Optometrist vs Opthamologists

[UGH_my_eyes]

Not that the two are opposed to each other, lol.

Just curious how common it is for a Optometrist to miss things that would be detected by Opthamologists? For example, I had my pupils dialated and examined at the O.D. Do opthamologists run the same types of tests as Optometrists? I've read a lot of threads on this site and it seems so many here have seen both and gained little to no help or answers.

I've had two eye exams by different optometrist's(one of which has a great reputation as a thorough O.D) and both of them said my eyes look "very healthy" and attribute my symptoms(light sensitivity, glare, halos, rainbows) to chronic insufficient tear production. I was told that in regards to eye exams, pupil dilation is the "gold standard" and can not be replaced with scans and such.

If I put this thread in the wrong place then I offer my apologies. Any info is appreciated.

[kitty]

In my experience it has to do more with the expertise of the practitioner rather than the level of training. I first sought treatment for my DES with the O..D I had seen for years. Got the basic treatment and also got treatment for my eye allergy symptoms. Got plugs. Did not get better. Went to see an O.D. who specializes in DES. He diagnosed the MGD, tried Doxy, could not get things under control so put me on Lotemax. I happened to see an ophthalmologist/occuloplastic surgeon for plug migration and he diagnosed ocular rosacea. He said plugs would do me no good. So I finally have all these diagnoses but just seem to manage day to day on Lotemax. Nothing else does anything for me.

[UGH_my_eyes]

Thanks for the reply, kitty. Sounds like you have had quite a journey. So was your IOP reading high? Mine was not but the O.D gave me some steriod/antibiotic drops anyway. And all they did was irritate my eyes. I mean they provided relief in day one, but the rest of the days(it was a week treatment) it seems they did more harm than good.

Did you have obvious signs of rosacea on your face? I'm wondering why it took so long for them to catch it. I heard that if rosacea is the cause of dry eye, it gets worse. And I have what looks like rosacea on my face. Possible it could be my problem too.

[Rebecca Petris]

I agree with Kitty. It's all about the individual practitioner. I would put my money on an interested, intellectually engaged doctor who cares enough and whose business is structured in such a way that they can spend adequate time with you... irrespective of the letters after their name. It's actually surprisingly common for people here to have visited many ophthalmologists (including corneal specialists) without getting all the help they needed.

I have an article here about finding a better doctor.

[kitty]

Thanks for the reply, kitty. Sounds like you have had quite a journey. So was your IOP reading high? I heard that if rosacea is the cause of dry eye, it gets worse. And I have what looks like rosacea on my face. Possible it could be my problem too.

My IOP took quite a jump during the first couple of years on Lotemax from about 11-12 to 18-20 but no increases in the last year or so. My OD is watching that very closely. I also have borderline retinal scan findings so I am being watched like a hawk for glaucoma. I have mild rosacea on my face, covered by cosmetics so it would be easily missed.