Eye doc vent.....$$$$ Please advise...

[Marionnette]

Good point. When I was young, I saw an Ophthalmologist. They are M.Ds. Optometrists are not. They go through a certain amount of training and can call themselves "eye doctors". Some are pretty good too. Now that I'm an adult and my prescription is stable I see an Optometrist. When I get old, I'll go back to an Ophthalmologist,lol.

If there are any kind of problems, Id take my child to the Ophthalmologist. Healthcare is not where you should be bargain hunting..

That "certain amount of training" that you seem so quick to dismiss is actually 4 years of training AFTER they receive their bachelor's degree. That's 4 years of studying just eyes. They are every bit as much entitled to be called "doctor" as are dentists, chiropractors and podiatrists. In many states, they are licensed to prescribe medications and perform minor surgical procedures such as inserting punctal plugs and foreign body removal. I find it to be astonishing as to lack of insight that the general public has for their scope of practice. It's not as if they just decide to become optometrists, take an online course and then print out their diplomas from a .pdf file.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

That "certain amount of training" that you seem so quick to dismiss is actually 4 years of training AFTER they receive their bachelor's degree. That's 4 years of studying just eyes. They are every bit as much entitled to be called "doctor" as are dentists, chiropractors and podiatrists. In many states, they are licensed to prescribe medications and perform minor surgical procedures such as inserting punctal plugs and foreign body removal. I find it to be astonishing as to lack of insight that the general public has for their scope of practice. It's not as if they just decide to become optometrists, take an online course and then print out their diplomas from a .pdf file.

As the wife of an optometrist, thank you for your supportive comments. My husband is very reputable and respected in our community. He can do all of the things you mentioned, as well as manage eye diseases. He has good working relationships with several opthomologists, including pediatric, when a patient's issue is beyond his scope of practice. He is a real doctor. To suggest otherwise, as many have here, is ignorant. Can you run into a bad optometrist? Of course, but you can also run into bad internists, pedatricians, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, etc...

For the record, I don't like how the OP's daughter's situation was handled. No matter the urgency, the doctor should not have pushed her to purchase glasses right then. Her condition should have been thoroughly explained, and a plan of treatment presented. She should have been seen on a regular schedule to monitor progress.

 

[sookie]

If my kid suddenly had lazy eye, especially at an older age, I would be taking them to an opthamologist.
That being said, up until this point, my own children have seen optometry, and I would keep them there for forever. I trust my optometrist. I know that he would refer them in a heartbeat if there was an issue. They have a ton of training, can prescribe, and are able to manage eye diseases.

I had to see opthamology for the first time in my life last week - and I hate the eye doc!!! Arg! My optometrist pushed me to go. I drive a distance to see the same person, because I trust him. I have eye doctor anxiety. Other people have dental anxiety, I have eye doctor anxiety. I can't stand people touching my eye, but I have to have it done.

For kids and for vision care - I think optometrists are wonderful - we refer to them all the time! People need to get routine vision care and often don't. Just like any doc, you need to find one you trust.

 

[luvthemouse71]

That "certain amount of training" that you seem so quick to dismiss is actually 4 years of training AFTER they receive their bachelor's degree. That's 4 years of studying just eyes. They are every bit as much entitled to be called "doctor" as are dentists, chiropractors and podiatrists. In many states, they are licensed to prescribe medications and perform minor surgical procedures such as inserting punctal plugs and foreign body removal. I find it to be astonishing as to lack of insight that the general public has for their scope of practice. It's not as if they just decide to become optometrists, take an online course and then print out their diplomas from a .pdf file.

I know what training they go through. I was pointing out that they aren't MDs. There is a difference and if I had complex eye issues, I would be going to an Ophthalmologist, not an Optometrist. Optometrists are OK for basic vision issues and needs. Same thing if I had bad foot issues. I'm going to an Orthopedic MD that specializes in foot and ankle, not a Podiatrist. Not even touching Chiropractors. We had a lady in the OR that almost died because of the care she received from a Chiropractor.

Sorry, just can't muster the appropriate respect or someone who may have his/ her office in a shopping mall,lol.

