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Dr Colin Chan
MBBS, FRANZCO
Ophthalmic Surgeon
Vision Eye Institute
Level 2, 75 Grafton St
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Tel (02) 9387-4355 Fax (02) 9387-5573
The clinic at this address is devoted to the monitoring and treatment of dry eye. When I started treatment with Dr Chan, I had been in a miserable state for 6 months with post-surgical dry eye - constant burning, and maddening foreign body. The ocular surface showed moderate to severe staining, and normal environmental conditions such as breeze or air conditioning were a nightmare. I could not do my job properly and had no life at all. I had been told that I had a 'chronic' condition, and to 'use drops' and live with it - which was effectively to say that my life was over.
After some 8 months of treatment with Dr Chan, I'm now almost completely normal, and have no pain at all. I can tolerate howling gales, air conditioning, protracted computer work and even swimming in salt water! After about 4 months there was no surface staining!
Dr has no magic wands, just the conventional treatments consistently applied and monitored. His basic approach is that of inflammation control to get the eyes into a state where they can begin to heal, combined with all the usual supporting measures such as dietary supplements, drops, compresses etc if the patient finds them useful.
A letter of referral from an Optometrist or General Practitioner is needed for Medicare/Health Care Fund claims. As I write the initial consult is about $300 with $200 for subsequent monthly visits. The clinic could probably give more info about rebates as I haven't put mine in yet.
Firstly a through examination of the eyes is done to check for other health issues, intra-ocular pressure, and the quality of vision. Most of these tests are repeated at each visit.
Dry eye specific tests:
--------------------------
Tearlab Osmolarity machine - tests 'saltiness' of tear film, a good proxy for dryness
Schirmers strips with numbing drops - tests quality of the aqueous layer
TBUT (tear break up time) - on the dye used, 7secs = good.
With each visit a questionaire of symptoms and current treatments is filled out.
In general, treatment starts with the basics of drugs for inflammation control, with an escalating range of options:
Inflammation and infection control: steroids, (eg Minims Pred), Restasis, doxy etc.
Pain relief: various antidepressants which work by raising the pain threshold.
Omega3 dietary supplements.
Punctal plugging.
25% Autologous serum drops (from the Red Cross blood bank in Clarence St).
Plus drops, hot compresses, eyelid hygiene etc if helpful.
Dr is very approachable and will give a straight answer to the many questions self-taught dry eye sufferers ask. He thinks the key to success is to proceed methodically giving each treatment a fair trial, rather than throwing in the kitchen sink all at once. Patience and strict adherence to the regimes over many months is also required.
I think the last point is critical. Sometimes the steroids sting like crazy, or the tests and subjective symptoms go discouragingly backwards. The eyes can be very sore after a visit due to the drops and tests. It takes the ocular surface about 3 months to regenerate after the healing process gets underway, and it's very easy to feel that little progress is being made. Or it may be that some non-obvious factor like air pollution or atmospheric humidity causes a setback. There are no guarantees, but I'm convinced that staying the distance will give the best possible hope of cure.
It is very reassuring to have the whole process correctly monitored so any side effects or problems can be quickly identified. Dr is also with his patients for the long haul and will stagger out follow-up visits over as many months as needed; after initial distrust based on my earlier bad experiences, I felt I was in caring, professional hands. Since Dr has a particular interest in dry eye, which he thinks is a neglected area (and so say all of us!) he is well placed to introduce the latest reputable treatments.
My own dryness was caused by essential surgery, with no history of contact lens wear, or any prior problems. I want to offer others hope without implying that one size fits all.
If anyone wants more info, email me via this website and I'll try to assist.
Regards to all fellow sufferers,
Simpson Desert
MBBS, FRANZCO
Ophthalmic Surgeon
Vision Eye Institute
Level 2, 75 Grafton St
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Tel (02) 9387-4355 Fax (02) 9387-5573
The clinic at this address is devoted to the monitoring and treatment of dry eye. When I started treatment with Dr Chan, I had been in a miserable state for 6 months with post-surgical dry eye - constant burning, and maddening foreign body. The ocular surface showed moderate to severe staining, and normal environmental conditions such as breeze or air conditioning were a nightmare. I could not do my job properly and had no life at all. I had been told that I had a 'chronic' condition, and to 'use drops' and live with it - which was effectively to say that my life was over.
After some 8 months of treatment with Dr Chan, I'm now almost completely normal, and have no pain at all. I can tolerate howling gales, air conditioning, protracted computer work and even swimming in salt water! After about 4 months there was no surface staining!
Dr has no magic wands, just the conventional treatments consistently applied and monitored. His basic approach is that of inflammation control to get the eyes into a state where they can begin to heal, combined with all the usual supporting measures such as dietary supplements, drops, compresses etc if the patient finds them useful.
A letter of referral from an Optometrist or General Practitioner is needed for Medicare/Health Care Fund claims. As I write the initial consult is about $300 with $200 for subsequent monthly visits. The clinic could probably give more info about rebates as I haven't put mine in yet.
Firstly a through examination of the eyes is done to check for other health issues, intra-ocular pressure, and the quality of vision. Most of these tests are repeated at each visit.
Dry eye specific tests:
--------------------------
Tearlab Osmolarity machine - tests 'saltiness' of tear film, a good proxy for dryness
Schirmers strips with numbing drops - tests quality of the aqueous layer
TBUT (tear break up time) - on the dye used, 7secs = good.
With each visit a questionaire of symptoms and current treatments is filled out.
In general, treatment starts with the basics of drugs for inflammation control, with an escalating range of options:
Inflammation and infection control: steroids, (eg Minims Pred), Restasis, doxy etc.
Pain relief: various antidepressants which work by raising the pain threshold.
Omega3 dietary supplements.
Punctal plugging.
25% Autologous serum drops (from the Red Cross blood bank in Clarence St).
Plus drops, hot compresses, eyelid hygiene etc if helpful.
Dr is very approachable and will give a straight answer to the many questions self-taught dry eye sufferers ask. He thinks the key to success is to proceed methodically giving each treatment a fair trial, rather than throwing in the kitchen sink all at once. Patience and strict adherence to the regimes over many months is also required.
I think the last point is critical. Sometimes the steroids sting like crazy, or the tests and subjective symptoms go discouragingly backwards. The eyes can be very sore after a visit due to the drops and tests. It takes the ocular surface about 3 months to regenerate after the healing process gets underway, and it's very easy to feel that little progress is being made. Or it may be that some non-obvious factor like air pollution or atmospheric humidity causes a setback. There are no guarantees, but I'm convinced that staying the distance will give the best possible hope of cure.
It is very reassuring to have the whole process correctly monitored so any side effects or problems can be quickly identified. Dr is also with his patients for the long haul and will stagger out follow-up visits over as many months as needed; after initial distrust based on my earlier bad experiences, I felt I was in caring, professional hands. Since Dr has a particular interest in dry eye, which he thinks is a neglected area (and so say all of us!) he is well placed to introduce the latest reputable treatments.
My own dryness was caused by essential surgery, with no history of contact lens wear, or any prior problems. I want to offer others hope without implying that one size fits all.
If anyone wants more info, email me via this website and I'll try to assist.
Regards to all fellow sufferers,
Simpson Desert
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