What specialty is your primary eye care provider?

[kitty]

Lately I have been frustrated with the lack of specificity regarding my diagnosis of DES and wonder if I should be seeing a different kind of doctor. What kind of professional provides your primary DES eye care? Please reply and say why you see this kind of professional, and if other, please explain what other type of professional you see.

I see an optometrist because that is who I have gone to for years. To be honest, I am at a loss to find a "Dry Eye Specialist" in my area. It's not like many docs advertise themselves as such.

[kitty]

Bump. Doesn't anyone else see a professional for their eye care?

[alisonW]

After seeing several...

opthalmologists, I was then referred to two different corneal specialists, and then to the optometrist I currently see who is the "dry eye specialist" in one of the corneal spec office. (I think she's the specialist because she too has dry eyes.) Honestly, none of them has known much about dry eyes and none have ever given me specific diagnoses.

[gz9gjg]

I have found Doctors of Optometry are the most knowledgeable about contact lens fitting. I wear ZWAVE RGPs.

I do also see a retinal specialist every 1 to 3 years - I am a high myope, and am concerned about retinal tears. (LASIK does nothing for reducing this problem.)

[elvishthistle]

I used to only see Optometrists but they didn't know why I kept getting eye infections etc. They told me just use a little Visine for my Dry Eyes to. I switched to an Ophthalmologist after that. That's when I learned I had pretty bad DE.

[riverstoneannie]

Quote: lately I have been frustrated with the lack of specificity regarding my diagnosis of DES and wonder if I should be seeing a different kind of doctor.

I originally went to this doctor to treat untreated dry eye that had gotten worse with the use of CPAP. He started me on azasite and Freshkote but He really pushed LASIK surgery despite the already problematic dry eye I had. I asked him if this would be wise. he said it should be fine and started me on restasis 2 weeks prior to surgery. I really regret taking his word for it. He is always so much more optomistic about my dry eye than I think my level of comfort warrants. we have not discussed what exactly physiologically is the cause of my DES even though I have asked. Don't even know if I am having a meibum problem

Suggestions anyone?

[nycdryeyegirl]

Hi!

I see an Opthamologist who specializes in inflammatory eye conditions (which could be related to an underlying systemic autoimmune disease) and takes care of my "dry eye symptoms" as well as any eye problem I might have.

The reason I see this eye specialist is because I have underlying autoimmune disorders (lupus and sjogren's) and his expertize in treating patients with inflammatory eye disorders as well as being a good doctor who takes me seriously, is the reason why I go to see him.

Pam

[mgshutterbug]

Ophthalmologist who is corneal specialist

My Ophthalmologist specializes in the cornea, and I also see an ophthalmologist/neurologist when necessary. I see them whenever I have an erosion or abrasion, my DES gets worse, I develop blepharitis, my eyes hurt worse...plus I regularly see the ophthalmologist every 6 mos to check out the overall health of the eye. I also have EBMD, and sometimes get increased corneal pressure, amongst my other problems.

I would not rely on an optometrist exclusively. I see the optometrist only when my ophthalmologist says my eyes are stable enough to get new rx, when they are needed. Maria