Optometrists in Canada

[Alix]

I am planning to go to Canada to buy Xiidra. I believe optometrists can prescribe it so I will be going to see one instead of an ophthalmologist, most probably in Toronto.

Does anyone know how much it typically costs for a consultation with an optometrist there? This is without any type of insurance.

[deep_dry_eye]

Optometrist can prescribe Xiidra correct. Probably around $100 if you dont shop around. Since you are here anyways, I recommend you to see a dr eye specialist, a consult is around $120 for that.

[Alix]

Thank you this sounds very reasonable.

[ebi1368]

Just make sure that when you are getting your Xiidra,call the pharmacy beforehand. They usually donot have more than two packs in stock.

[jm95dryeye]

I am planning to go to Canada to buy Xiidra. I believe optometrists can prescribe it so I will be going to see one instead of an ophthalmologist, most probably in Toronto.

Does anyone know how much it typically costs for a consultation with an optometrist there? This is without any type of insurance.

You can buy it online from a canadian pharmacy: https://www.canadapharmacyonline.com...ame=Xiidra7507

They deliver to the UK, you just have to email them a prescription from your doctor

[Alix]

Thank you both.

As for ordering on line, my GP is not going to give me a prescription for medication that is not available in the UK. Where did you get your prescription from?

[deep_dry_eye]

Thank you both.

As for ordering on line, my GP is not going to give me a prescription for medication that is not available in the UK. Where did you get your prescription from?

you need a prescription from a Canadian DR for any Canadian pharmacy/drugs.

[jm95dryeye]

Thank you both.

As for ordering on line, my GP is not going to give me a prescription for medication that is not available in the UK. Where did you get your prescription from?

Ah didn't realise. I have my last IPL with Dr Hamada in London on Monday so was going to ask him.

[Alix]

Ah didn't realise. I have my last IPL with Dr Hamada in London on Monday so was going to ask him.

It doesn’t matter I don’t really trust on line pharmacies especially overseas ones anyway. I’m ok to go to Canada the plane fare is not expensive.

[deep_dry_eye]

It doesn’t matter I don’t really trust on line pharmacies especially overseas ones anyway. I’m ok to go to Canada the plane fare is not expensive.

Since you are coming in specifically for treatment -- may I recommend a really good Dr in Toronto -- it wouldn't hurt to get your eyes checked out by one of the best of Canada. If you're interested, you can PM me.

[Alix]

Since you are coming in specifically for treatment -- may I recommend a really good Dr in Toronto -- it wouldn't hurt to get your eyes checked out by one of the best of Canada. If you're interested, you can PM me.

Thank you I’ll bear this in mind and may PM you nearer the time. To be honest my aim is just to get xiidra in Canada nothing more. I’ll be seeing Professor Jorge Alió this month who is one of the best doctors in the world and hopefully he can give me a diagnosis. If he cannot my search will go on.

[deep_dry_eye]

Thank you I’ll bear this in mind and may PM you nearer the time. To be honest my aim is just to get xiidra in Canada nothing more. I’ll be seeing Professor Jorge Alió this month who is one of the best doctors in the world and hopefully he can give me a diagnosis. If he cannot my search will go on.

The problem is -- if he has no 1st hand experience with Xiidra or some of the other treatments available (like IPL/etc..) -- then he may not be able to give you a comprehensive view. Since you are travelling all the way here, you might as well spend a few hrs waiting at the drs office for another opinion. It never hurts to have more opinions in complicated cases.

[Alix]

The problem is -- if he has no 1st hand experience with Xiidra or some of the other treatments available (like IPL/etc..) -- then he may not be able to give you a comprehensive view. Since you are travelling all the way here, you might as well spend a few hrs waiting at the drs office for another opinion. It never hurts to have more opinions in complicated cases.

I am hoping to get PRP from Professor Alio and that they will work. I’m pretty sure he will not give me any opinions on Xiidra and I’m not expecting him to.

Ive had my hopes dashed so many times so I’m planning this Canada trip on the basis that the PRP will not work and I’ll need xiidra.

I don’t think there is any other medication in Canada that I want so I think it will be enough to just see the optometrist. I’ll see what happens in Spain and take it from there.

Thanks again!

[deep_dry_eye]

I am hoping to get PRP from Professor Alio and that they will work. I’m pretty sure he will not give me any opinions on Xiidra and I’m not expecting him to.

Ive had my hopes dashed so many times so I’m planning this Canada trip on the basis that the PRP will not work and I’ll need xiidra.

I don’t think there is any other medication in Canada that I want so I think it will be enough to just see the optometrist. I’ll see what happens in Spain and take it from there.

Thanks again!

PRP is a good treatment to control/heal the occular surface and inflammation. However, it may not get to the root of the inflammation -- i.e., I have a theory MGD is a vascular problem -- and this is why IPL is beneficial to many patients. I know you mentioned you do IPL, but do you know its a good IPL provider? From what I can tell, not all IPL is the same, and there is high variance in the IPL providers. IPL is more of an art than science.

[Alix]

PRP is a good treatment to control/heal the occular surface and inflammation. However, it may not get to the root of the inflammation -- i.e., I have a theory MGD is a vascular problem -- and this is why IPL is beneficial to many patients. I know you mentioned you do IPL, but do you know its a good IPL provider? From what I can tell, not all IPL is the same, and there is high variance in the IPL providers. IPL is more of an art than science.

I’ve tried IPL and it didn’t work. According to the last opthalmologist I saw, I do not have MGD as such - there is nothing wrong with my glands, there is no blockage and there is plenty of oil secretion. My problem is tear film instability and inflammation, but they do not know what the cause is.

So I need the PRP drops to control my inflammation nothing else has worked so far.