 

[Marionnette]

I know what training they go through. I was pointing out that they aren't MDs. There is a difference and if I had complex eye issues, I would be going to an Ophthalmologist, not an Optometrist. Optometrists are OK for basic vision issues and needs. Same thing if I had bad foot issues. I'm going to an Orthopedic MD that specializes in foot and ankle, not a Podiatrist. Not even touching Chiropractors. We had a lady in the OR that almost died because of the care she received from a Chiropractor.

Sorry, just can't muster the appropriate respect or someone who may have his/ her office in a shopping mall,lol.

You have a grossly distorted and poorly-informed view of optometrists that I find hard to respect. Very few actually work at the Walmart/Costco/Sears vision centers. The pay in those places sucks and the ability to practice optometry properly is hampered by a corporate mission to put a patient in the exam chair every 15 minutes. But when the public demands cheap eyeglasses and drive-thru exams, this is what pops up in every open mall space with room for a practice lane and frame boards.

ETA: I also find it interesting that you omitted dentists from your list of medical professionals for whom you cannot muster respect, given that they also have members of their profession who practice in shopping malls. And let's not even mention the DO's and MD's that working in Urgent Care settings in strip malls and drug store walk-in clinics because we all know that "real" doctors who deserve respect would never work in those kinds of places.

 

[dbogen]

I hope this doesn't turn into one of those threads where we never find out about the outcome.

 

[paysensmom]

Went to the eye doc and we saw a differs guy, fine with me. He recheCked her eyes and gave her an entirely different script. NO readers either... They are switching the lenses. Funny how it's going to take 10 days and it only took 30 minutes last time.

 

[disneyfreakk]

Went to the eye doc and we saw a differs guy, fine with me. He recheCked her eyes and gave her an entirely different script. NO readers either... They are switching the lenses. Funny how it's going to take 10 days and it only took 30 minutes last time.

So did they charge you, did you get a refund or what???

 

[auralia]

With your dd having the lazy eye I would bring her to her PCM and get her a referral for a opthamologist. When tricare says they cover one exam a year it means one exam without a referral. Your PCM can refer her to pediatric opthamology and it will be covered. I know because I had some problems outside of my one year and I went to my PCM and he referred me to a real eye doc not just the glasses guy (no offense to the glasses guys).

 

[paysensmom]

Sorry for the jumbled message. I was using my ipad, difficult to type on that thing. We saw a different eye doctor and he rechecked her eyes. He said her script had changed since the last exam. Not sure if that has anything to do with her wearing readers for 9 months. He said he didn't think so and it wasn't uncommon for children's eyes to change that quickly. He also said that one eye is worse than the other but that she doesn't have a lazy eye.
They are switching the reading lenses for the new script for free. Ugh, I am glad we got it worked out. I sort of wish I would have asked them to switch the lenses on the second pair I bought for her based on their script. I bought her an extra pair from Zennioptical so she would have a spare in case she lost hers.

 

[weezyree]

The difference between an Optometrist and Ophthalmologist is this: The Optometrist can manage and treat eye diseases and disorders until surgical intervention comes in. Then the PT sees the Oph.

Based on this, the person who posted Mall docs are quacks are wrong. I work for an Optometry clinic for the Federal Gov't and the docs I work with are married to other Optometrists who work in the mall clinics. Both of those women were top of their class!!!!! Not a quack.

With that being said, I would take my child to another optometrist for a second opinion and not visit this other doc again as he is certainly after your money. The civilian clinics make 2/3rds of their revenue from specs purchases, not exams!!!

To treat amblyopia it needs to be caught early in age first....no later than age 5 or so. At this point, an optometrist would recommend a half the amount of an RX for that eye to slowly build up getting use to the full RX. They may also patch the good eye to make the lazy eye WORK. Also, coloring in small O's or zeros on newspapers with a red pen is a good task to work on strengthening that eye.

Unless it's an extra-ocular eye muscle issue, patching is good. This should only be done under the supervision of the eye doc. If it's a muscle issues, then surgical intervention should be sought out....that's when you go to the OPH.

Just some advice and venting about others thinking docs in the mall or elsewhere are quacks!!!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

OP, are you close to Morgantown? My DD has seen a pediatric ophthalmologist since shortly after birth, and she started at the Eye Center at WVU. Her visits there (and now here with a pediatric ophthalmologist) are mainly covered by our medical insurance, not our vision insurance.

I would ask for a referral to a pediatric ophthalmologist from your family doctor or pediatrician.