My Opthamology Visit- What the?!

[WinniWoman]

Your severe dry eyes sound miserable. Have you tried autologous serum eye drops? They work extremely well for my husband, but I have no idea if they work in other situations.

https://tec.sco.edu/autologous-serum-eye-drops

Wow. I never heard of this. Will certainly keep it in mind for sure.

 

[bogey21]

Reminds me a bit of a trip to a new dentist about 25 years ago...

A couple of years ago I changed Dentists to get one closer to where I live. My new one who is a great technician and does excellent work irritates the Hell out of me vis-a-vis cleaning my teeth. There was a day when cleaning was recommended once a year then somewhere along the line it went to twice a year. My dentist pushes 4 times a year. While I am still in the chair following cleaning the Dental Hygienist insists on making my next appointment. She is adamant that it be 3 months out. She tells me that if she doesn't make the appointment 3 months out, it will negatively impact her performance review. So I let her do it. Then in about 2 months I call, tell them I will be traveling and change the appointment to where I want it. They are all so damn greedy...

George

 

[WinniWoman]

A couple of years ago I changed Dentists to get one closer to where I live. My new one who is a great technician and does excellent work irritates the Hell out of me vis-a-vis cleaning my teeth. There was a day when cleaning was recommended once a year then somewhere along the line it went to twice a year. My dentist pushes 4 times a year. While I am still in the chair following cleaning the Dental Hygienist insists on making my next appointment. She is adamant that it be 3 months out. She tells me that if she doesn't make the appointment 3 months out, it will negatively impact her performance review. So I let her do it. Then in about 2 months I call, tell them I will be traveling and change the appointment to where I want it. They are all so damn greedy...

George

OMG! This happened to us as well with our other dentist! Made me nuts! I told them we would do every 6 months or yearly. No way 4 times per year.

It is a shame that practitioners treat people based on insurance or billing and not on needs.

 

[Brett]

A couple of years ago I changed Dentists to get one closer to where I live. My new one who is a great technician and does excellent work irritates the Hell out of me vis-a-vis cleaning my teeth. There was a day when cleaning was recommended once a year then somewhere along the line it went to twice a year. My dentist pushes 4 times a year. While I am still in the chair following cleaning the Dental Hygienist insists on making my next appointment. She is adamant that it be 3 months out. She tells me that if she doesn't make the appointment 3 months out, it will negatively impact her performance review. So I let her do it. Then in about 2 months I call, tell them I will be traveling and change the appointment to where I want it. They are all so damn greedy...

George

The last couple of years I too got pressure for a dental cleaning every three months. My regular dentist retired and I switched, now there's no cleaning pressure tactics.

On a related note I should see the optometrist, it's been a few years since my last eye appointment. nothing like these threads for a reminder !

 

[pianodinosaur]

@mpumilia:

Sorry to learn that you are having so many problems concerning your health and dealing with our current health care industry. It seems that between your gastroenterologist and your ophthalmologist and your dentist that you must be quite dissatisfied. I hope you get better soon and find some physicians who will take the time to listen to you. I want you to enjoy your move to New Hampshire.

 

[rapmarks]

As I told them in the ER, it used to be I would go to the doctor feeling terrible and they would say there is nothing wrong. Now I go in feeling fine, and they find all kinds of things wrong with me.

 

[clifffaith]

A couple of years ago I changed Dentists to get one closer to where I live. My new one who is a great technician and does excellent work irritates the Hell out of me vis-a-vis cleaning my teeth. There was a day when cleaning was recommended once a year then somewhere along the line it went to twice a year. My dentist pushes 4 times a year. While I am still in the chair following cleaning the Dental Hygienist insists on making my next appointment. She is adamant that it be 3 months out. She tells me that if she doesn't make the appointment 3 months out, it will negatively impact her performance review. So I let her do it. Then in about 2 months I call, tell them I will be traveling and change the appointment to where I want it. They are all so damn greedy...

George

We each do 4x per year cleaning. That started when we each, about five years apart, were sent to the periodontist. Once she started slicing and dicing our gums she wanted us twice a year for her ( more expensive) cleaning and twice to the dentist's hygienist. This went on for about 15 years, then two years ago she wanted to do another 3K of work on Cliff and caught me at a time we had other things to pay, and I said we'd wait. By the end of that year I cancelled all our perio cleanings and rebooked them at the dental office. Our dentist is going to let us know if we have perio issues that need attending to. I feel the periodontist was over zealous -- she teaches at USC and was just too picky in my book. And after having a tooth extracted and then four months later the screw for the implant installed, I realize how easy that process is compared to the ten day miserable recovery from a periodontist slicing open your gums. We'll see a periodontist again when and if our dentist refers us to one. And we won't have to go further than the adjacent office because her husband, a periodontist, closed his practice an hour away and is semi-retired working out of his wife's office a few days a week. We feel that four times a year helps keep us on top of things since we've both had the gum issues.

