Forewarned but still disillusioned

[Justpeachythx]

Well, I just got back from my first visit to an eye specialist to discuss my dry eye. Over the past year, my family doc and optometrist have done what they could and given me the basic suggestions re warm compresses, lid scrubs, etc. Finally asked for and got a referral to an opthamologist (supposedly the best in my city - yeah, right.)

Having read the boards for awhile, I was prepared to leave the office disillusioned ... don't know how I'd feel right now if I hadn't prepared myself to hope for the best, but expect absolutely nothing. I guess I should have known when I pulled up in front of the building and saw the "Lasik Surgery" signs on the windows.

Basically, what I got was "you have some dry spots". (No kidding). "You should use eye drops to help keep your eyes moist". (Rocket scientist, this one). "Try putting warm or cold compresses on them when they bother you." (Tell me something I didn't figure out two years ago). "It's not serious enough yet for plugs. They might make it worse."

Next thing I know he's rummaging through a file drawer of eye drop samples (sound familiar?) and offering me box after box of preservative laden samples. Been there, done that, thank you very much.

So ... I guess it's back to the family doc for another referral to someone else. Going to keep my chin up, keep up with my daily routine which seems to at least be keeping the really bad days at bay, and prepare myself to do some "doctor shopping". I also need to learn how to be more assertive. I should have just told him to put the darn plugs in.

Why don't these guys get it? So frustrating ...

[Jen72]

Sorry you had that experience. I know I always think of ?'s after I leave. Just curious did he say why plugs would make it worse? Dry spots on your cornea are a big deal, sounds like he has'nt a clue.

[irish eyes]

Hi Justpeachythx

I know that feeling of high expecation followed by disappointment.

It's only my opinion but perhaps you should wait a while before you ask for another referral. If the `next referral' is any good - ask yourself why your doctor didn't refer you there in the first place. `Doctor shopping' is an expensive and very disheartening pastime - there are better things to do and nicer things to spend your money on.

It does make me wonder why he said that the plugs might make your eyes worse - what evidence did he have for that? When I had plugs in both top and bottom lids, I had a terrible time because they trapped so much bacteria that huge cysts formed on the lids. The bottom plugs were removed and now I have them in the top only - 30% of moisture can be lost during sleep so this didn't seem too bad an idea. Plugs don't suit every dry eye case but perhaps it would have been helpful if he had explained why. Is there any chance you could phone him back and ask him that?

My dry eye is not down to Lasek - I also have blepharitis so it is important to keep up the lid hygiene. As you wisely said, you must keep your chin up. Allow yourself some `down days' but don't stay there for long.

Take care

[Justpeachythx]

Thanks for the responses and support. With reference to the plugs, he said "they are plastic and can be irritating". No mention of collagen or silicone (are they considered plastic?) or the fact you can try dissolvable ones first to see if they help. To be honest I felt like he was rushing me (probably had a money-paying Lasik patient outside! haha). The word "blepharitis" didn't even come out of his mouth, it was my family doc who a year ago enlightened me about that. I don't see any obvious signs of inflammation and I asked the specialist yesterday if he saw anything, and he said no. He told me it didn't make a difference whether I used warm or cold compresses -- because of weather, he suggests maybe cold in summer and warm in winter. On the lid hygiene issue, he just suggested splashing water on my eyes to keep them clean. Again, wayyy more info from my family doc than this specialist. He also looked at me rather oddly when I brought up the no-preservatives issue -- like I was just being picky. Overall not a good experience.

The good news is I noticed last night that I was no longer getting relief from the cool compresses (or from Dwelle for that matter), and it occurred to me that maybe it was time to go back to warm. The warm were irritating what I'll call corneal abrasions (very painful feeling of something in the eye when moving eye from left to right). I think the cool compresses healed those finally (yayyy!), and it was time to give those glands a good warming and massage again. Had about 2 hours relief after doing that.

I'm going to stay with Dwelle only (one week exclusive use so far) because I really think it helped to heal things the last week. I think I may be getting more in tune with what my eyes are trying to tell me, so this a positive sign I will hold onto today.

Have a great weekend, everyone!