Scary doctors

[fundryeyes]

Just came back from an ophthalmologist appointment. She has lots of experience.... time wise I guess. I showed her the 7 Eyes sunglasses I wear to improve symptoms and she says " oh wow, where did you get those, I have other patients who would be helped by those" Doesn't give you a confident feeling when you are teaching your doctor about things that have been around for years.
I've used Restasis for three months now with some improvement. But the humidity has gone from 20% to 100% in Toronto since I started symptoms, so its hard to tell why I'm better. She then say's "humidity in the air really has no bearing on how your dry eye is feeling. Yikes ! There is a huge benefit to being in a humid environment.
I've learned that Ophth. have one hammer in their toolbox. They use Restasis to whack oil film problems, tear problems, inflammation problems.
I thought this was a very common condition and am shocked at the lack of knowledge or treatments out there.
Well, Restasis it is. I've bumped it up to 4 times a day.
Thank God for this website. GLTA

[Rebecca Petris]

It is great that you shared the glasses with your doctor and that she took an interest and is aware of others who they could help! That is exactly how doctors learn about the practical things we use for dry eye.

I understand your frustration, and it would be great if everyone's doctor already knew all these things. But I also want to add another perspective. Doctors learn about products from drug reps, print advertising and conferences - and that pretty much limits the products they learn about to drugs and medical devices. Most doctors - including dry eye "specialists" - don't know about most of the consumer & optical products available that may help with dry eye because the companies that make these things are too small to advertise to doctors the way drug companies do.

So unless for example 7Eye had a booth at all the major national conferences and took out ads in the major ophthalmology & optometry mags, chances are the only way a doctor will learn about them IS from us. Then there's Tranquileyes - that company has been advertising to doctors for what, 6 or 7 years now, but it's not possible to reach everyone so there are still doctors that aren't aware. So every time you show your doctor something that helps you... chances are, that doctor's going to remember it when a patient like you next shows up in their office.