 

[VacationForever]

Since we have now wandered into dental practice issues. My nightmare started after our move. The first dentist poked really hard when checking pockets until I told her to stop as I had never been put through such excruciating pain. She said my gum was bleeding. I said my gums don't bleed as I floss thoroughly every day. She then said I had 5s and 6s. Up until 6 months ago, I had only two 4s. She indicated that I needed deep cleaning and scaling and brought in paperwork to show my share of cost. I asked her to do regular cleaning during that visit. Do you know what she said? There was nothing to clean for plaque as the teeth were very clean. My husband was waiting for his turn and I grabbed him and left.

Next new dentist 6 months later was similar, no poking though. He simply said I needed deep cleaning and scaling because of receding gums and I had deep pockets...what a pun. He said my teeth were very clean and no regular cleaning was needed. I left and did not return.

By now, my belief in my dental health was shaken and self doubt had crept in. 6 months later I went to a third dentist. I was relieved when I was told that I needed only general cleaning, although very little was needed, and that my gums were very healthy and there were no deep pockets.

Yikes. Crooked dentists appear to be rampant here.

My first gastroenterologist here was unethical and crooked, making up conditions which he did not find in the endoscopy. I was shocked to be told I had Barrett's esophagus, multiple polyps in my stomach and hiatal hernia. I have had several endoscopies through the years and they had been normal. He asked that I return in a year for another endoscopy. I told him that I got referred to him because of a cough that would not go away and that my ENT specialist said that he could see inflammation in my throat that was caused by acid reflux. He dismissed me and said to go back to my ENT specialist for coughing. He pressed me at each visit to schedule a colonoscopy with him which I firmly declined.

The following year I went to one of the top gastroenterologists when I changed my health insurance, and who would not take my previous insurance. My endoscopy with him? No Barrett's esophagus, no hiatal hernia and no "multiple polyps". He said none of these would disappear just like that when he compared the reports from the two endoscopies.

 

[clifffaith]

Cliff is on a tirade right now because he thinks Healthnet made him wait too long to diagnose then treat the squamous cell cancer in his hand, and now he has basal cell cancer on his cheek and the wheels are turning slowly. Come to discover slow is ever so much better than conditions that don't even exist!

 

[Beachclubmum]

My bad doctor story:
DC, from a young age, had a noticeable weakness in his left leg. I finally made an appointment with a pediatric orthopedist, waiting 4 months out to be seen. I ALWAYS do my research on doctors and this one seemed like the best one...female, good schools, specialty in legs and feet. She examined him for maybe 10 minutes at the most, said he was fine, and when I questioned the leg weakness she said put him in soccer and that would take care of things.

A parent wants to hear there's no problem, but in the back of my mind I was still worried. This was a kid who couldn't jump with both feel off the ground when he was 2, and couldn't pull his body weight up on one leg when climbing stairs (he'd favor the weak leg by climbing one step at time, with both feet on the step in between). When I noticed this at age 4 I started working with him on it.

At the next ped visit I mentioned what the ortho had said along with my ongoing concerns. The ped immediately wrote out papers to have a PT evaluation done. Night and day difference with the ortho, as the evaluation was two sessions, one hour each. He was given normed tests and was found to be as low as 5th% in some areas. The PT found he had overall muscle weakness (low tone), extra stretchy ligaments that weren't supporting his joints, very poor core strength, the weakness in the leg, etc, etc. Basically from top to bottom he was having issues that the ortho completely missed. 5 years of weeky PT visits later, he was able to run and jump with the best of them. So many things he didn't do I hadn't noticed until he started doing them. Anyway, that's my story.

 

[Big Matt]

I have perfect vision and when I was younger had better than 20/20. So, I never went to the eye doctor. When I turned 50 I kept thinking maybe I should go, just to make sure I didn't have something crazy. I do wear readers although they are the lowest level magnification.

I got an appointment and got the same crap treatment. My favorite part was when they wanted to sell me bifocals. No corrective lenses, just the reader part with plain glass for the other part. I asked why, and the guy selling the glasses told me that it would be "better". Then he tried to sell me readers that cost $200. I can buy cool readers from China on Amazon for $14 for a five pack. I actually bought some fancier/nicer ones for $23.

