Opthamologist vs. Optometrist Astounding Findings!

[Abraham]

Yesterday, I went in to see a highly renowned Opthamologist for a cataract surgery evaluation.

For the past two years, after each eye exam, my Optometrist informed me that I was slowly forming cataracts in both eyes and within one to three years I'd need surgery. Also, my eye glass prescription couldn't improve my vision as cataract formation couldn't be corrected with eye glasses.

So, after the extremely thorough exam yesterday the finding was: Not only am I NOT forming cataracts, I don't even NEED glasses! Plus, the glasses I've been wearing are FAR too strong and that is why I couldn't see as well...BTW, the Optometrist I've been going to isn't some el cheapo doc/shop, but quite upscale.
Not Walmart or some other lower cost outfit.

Yes, I still need slight magnification for reading/computer/very close in work, otherwise I don't need glasses for every day use. The doc suggested I drive home without using my eye glasses and I did, a 45 minute drive, expecting I'd soon have a headache without wearing my glasses. Nope. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening without wearing my glasses - no problem.

Any of you have a similar experience?

[jbarn]

I have found better results for ME with Ophthalmologists, who are physicians.

I cannot imagine having to go through unneeded surgery. Glad you found out.

Do you mind if we know your age?

[howdy]

I had an Opthamologist tell me I had a cancerous lesion on my eye lid. He wanted to cut the lesion off and send it to a lab to be checked. Then I would have to go to a Plastic surgeon to have reconstructive surgery of the eye lid. I told him I wanted to get a second opinion before the procedure. I went to my Dermatologist and he laughed and said it was just a sty. He gave me a topical ointment and it cleared up in a few days. Sometimes if you don't hear good new, it is smart to get a second opinion.

[jimlongley]

I fired one optometrist for almost the opposite reason. I developed some really disturbing flashes in my eye, so skipped the optometrist and went to the ophthalmologist. While determining that my situation is relatively beni9gn, not a detached retina but the vitreous humor loosening and moving around combined with "protein clumping" the doctor made the comment that I should consider myself a candidate for cataract surgery soon.

When I went to the optometrist a few days later, because the Dr. also determined that my prescription was off, she told me that my cataracts and mythical, that she can't see them at all, and this despite not being able to photograph my right retina due to excessive cloudiness. I fired her.

I was blessed, earlier in life, to have both optometrists and ophthalmologists that were shooters and understood the needs of shooters. I brook very little nonsense from those who will not accommodate MY needs.

[SewTexas]

I fired one optometrist for almost the opposite reason. I developed some really disturbing flashes in my eye, so skipped the optometrist and went to the ophthalmologist. While determining that my situation is relatively beni9gn, not a detached retina but the vitreous humor loosening and moving around combined with "protein clumping" the doctor made the comment that I should consider myself a candidate for cataract surgery soon.

When I went to the optometrist a few days later, because the Dr. also determined that my prescription was off, she told me that my cataracts and mythical, that she can't see them at all, and this despite not being able to photograph my right retina due to excessive cloudiness. I fired her.

I was blessed, earlier in life, to have both optometrists and ophthalmologists that were shooters and understood the needs of shooters. I brook very little nonsense from those who will not accommodate MY needs.

my husband had that "vitreous humor" thing back about 6 years ago. It's ultimately what lead to my husband's pituitary tumor being diagnosed last year. They'd been doing field vision tests yearly since that event and weren't happen with the results....sent him for an MRI and wow! But yes, you've got to have a good doc and then double check sometimes.

[anygunanywhere]

I fired one optometrist for almost the opposite reason. I developed some really disturbing flashes in my eye, so skipped the optometrist and went to the ophthalmologist. While determining that my situation is relatively beni9gn, not a detached retina but the vitreous humor loosening and moving around combined with "protein clumping" the doctor made the comment that I should consider myself a candidate for cataract surgery soon.

When I went to the optometrist a few days later, because the Dr. also determined that my prescription was off, she told me that my cataracts and mythical, that she can't see them at all, and this despite not being able to photograph my right retina due to excessive cloudiness. I fired her.

I was blessed, earlier in life, to have both optometrists and ophthalmologists that were shooters and understood the needs of shooters. I brook very little nonsense from those who will not accommodate MY needs.

My Opthamologists are very good. I had the same issue with floaters and flashes and was quickly diagnosed with PVD - Post Vitreous Detachment in my right eye. They also correctly predicted that it would occurr in my left eye which recently was confirnmed. Part of growing old.

They have detected early cataracts. Cataract surgery is very advanced these days and there are many options for lens implants.

MIne too understand the needs of shooters and adjust my contact lens prescriptions accordingly.

Anygunanywhere

[TNacp99]

As a physician and a Dermatologist, and a firearm enthusiast, I would recommend that everyone read the book "how doctors think" by Jerome Groopman. All of us are human and prone to error. The book reveals the thought processes of physicians when they make a diagnosis or recommendation. It is written for the layman. The purpose was to help patients engage with their doctors so that mistakes can be minimized. I would not generalize optometry vs ophthalmologists. It is like psychologists vs psychiatrists. They are trained differently and each specialty has its role.

In general, my thought is: if your health care professional is recommending an intervention (medication or surgery) that has potentially serious side effects and or is irreversible, then seek a second opinion. A great physician will welcome this opportunity rather than be threatened by it. Ask your doctor, "Doc, what else can this be? or Is there a simpler way we can treat this?" This engagement is even more important as the Government and Insurances influence doctors to see more patients in less time.

