Dr. Robert Latkany in NYC

[dryeyes4ever]

I have an app't w/him tomorrow. Has anyone been to him? From what I can tell from his website, he seems to use the remedies I've already been using, i.e. Azasite, Lotemax, etc.

He has written a book about dry eyes, which I haven't read.

I'll post again over the weekend if I get a chance.

[LindaLa]

I would be very interested in hearing your feedback. I am planning on making an appointment soon but wondering if I should go for allergy testing first. Good luck!

[shanku]

I shall take a stab at it. I saw him last Oct. I think he helped me isolate (and explained - not many docs do this) one of my prominent issues behind Dry eye but suggested me to explore other non-surgical routes or investigate few more things. Found him to be conservative in his treatment approaches and willing to experiment several options. Before the visit, I requested for a home work list that I can prepare before the visit & did several lab work ups - like blood tests for auto immune problems, allergy, endocrinology etc. that may be relevant to my scenario. After the visit also I have been in touch with him thru emails and he usually responds to queries. Many a times patients and doctors (Open minded, knowledgeable, flexible etc. types) all usually go thru trial error & process and hopefully come up with something that may help manage our problems. Unfortunately, after taking several reputed doctor's opinion on my dry eyes, I realized that it is extremely unlikely that there is a magic bullet for one's problem that a single doctor can diagnose in single visit and provide treatments to solve/cure it. So, I generally keep measured optimism and put due diligence from my end (like providing all chronology, other doctor's records, lab reports, regimen details) and hope for some good outcome. Good Luck & Best wishes!

[dryeyes4ever]

Dr. Robert Latkany in NYC - visit results

Dr. Latkany examined me, asked a lot of questions (so did I) & said I have ocular Rosacea (I've been told for the past 30 years that I have dry eyes; never been told it's ocular Rosacea). He told me to stop all drops except Restasis (which he wants me to stop in 2 weeks) & gave me a prescription for Bepreeze (1 drop 2 x a day) which I think he said is an allergy eye drop.

He said all but 1 of my cauterized tear ducts have re-opened but to leave them that way. He also told me to stop the warm compresses (which will just make my eyes redder) & use a cold compress for 1 min. 3 x a day.

I've been using the new drop since Friday & although my eyes are still burning most of the day, they do seem a little less red. (My job is data entry, so I'm looking at a computer all day which doesn't help). There is no cure for ocular Rosacea either, but I would assume if I'm using a different eye drop specifically for this condition, it will help.

He wants to see me in a month. He said he definitely will be able to improve my symptoms. He may put me on an anti-biotic next visit if my eyes aren't a lot better. When I asked him if I could email him if I have questions, he said no b/c otherwise he'd be spending all his time anwering emails. I was a little disappointed but I understand.

I bought his book on Amazon & am looking forward to reading it (I think it's called "The Dry Eye Remedy"). I'm also going to educate myself on ocular Rosacea once I get a chance.

I had been seeing a dr. in NJ who was supposedly a dry eye specialist & he did give me relief (he said I had MGC & blepharitis) w/Azasite & Lotemax, but apparently he's not an opthomologist & it was worth going to a NYC doctor who has written a book on dry eyes. All he does is see people w/dry eyes.

I recommend making an app't w/him.

[littlemermaid]

4ever, Thanks so much, very kind of you to post up. Very interested to know if the Latkany regime works on this, esp the Bepreve.

[katya]

Hi all, I went to Dr. Latkany almost a year ago. He diagnosed me with nocturnal lagophthalmos (not closing my eyes at night) and allergies. His suggestions were warm and cool compresses (alternating) and lid massages. And of course, no more contacts. He basically made me feel like my dry eye wasn't a big deal and I should stop complaining and just take out my contacts and take some Claritan. I didn't get the best impression of him. I was in and out of the office quite quickly and, after I left, I didn't really understand what my condition was.

That being said, I stopped wearing contacts (haven't touched them since that appointment) and did the warm and cool compress regimen. It didn't help at all. I've since been to a variety of doctors (optometrists and cornea specialists) who have diagnosed me with (minor) MGD and also inability to produce tears (two different diagnoses from two different doctors). So I haven't found the magic doctor or diagnosis yet; Dr. Latkany certainly didn't help much. Maybe he'll help someone else!

[Nanerpus]

I saw Dr. Latkany less than a year ago. I think he's wonderful. He doesn't sugarcoat things, but he is extremely reassuring and took the time to answer all my questions. I even recorded our entire visit and replay it sometimes. He said my eyes are not very dry, but I am extremely allergic. He did an eye exam, and talked to me about reducing my symptoms. All in all, it was a great visit and I am SO happy I saw him. No followup for me unless I think I need it.

[shanku]

Thanks dryeyes4ever! Recently I have not received any response to my email for last couple of weeks. This was not the case earlier, he used to respond promptly. I think as you have mentioned he has stopped responding to his patient's emails. That's unfortunate, until now I did not realize this.

[Anthony16]

Imnot happy he has stopped responding to patients and no longer posts here.
Feels a bit like he used this forum to build a large patient base.
Saying that,i have found him to be excellent in diagnosing dry eye and quite a charming gentleman on my visits.
Also,he charged me very little on my 3rd visit,guess its due to being a regular patient.