I am not going back to the eye doctor unless I get a detached retina or I'm blind. Quack doctoring is not for me. If I do go back, I'll be visiting Costco. BTW, I have great insurance through my wife's policy.

 

[VacationForever]

I have perfect vision and when I was younger had better than 20/20. So, I never went to the eye doctor. When I turned 50 I kept thinking maybe I should go, just to make sure I didn't have something crazy. I do wear readers although they are the lowest level magnification.

I got an appointment and got the same crap treatment. My favorite part was when they wanted to sell me bifocals. No corrective lenses, just the reader part with plain glass for the other part. I asked why, and the guy selling the glasses told me that it would be "better". Then he tried to sell me readers that cost $200. I can buy cool readers from China on Amazon for $14 for a five pack. I actually bought some fancier/nicer ones for $23.

I am not going back to the eye doctor unless I get a detached retina or I'm blind. Quack doctoring is not for me. If I do go back, I'll be visiting Costco. BTW, I have great insurance through my wife's policy.

You likely went to an optometrist instead of an ophthalmologist. The former is often tied with with an optical shop while the latter is a medical doctor. If all is well, wait for a couple of years and try an ophthalmologist.

 

[easyrider]

So far we have been going to Costco for eye care. So far, all is good. Every two years or so we both need a new prescription so we buy new glasses at Costco. The entire process takes about 45 minutes.

I didn't know yelp included doctors.

Bill

 

[vacationhopeful]

I am one of 5 siblings and we all have glasses. I am the 2nd oldest and the LAST sibling who got glasses .. including a sister with a "lazy eye" at age 3 for glasses. Seems I had NO problems in school reading the black boards or reading the text books. Eventually, the school nurse suggested I get my eyes tested even though I passed the school's yearly "read the chart" eye test. I passed it "sort of funny". I believe I was in 6th grade.

Seems my eye issue is different ... I had one "near sighted" eye and one "far sighted" eye ... and my brain simplily chose which eye "to use" in seeing. No, I did not squint.

In my late 60s now, the eye doctor I went to 2 months ago, said that was not true NOW ... but as eyes age he said eyes do change .. becoming more nearsighted (I believe, or was it more farsighted).

And I paid $550 for an eye exam and 2 sets of new glasses ... which I had to label "readers and distance". And it is so hard to figure which pair to wear, I have to check which pair is on my face to perform "the task" at hand.

Does it matter? Not really .... my state driver's license has ALWAYS said I do NOT need to wear glasses ... and that is the only good part of this story.

PS This last eye doctor also said I was developing catarats. I have my DOUBTS ...

 

[Patri]

PS This last eye doctor also said I was developing catarats. I have my DOUBTS ...

I think most people develop cataracts, but they grow very slowly. Could be years before they are a problem.

 

[vacationhopeful]

I think most people develop cataracts, but they grow very slowly. Could be years before they are a problem.

This doctor wanted to schedule an appointment with 'his' cataract person NOW. I was NOT impressed ... nor have I been "real" happy with his 2 pairs of glasses (one pair for readers and the other pair, for driving). I had to label their storage containers "readers" and "driving".

 

[clifffaith]

I am one of 5 siblings and we all have glasses. I am the 2nd oldest and the LAST sibling who got glasses .. including a sister with a "lazy eye" at age 3 for glasses. Seems I had NO problems in school reading the black boards or reading the text books. Eventually, the school nurse suggested I get my eyes tested even though I passed the school's yearly "read the chart" eye test. I passed it "sort of funny". I believe I was in 6th grade.

Seems my eye issue is different ... I had one "near sighted" eye and one "far sighted" eye ... and my brain simplily chose which eye "to use" in seeing. No, I did not squint.

In my late 60s now, the eye doctor I went to 2 months ago, said that was not true NOW ... but as eyes age he said eyes do change .. becoming more nearsighted (I believe, or was it more farsighted).

And I paid $550 for an eye exam and 2 sets of new glasses ... which I had to label "readers and distance". And it is so hard to figure which pair to wear, I have to check which pair is on my face to perform "the task" at hand.

Does it matter? Not really .... my state driver's license has ALWAYS said I do NOT need to wear glasses ... and that is the only good part of this story.

PS This last eye doctor also said I was developing catarats. I have my DOUBTS ...

Cliff was an A student, always sitting right up front so he could see the board. When he was 12 he went to a baseball game with his dad and brother. Only because he commented that it seemed a waste of advertising money for companies to have signs up that could not be seen from the stands, and his dad and brother said they could read the signs, did they realize he had a vision issue. Of course that was 70 years ago and nowadays they check kids' vision at school to be sure they can see.

