Saw Dr ****** in Tampa -- shocked by cost of tests!

[pbeinetti]

I went to see Dr ****** in Tampa, a f/u to seeing him about 5 years ago. He told me a number of tests would have to be done before he could make a diagnosis. The nurse said the tests would cost about $2000, none covered by insurance. One of the tests she said was to test for mites -- that test was $450. They pull some eye lashes and look under a microscope -- $450??? I left the office -- whole thing seemed weird. Anyone else have that experience?

[Daniel2]

Yeah if it's not covered by insurance that's about how much they normally charge.

[Dog2012]

Well..here in Ca i had one doctor who did that test as a part of regular office visit..it it just a 10 min or less test :}

[savino]

..............

[dnivara]

Everything is super expensive with Dr ******. If you have MGD he ll probably suggest probing and ocular reconstruction surgery which will be many thousands of $$$

[Felipegs]

-- sorry --

[Phillips55]

yeah I saw Dr. ****** too and the price is astronomical. He is easily the most knowledgeable dry Eye Dr. out there in my opinion but I ran into the same trouble, After a few tests, my bill(which you have to pay immediately in office) was in the thousands of dollars with no end in sight. It's a shame he's that expensive but he may not have a choice. Regardless the tests he did run and his suggestions saved my eyes and frankly my life.

[Max52]

yeah I saw Dr. ****** too and the price is astronomical. He is easily the most knowledgeable dry Eye Dr. out there in my opinion but I ran into the same trouble, After a few tests, my bill(which you have to pay immediately in office) was in the thousands of dollars with no end in sight. It's a shame he's that expensive but he may not have a choice. Regardless the tests he did run and his suggestions saved my eyes and frankly my life.

Could you please be more specific on how he saved your eyes? Specifically what did his tests discover and what did he suggest to do as a result of the results.

[bookwoman]

While we are on the subject of Florida, has anyone has success finding a lab or doctor that will make serum tears or send out to a compounding pharmacy in Central Florida?

Much appreciated!

[chengchu41]

Everything is super expensive with Dr ******. If you have MGD he ll probably suggest probing and ocular reconstruction surgery which will be many thousands of $$$

Is there a meibography in the tests ?

[Phillips55]

Could you please be more specific on how he saved your eyes? Specifically what did his tests discover and what did he suggest to do as a result of the results.

Sure, his MG probing technique was a huge help, I had my own Doctor do it because ****** actually sells his probes to other Doctors, I've had it done twice now. Second his eyelash tests showed that i had a serious staph infection in both eyes that after being treated was a huge help. The biggest help was his suggestion of having amniotic membrane transplant done on my eyes. I did my own research after that and chose an AMT called Prokera which I had another Doctor closer to home perform and it was covered by insurance. I had seen a TON of very reputable dry eye doctors before that no one suggested these things. In terms of dryness I was in daily terrible pain that I could never properly describe to someone else, many of you who have that level of dryness know what I'm talking about. But with his help I am living a normal life again.

[savino]

Could you please be more specific on how he saved your eyes? Specifically what did his tests discover and what did he suggest to do as a result of the results.

Sure, his MG probing technique was a huge help, I had my own Doctor do it because ****** actually sells his probes to other Doctors, I've had it done twice now. Second his eyelash tests showed that i had a serious staph infection in both eyes that after being treated was a huge help. The biggest help was his suggestion of having amniotic membrane transplant done on my eyes. I did my own research after that and chose an AMT called Prokera which I had another Doctor closer to home perform and it was covered by insurance. I had seen a TON of very reputable dry eye doctors before that no one suggested these things. In terms of dryness I was in daily terrible pain that I could never properly describe to someone else, many of you who have that level of dryness know what I'm talking about. But with his help I am living a normal life again.

[LaDiva]

I am also interested in how the staph infection was managed.

[grant555]

He gave me a standard antiobiotic - gentamicin. Also, simply because staph bacteria is present, does not mean you have an infection. I'm guessing most people that have MGD have staph bacteria present. Even healthy people might. For me, even though staph bacteria was present, the antibiotic did nothing for me so it likely was not an infection.

[Phillips55]

He gave me two kinds of antibiotic ointment one to put on during the day and one during the night. I applied these appointments to my eyelids and lashes for 5 days. I don't remember the names off hand but I can try to look them up on my prescription records anyway it really helped a lot.