I was thinking of a sign in my new practice that says "CHL holders welcome!" What do y'all think?

[The Annoyed Man]

I've never been to an opthamologist, but I do have an optometrist I like and trust. He (and his wife....they are in practice together) goes to my church. Like a lot of people, my eyesight started to go downhill after age 40. I can see just fine for general purposes without my glasses, but I can't read small print (it all looks small these days) at reading distances, and my vision isn't sharp at longer ranges. It has been exacerbated by the fact that I work at a computer screen all the time. My sunglasses are prescription progressives, with the bottom of the lens being for reading, and the top of the lens correcting for astigmatism at distance. They are what I shoot with, primarily. I have a pair of "computer glasses", and a pair of progressive glasses with transition tint for night time driving and general use.

Once in a great while, I experience "floaters" which have the appearance of zigzagging multicolored objects that almost look like they are vibrating. They usually go away after an hour or so. My optometrist is not concerned about them. Otherwise, I have no cloudiness in either eye, or other symptoms of impending cataracts. Not even Ringcon Contynentars.

[RoyGBiv]

I was thinking of a sign in my new practice that says "CHL holders welcome!" What do y'all think?

My optometrist is also a motorcycle riding buddy.
If you out up a sign like that in your practice and your practice was near me, I'd find myself quite torn.

[The Annoyed Man]

I was thinking of a sign in my new practice that says "CHL holders welcome!" What do y'all think?

I think I'd bring you my next rash.

[SewTexas]

As a physician and a Dermatologist, and a firearm enthusiast, I would recommend that everyone read the book "how doctors think" by Jerome Groopman. All of us are human and prone to error. The book reveals the thought processes of physicians when they make a diagnosis or recommendation. It is written for the layman. The purpose was to help patients engage with their doctors so that mistakes can be minimized. I would not generalize optometry vs ophthalmologists. It is like psychologists vs psychiatrists. They are trained differently and each specialty has its role.

In general, my thought is: if your health care professional is recommending an intervention (medication or surgery) that has potentially serious side effects and or is irreversible, then seek a second opinion. A great physician will welcome this opportunity rather than be threatened by it. Ask your doctor, "Doc, what else can this be? or Is there a simpler way we can treat this?" This engagement is even more important as the Government and Insurances influence doctors to see more patients in less time.

I was thinking of a sign in my new practice that says "CHL holders welcome!" What do y'all think?

hmmm, where are you located, you might have a queue of new patients

[Abraham]

TNacp99,

"How Doctors Think" by Jerome Groopman M. is now in my audio listening book queue, plus "Your Medical Mind".

Yes, I think the "CHL holders are welcome" idea wonderful.

Who knows, perhaps you could launch a positive trend...

[jimlongley]

I was thinking of a sign in my new practice that says "CHL holders welcome!" What do y'all think?

THAT!!!

As a physician and a Dermatologist, and a firearm enthusiast, I would recommend that everyone read the book "how doctors think" by Jerome Groopman. All of us are human and prone to error. The book reveals the thought processes of physicians when they make a diagnosis or recommendation. It is written for the layman. The purpose was to help patients engage with their doctors so that mistakes can be minimized. I would not generalize optometry vs ophthalmologists. It is like psychologists vs psychiatrists. They are trained differently and each specialty has its role.

In general, my thought is: if your health care professional is recommending an intervention (medication or surgery) that has potentially serious side effects and or is irreversible, then seek a second opinion. A great physician will welcome this opportunity rather than be threatened by it. Ask your doctor, "Doc, what else can this be? or Is there a simpler way we can treat this?" This engagement is even more important as the Government and Insurances influence doctors to see more patients in less time.

Amen to all of that, and the reason I skipped the optometrist in the first place when I saw the flashes. My first experience with floaters was when I was on the 600 yard range participating in a match. I fired a round, and a "worm" crawled across my field of vision. I shook my head and it went away. Fired another round and there it was again, and then again. In a complete panic I abandoned the match, and forfeited, not that I was going to win anyway, and charged home to roust my optometrist out from his home on a Sunday. His diagnosis was to shrug and say "floaters" which I had never even heard of. He told me that making it into my late 20s and having been nearsighted since second grade, it was amazing that I had never seen them before.

my husband had that "vitreous humor" thing back about 6 years ago. It's ultimately what lead to my husband's pituitary tumor being diagnosed last year. They'd been doing field vision tests yearly since that event and weren't happen with the results....sent him for an MRI and wow! But yes, you've got to have a good doc and then double check sometimes.

These days I have the flashes and vitreous humor detachment and protein clumping almost all of the time, but I do not panic and run off for treatment as I did then, I just make sure I get in for my checkups regularly.

[Abraham]

Forgot to mention: I spent the entire day without my glasses. No problem whatsoever. Well, I did feel kinda facially naked...

Part of that naked eye time was while I ground out 25 miles on my mountain bike in high winds. Still no problem.

Once home, I decided since I don't need to wear my prescription sunglasses, I bought a pair of Maui Jim's, grey tone lens, non-prescription sunglasses.

While they're not precisely mirror lens, they do kinda/sorta have that look. So, while wearing them today and in as deep a voice as I can muster, I've been practicing saying: Boy! YOU inna heapa trouble!

My wife just shakes her head...

[Oldgringo]

I told my Optometrist of my "flashes" and he immediately referred me to an Opthamologist. After an extensive and uncomfortable examination, I was told that what was going on was normal for geezers. Since then, I've seen both again and am tickled with my eye care. BTW, neither facility medical facility is 30.06 posted. In fact, my Optometrist has his CHL.