 

[bogey21]

Seems my eye issue is different ... I had one "near sighted" eye and one "far sighted" eye ... and my brain simply chose which eye "to use" in seeing. No, I did not squint.

I am in the same boat after having cataract surgery in one eye. It works beautifully...

George

 

[Trudyt623]

Unfortunately lots of small practices are being gobbled up by large companies, often with money first and last on their minds. I experienced this with my family dentist and my son's pediatric ophthalmologist. But, an optometrist is no substitute for an ophthalmologist.

 

[WinniWoman]

Unfortunately lots of small practices are being gobbled up by large companies, often with money first and last on their minds. I experienced this with my family dentist and my son's pediatric ophthalmologist. But, an optometrist is no substitute for an ophthalmologist.

Yes. I know. This is the thing today. You want to see an MD? No- they shove the PA or NP on you, or even the medical assistant.

The optometrist or the optician or the eye technician or office assistant. The dental hygienist or even the dental assistant. (no offense to any of these professions or jobs- they have their place certainly).

But no one with an MD or DO or DDS or DMD after their name. That is for the last 5 minutes of your appt.- maybe.

 

[bogey21]

Yes. I know. This is the thing today. You want to see an MD? No- they shove the PA or NP on you, or even the medical assistant.

Twice in the last 5 years or so I have dealt with a PA. Both of them were excellent...

George

 

[Luanne]

Yes. I know. This is the thing today. You want to see an MD? No- they shove the PA or NP on you, or even the medical assistant.

The optometrist or the optician or the eye technician or office assistant. The dental hygienist or even the dental assistant. (no offense to any of these professions or jobs- they have their place certainly).

But no one with an MD or DO or DDS or DMD after their name. That is for the last 5 minutes of your appt.- maybe.

I have a friend who is a retired nurse. She was in the Navy, then worked on contract for the Marines. Anyway, her advice is avoid the MD. And if you have a choice opt for the nurse practitioner as their model is preventative care.

When I see the eye doctor the technician is the only who does most of the eye exam, but then the doctor comes in for the final consult, and many times rechecks some of the testing.

With the dentist there is only so much the hygienist and dental assistant can do. When I have my teeth cleaned it is of course the hygienist. Sometimes the dentist will do a quick check (in California the dentist always came in after the hygienist was done). Now the dentist comes in about every other time, unless the hygienist has found a problem. So really, I'm just as happy that I don't see the dentist.

 

[WinniWoman]

Twice in the last 5 years or so I have dealt with a PA. Both of them were excellent...

George

I have nothing against PA's or Nurse Practitioners. In fact, before she retired, I used to request a particular PA if I could not get an appt with my MD and she was great in diagnosing and treatment. I agree a nurse practitioner is usually a better option, but not always.

But I am just stating that there was a time you saw the doctor. Your saw the dentist and you saw the ophthalmologist for almost the entire appt. and that is no more. So all these years we never needed doctors?

BTW- my husband's ophthalmologist still basically does most of the visit with limited use of assistants.

 

[Luanne]

Our doctor has gone to a concierge type service. If we wanted to see him exclusively we could pay the extra each year to do so. Both dh and I declined. Most of the time we would see on the PAs in his practice anyway.

 

[Jan M.]

Mary Ann everything about your visit to this opthamologist was unacceptable and unprofessional. She clearly never reviewed your chart, had untrained staff doing things that are too important to leave to untrained staff and worst of all never even gave you the thorough eye exam you were paying her for. She should have examined, evaluated and discussed with you all of your eye issues. She has turned her practice into a surgery mill and is not giving her patients adequate care. You are more knowledgeable than most people and many of her patients may have no idea that they are receiving inferior care. Do everyone a service and post your experience on Yelp and other social media sites. Doing that could make a huge difference to someone else's eye health.

Over the years we've seen three different optometrists who were/are fantastic. The one we currently see is my age and I'm not looking forward to the time when this one retires. My husband has a pucker in his macular and every few years for the last 20 years sees a retinal specialist. Our son has keratoconus, as do I, but mine is mild and his isn't. When he moved to the Cleveland area he had to find a new specialist and goes to the Cleveland Clinic. The first doctor he saw there wasn't a good experience but fortunately he was knowledgeable enough about his eyes to know that he needed to find someone else and he did. He also has to see a contact specialist. There is a new treatment that was approved about two years ago. He has been following the results and considering it. If it doesn't work his only other option for his worst eye is a cornea transplant.

Because of my husband and our son the three of us know the difference between a poor, a good and an excellent opthamologist or optomtrist. When you have an eye condition seeing the excellent ones is critical.