[Guest]

Feels a bit like he used this forum to build a large patient base.
Saying that,i have found him to be excellent in diagnosing dry eye and quite a charming gentleman on my visits.

Well, on the other hand, his answers on the forum helped a lot of people here... so it seems to me like a fair trade

Glad you found him helpful on your visits!

[LisaLis]

I have an appointment with him tomorrow. I wonder what he is going to say. I've been seeing a dr. on Long Island with a very impressive background. She diagnosed me with occular rosasea/blepharitis/dry eye. I am going to Dr. Latkany for a second opinion.

[dryeyes4ever]

I have an appointment with him tomorrow. I wonder what he is going to say. I've been seeing a dr. on Long Island with a very impressive background. She diagnosed me with occular rosasea/blepharitis/dry eye. I am going to Dr. Latkany for a second opinion.

Can you please post his diagnosis after you see him? I go back on March 2nd. So far my eyes don't feel better. He'll probabaly put me on an anti-biotic next time. I just long for a day when I don't have pain & redness!

[LisaLis]

Hi dryeyes4ever, I saw dr. Latkany today, very nice man. He told me I have occular rosacea and not dry eyes. He told me to stop taking all the medicines this other dr. gave me which was eyesoaks with baby shampoo and or ocusoft scrubs plus azasite, lotamax, and restasis. Jeez my eyes were killing me, I had to stop the lotamax. I was still taking the azasite and the restasis and the soaks and scrubs. I was only using the restasis for less than a week. He prescribed patanol and wants me to get allergy tested. He also said stop with the scrubs because its probably aggravating my eyes. I am also going to go for accupuncture too, starting this friday. He wants to see me in 4 months. He said the restasis may work but I'd have to be on it forever. He said lets see how this goes. I really think that when I use a certain makeup, moisturizer that doesn't agree sets this whole thing off. The way I can tell this condition is getting better is when my eyes feel good without wearing makeup which isn't the case right now. When I put mascara on whoow it kills. What is your diagnosis and what does he have you on?

[dryeyes4ever]

Hi dryeyes4ever, I saw dr. Latkany today, very nice man. He told me I have occular rosacea and not dry eyes. He told me to stop taking all the medicines this other dr. gave me which was eyesoaks with baby shampoo and or ocusoft scrubs plus azasite, lotamax, and restasis. Jeez my eyes were killing me, I had to stop the lotamax. I was still taking the azasite and the restasis and the soaks and scrubs. I was only using the restasis for less than a week. He prescribed patanol and wants me to get allergy tested. He also said stop with the scrubs because its probably aggravating my eyes. I am also going to go for accupuncture too, starting this friday. He wants to see me in 4 months. He said the restasis may work but I'd have to be on it forever. He said lets see how this goes. I really think that when I use a certain makeup, moisturizer that doesn't agree sets this whole thing off. The way I can tell this condition is getting better is when my eyes feel good without wearing makeup which isn't the case right now. When I put mascara on whoow it kills. What is your diagnosis and what does he have you on?

Hi - He said a lot of the same things to me. He diagnosed me w/ocular rosacea too & had me stop the Azasite (he doesn't seem to believe in that drop) & Lotemax (which I only used on occasion b/c most of the time it made my eyes hurt more & get redder). He told me to stop the warm compresses but to use a cold one for 1 minute 3 x a day. He put me on Bepreze which is an allergy drop & said I could continue w/the Restatis for 2 more weeks. He told me to keep using the lid scrub (I use a foam made by Thera Tears once a day). He also said he thought I have allergies & I decided to get tested, so I'm going to a special lab here in NJ on Monday to have blood drawn to test for 100s of food sensitivities. My nutritionist told me about this test. I'm not sure I do have allergies, but it seems everyone does these days.

It's been almost 2 weeks since I've seen him & I've had 3 bad days in a row. I hope he puts me on an antibiotic next visit (March 2nd). He did mention that he probably would if I wasn't much better.

I HAVE to wear make-up b/c of the damn red rimmed eyes & dark circles. He did tell me to only wear hypoallergenic make up (Almay & Clinique are good). I do think that some of the make up and/or eye creams iritate me but my eyes bother me w/o make up too.

I bought his book on Amazon & read it over the weekend. I didn't really learn anything new though. Like most people on this website, I've already done a lot of research & been told different things by different doctors!

[LisaLis]

Hi dryeyes, Oh Ok I see yes you responded here. Wow so you have the same thing as me. I wonder why he prescribed bepreze for you. I should probably call his office and tell them that the patanol isn't helping me. Interesting what he thought about azasite. He didn't think my eyes looked that bad. Today I didn't use the restasis and now my lids feel extremely painful and my lids feel really inflamed. With the restasis they burned and felt itchy. It was a different. The restasis I think started helping with the lid inflamation. He said if patanol doesn't work I can always use the restasis. I think I'm going to wait till friday and see what the accupuncturist says. My chiro really believes in it and I went to this same md years ago for back pain and he really helped.