Good Dry Eye Specialist in Cardiff UK..

[HYPERHEAD]

I'm based in Cardiff UK and have decided to look for a private dry eye specialist rather than wait for months on the nhs


Anyone from Cardiff here who recommend anything , also do you thinks it's worth going down the private sector ?


Thanks again.

[irish eyes]

Sorry that I cannot recommend anyone in your area but yes, I do think it is worth going down the private sector route. Find someone who has an interest in the condition; it will probably be someone who works in the NHS also. It is simple enough to do the research - your GP may be able to advise.

OK, I know it costs money but at least you have more time with the consultant. I don't want to malign the NHS but as far as my dry eye condition was concerned, it was hopeless. They gave up on me and signed me off; the result was that the condition got worse because I came to believe that it couldn't really be that serious - if they said so. The symptoms were agonising and nothing I tried had any effect. Yes, I was a challenging case but I think it was highly irresponsible of the department head to close the book on me. I have been with the same private consultant for a few years now and although I'm certainly not cured, I feel happier that someone is 'on my case'.

[littlemermaid]

http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/showt...octor-who-will
I look at the cornea/external disease/anterior segment consultant team at the regional teaching/university hospital in the NHS website 'find a hospital' (hospital websites are not always up to date so don't hesitate to phone the dept for info on who's who and when). You can get GP to refer to chosen consultant direct on the NHS meanwhile (GPs have always been clueless for me on who does what in hospitals and relieved when I've done the groundwork and know where to go).

Then phone the consultant's NHS secretary for the private practice number, if it's not on the NHS website. Private hospital chain info numbers have always been 100% useless and wrong for me as to who does what but you might be luckier. Basically, the dude's private secretary organises his/her patient list and tells you the cost straight up.

Maybe, if into this, do a search on PubMed to check out research interests or what they've got funding for, ie building a team of specialist registrars actually working the clinic so you get informed people covering the NHS clinic rather than generalists.

[dijon84]

I'm from Cardiff. I was in a similar position to you but luckily I found out via a community newsletter that they offer a 'dry eye assessment' at Radyr Eye Care. It was £20 for the initial assessment and the follow up was free. The optometrist there is very knowledgeable about dry eye and has helped me enormously (she said she had been on a dry eye course). I only wish I had found out about this opticians when my eye problems first started, rather than almost a year down the line. Any questions, just let me know. By the way, I have seborrheic blepharitis and MGD. Dave

[irish eyes]

A dry eye assessment - what a brilliant idea. I will mention that to my optician because I think she might be interested. Her small `bank' of optometrists all seem to do additional work in hospital departments and are reasonably up to date with trends.....

[HYPERHEAD]

Hi dave,

I just phoned Sara in radyr and I'm going to see her next Thursday in town as they opened a new branch thanks a lot for the headsup

The thing is I have booked an appointment at squire hospital to see chris Gorman eye surgeon opthamologist which will cost me £120 but now I'm sure whether to cancel and see Sara first

Oh yes I thought I would mention I tried some blink intensive tears today and they were excellent

[dijon84]

That's good news - about your appointment and the new branch in town! I saw Chris Gorman at Spire in June 2011 - also £120. He was useful but still had me on baby shampoo and using warm flannels for a compress. This makes me think he is not so good with dry eye as Sara. I can't tell you what to do but seeing Sara rather than Chris would save you £100 and she may be better with dry eye. If I remember right, I booked my Chris Gorman appointment about a week in advance, so expect you could get another appointment with him at reasonable notice if you needed it. If you had two appointments next week, you could have some confusion with different advice being given too. If I was you, I'd just see Sara next week but your decision

[HYPERHEAD]

Sara Ward is an exemplary optometrist and treated me very well , i can definetely recommend her as a dry eye specialist in Cardiff..

Thanks again dijon84