term is proper, I will not use it.

Based on what you've said about not using it publically, you seem to agree with me, no?

[Knut]

Well we are Doctors of Optometry. So it is appropriate to refer to him as a Dr in the office.

We subscribe to evidence based eye care and are considered experts in the field. I would put Optometrists on par with dentists over Chiro's. The term Doctor simply means that you have a doctorate in the field.

I am sure he will not expect you to call him a doctor.

[sa226]

If I do that thing where Ace Ventura pins people down and makes them watch him push on and squish his eyeball to gross them out, will I still be able to drive when I'm older?

My Mom says I won't.

I am probably 15 years too late.

[Knut]

You can cause damage, it it is unlikely

[FireFly]

My eyes have been watering for a couple weeks now; one more than the other. It's more irritating than anything and I haven't noticed any changes to my vision. Probably just allergies or should I be concerned?

[Knut]

Originally Posted by FireFly

My eyes have been watering for a couple weeks now; one more than the other. It's more irritating than anything and I haven't noticed any changes to my vision. Probably just allergies or should I be concerned?

Allergies most likely. Could be dry eye as well.

Try an over the counter lubrication drop like Systane a few times a day. If you are a CL wearer you should get a checkup to rule out a solution sensitivity or overwear issues.

[tete]

Hesla, my 14 month old daughter might have pink eye - her eyes were crusted shut this morning and her one eye looked red when I dropped her off at daycare this morning. If she does have pink eye and I get called to pick her up should she see a doctor or are there OTC drops that can be bought to clear this up?

[tete]

Believe me, I feel bad that I dropped her off but it didn't dawn on me that it might be pink eye until after I left her. I'm still a newbie when it comes to childhood illnesses. Anyway she's now quarantined at home, so exposure was short, and a doctor will see her this afternoon. Again, I feel bad I didn't catch it earlier.