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

[xpro]

He first looked at my skin and mentioned that I had Rosacea. Rosacea can affect the meibomian glands and cause blepharitis. Next, my eyes were irritated and asked about allergies, which I have some. He performed the following tests: 1) The Schirmer Test to assess the amount of tears I was producing. 2) Fluoresin/TBUT to evaluate tear stability 3) Rose Bengal test to evaluate the health of conjunctiva epithelial cells. 4) tear clearance test to evaluate how effectively the eye removes old tears and replenishes with new tears. 5) Demodex mites test: may be source of inflammation of lash follicles. Dr. ****** found about 10 things wrong with me. I had MGD with about 3 glands working in each lid, many atrophied. He also found conjunctivochalasis, which was very painful. I Had trauma on my eyes every time I blinked. I also had overused vasoconstrictors and had a rebound effect of large veins in the corners of my eyes. I had blepharitis too, with enlarged eyelids. I also had pterygiums in the inside corners of my eyes.

Treatment was probing to get the oil flowing, flaxseed oil supplements, tear duct cauterization, and eye resurfacing. yes, it was expensive, but it gave me my life back. If could never thank him enough.

I see that you live in Florida. Do you not wear UV-Blocking sunglasses while outdoors? Pterygium is usually caused by lots of UV.

[jadavispcfl]

I ALWAYS wear sunglasses outdoors. Pterygiums can also be caused by dry eye that has not been correctly treated, which has the case for me. My other doctors saw them, but didn't relate them to dry eye syndrome. In ther words, Pterygiums do not cause dry eye, but dry eye may cause them.

[xpro]

I ALWAYS wear sunglasses outdoors. Pterygiums can also be caused by dry eye that has not been correctly treated, which has the case for me. My other doctors saw them, but didn't relate them to dry eye syndrome. In ther words, Pterygiums do not cause dry eye, but dry eye may cause them.

Did he also remove the Pterygium? and can you tell me how much time you spend outdoors?

[jadavispcfl]

[QUOTE=grant555;98030]yes I saw him. Again, my point is about the costs of the tests not whether he is a good doctor. I'm just saying I've seen several other knowledgeable doctors (there aren't many but some) who came to the same conclusions that he did but only cost me my $35 copay - instead of $2000.[/QUOTE

Did you have any tests performed by Dr. ******? They are usually performed on the initial exam.

[jadavispcfl]

Did he also remove the Pterygium? and can you tell me how much time you spend outdoors?

I don't spend a lot of time outdoors. I try to stay away from the heat of the day. yes, he did remove the pterygiums. I believe they developed from my dry eyes.

[grant555]

Yes I had the tests done.

[bunnyrabbit123]

I am not a patient of ******'s, but I've run into others like him and I come to the same conclusion, Grant. Over the past 6 years of struggling with this and seeing many doctors, I had to learn the hard way that some just want to fatten their bank accounts at my expense. It's been a real education.

[Dog2012]

Agree 100 %

[jadavispcfl]

I am not a patient of ******'s, but I've run into others like him and I come to the same conclusion, Grant. Over the past 6 years of struggling with this and seeing many doctors, I had to learn the hard way that some just want to fatten their bank accounts at my expense. It's been a real education.

I'm sorry you feel that way. I am the only Dr. ****** patient that has replied on this thread that has actually been treated. Dr. ****** has a map of the world in his waiting area that shows how far people have come for his help. There are people from India, Australia, Europe, South America, and South Africa. I frequently ask other patients that are waiting where they are from. I have met people from Tennessee, Texas, and Ohio. I don't think all these people are flying in from all over the world to see someone who doesn't help them. I don't think you know who he is.

There is one other person, Gram, who has also replied. She has an issue with her surgery. My response is that he will work with you to resolve the problem. Please trust that he will help you if you let him.

[Gram]

Dr. ******s patient

I'm sorry you feel that way. I am the only Dr. ****** patient that has replied on this thread that has actually been treated. Dr. ****** has a map of the world in his waiting area that shows how far people have come for his help. There are people from India, Australia, Europe, South America, and South Africa. I frequently ask other patients that are waiting where they are from. I have met people from Tennessee, Texas, and Ohio. I don't think all these people are flying in from all over the world to see someone who doesn't help them. I don't think you know who he is.

There is one other person, Gram, who has also replied. She has an issue with her surgery. My response is that he will work with you to resolve the problem. Please trust that he will help you if you let him.

I am the patient of Dr. ****** who has had blurring after the Amniotic tissue surgery. It does seem to be relieved if I pull the lid up which Dr. M feels may require the ocular plastic ophthalmologist to treat. My dilemma is that I did not have that specific blurring in the lower half of the eye before the surgery. I truly believe Dr. ****** is working hard to find improvement, I just think he has not had this type of post op complication with this AMT repair. I do also have the feeling of too much residual film in both eyes which makes reading stressful. All tear ducts have been closed, as yet this is not helping, maybe I need the ducts re-0pened! I do not think he is a charlatan, I think he is dedicated to finding help for his patients with this very difficult disease, there are no single treatments, seem to be multiple contributors.

[Phillips55]

I am very interested in which ones you used.

Hi sorry for the delay, my prescription records don't go back that far but i managed to find one of the ointments, its Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment usp. I Dont know if that was the AM or PM ointment.

[Gram]

Good morning,
You mentioned you had your own Dr. do the probing, not Dr.******. Where and who is he?

[Phillips55]

Gram,
He is in the Northeast Wisconsin area.

[JJdryeye]

Dr. ******s patient



I am the patient of Dr. ****** who has had blurring after the Amniotic tissue surgery. It does seem to be relieved if I pull the lid up which Dr. M feels may require the ocular plastic ophthalmologist to treat. My dilemma is that I did not have that specific blurring in the lower half of the eye before the surgery. I truly believe Dr. ****** is working hard to find improvement, I just think he has not had this type of post op complication with this AMT repair. I do also have the feeling of too much residual film in both eyes which makes reading stressful. All tear ducts have been closed, as yet this is not helping, maybe I need the ducts re-0pened! I do not think he is a charlatan, I think he is dedicated to finding help for his patients with this very difficult disease, there are no single treatments, seem to be multiple contributors.

You're not talking about Prokera are you? I assume not but just wanted to check.

[JJdryeye]

I've been finding over the past 3 years or so that there seems to be an increased awareness and effort to treat dry eye. I don't know if its our reliance on computers and smartphones, or more people having lasik, but I'm finding more doctors in Florida who are able to perform more advanced tests and provide some of the more advanced procedures than I did 10 years ago. I'm encouraged by this. I do agree with many in this thread, one should not have to go broke or take out a loan to get treated.