Opthalmologist Won't Give Me More Eyedrops

[MIGrandma]

I have high eye pressure so I use drops every night to lower it. And I have my pressures checked every so often. I called yesterday to make an appointment to have my pressures checked, can't get in until April 26th. Told her I wouldn't have enough drops to last until then, she said she couldn't call in another prescription for me until I was seen. I told her they always have done that for me in the past, but she still said she couldn't. I said "well, I guess I will just run out then."

So now when I do finally get in there to get my pressures checked, it won't be accurate because I will have been without the drops. Not happy.

 

[HeatherC]

I would call back and demand that she asks the doctor. Or tell her that you need to speak to him yourself. Just keep calling...if you drive them crazy enough, they'll have to do something, right.

 

[wdwfan16]

How long before your Rx was to run out did you make the appointment.

You say you have done this before in the past. How often do you do this?

 

[Pigeon]

Did you talk to the doctor or to the office staff? If the latter, I'd call back and ask to have the doctor call me back.

I take Restasis for dry eye and had a similar thing happen. The eye doc was a little miffed at the receptionist, and told me that if this ever happened again to be sure I talked to him. Essentially the receptionist was making a medical decision that she wasn't qualified to make.

 

[KandD]

I worked for a group of ophthalmologists for years (one being a glaucoma specialist) and we would NEVER have not refilled pressure drops! If the patient was so overdue that there was a question about it, we would have to ask the doctor for the okay but of course it was always okayed! (They might have to call the patient themselves and tell them to make an appointment but they refilled the drops in the meantime).
But that is ridiculous...you need to call and speak to the doctor.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You need to talk to the doctor. This is a medical issue and you cannot go without drops.

The correct response from her would have been to say, I will need to discuss this with the doctor. She is not qualified to be in charge of your medical health.

Now, waiting until the last minute to take care of yourself is not a good plan. I gently suggest being more proactive with your health.

 

[disneymeces]

Our 8yr daughter has glaucoma, and I've never had a problem getting drops, and I make her appts 6months ahead of schedule, but she has run out a couple of times (a few days before checkup) yet He always calls hers in. Since it is medical and a necessity I would speak with the doctor. It doesn't take long for the pressure to go up.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Recently when visiting my eye doctor he talked about pressure starting to build up in my eyes.

I just underwent two laser surgeries, one one each eye, three weeks apart. Each was about a ten second procedure which did something to the duct so I will never have any pressure problem again. The pressures have dropped.

The procedure is such that I was told that I could drive myself to and from the doctor. I have only had to use drops for three days following the surgeries.

 

[Jockaroo]

You do need your medication for this. If you aren't able to speak to the actual doctor, please call your pharmacist. In my area, our doctor offices refer you to your pharmacy for prescription refills. It is a newer policy. I've never had any problems getting a one month extension on a prescription when my pharmacist calls. Good luck. I've been monitored for glaucoma since I was a child.

 

[*BTMRR*]

I agree with the PPs who said you need to talk to the doctor.

I had a similar experience (different type of medication, not as medically important as yours)--they couldn't get me in for my checkup until after my prescription expires. I talked to the triage nurse and she said "absolutely not" to giving me a one month extension even though I had set an appointment.
I called back and talked to the doctor; he apologized and immediately called an extension in to the pharmacy.

 

[dis-happy]

I'd call back, be very nice, and ask to be put on a cancellation list for appointments.


The pharmacist idea is excellent!!
If that doesn't work I'd show up in person at the office with the eye drop bottle and ask to speak to the doctor about the refill.

 

[Deb in IA]

I agree that glaucoma treatment is crucial for vision perservation.

Call again and see if they can refill just enough until your appointment.

Also, are you late in making your appointment? Have you had several cancellations? Has it been more than a year since you were last seen?
Sometimes people are reluctant to call in refills in these cases.

 

[Micca]

I was running short on drops with a few weeks till my next appt & they gave me a free sample to use until my exam & refill. I agree with the others, call them again. Someone in that office isn't thinking straight.

 

[MIGrandma]

Thank you all for the advice. I do hate to call back, but if it was just the receptionist that I spoke to then I know I should call and ask again.

Yes, it has been too long since I've had my pressures checked. They charge $100 for that "procedure" and my insurance doesn't cover it. I'm also diabetic so go for check-ups for that, and have problems with my thyroid so go for check-ups/ultrasounds on that so between all these doctor visits I can't always afford to go in when I'm supposed to. And since the pressures have always been okay, with the drops, I'm not as diligent about going on time.

I've been having the pressures checked for several years (I used to work for an eye surgeon and he would check them for free, sure wish I still worked for him!) and have never had a problem getting them to call in a new prescription for me, before my actual appointment.

Maybe they have been having too many people cancel appointments after getting their new prescriptions, I don't know. I was very surprised when she said she couldn't call in a new prescription for me.

It's hard to guage how much is left in the bottle, it may be more than I think and will get me through to the 26th when my appointment is for. So I will probably wait and see just how far they do go, before I call back. But if I do run out before the app. I will call and ask to have the doctor call me and explain why they won't let me have a new presription before my app. I would think he would want the pressure check to be as accurate as possible, and if I run out of the drops and they won't let me have more then it definitely won't be accurate.

Thanks again, everyone.

 

[MIGrandma]

Another question about the drops, they are Xalatan and on the box it says to keep refrigerated, and the pharmacist says to keep them refrigerated too. But years ago I was given a sample bottle at the opthalmologist's office and the box of the bottles was right there in the office, not refrigerated at all. The next time I questioned them about it and they (office person) said it did not need to be refrigerated. Since the box says to do so, and the pharmacist does as well, I do keep them refrigerated. Which is right?

 

[buckler]

Another question about the drops, they are Xalatan and on the box it says to keep refrigerated, and the pharmacist says to keep them refrigerated too. But years ago I was given a sample bottle at the opthalmologist's office and the box of the bottles was right there in the office, not refrigerated at all. The next time I questioned them about it and they (office person) said it did not need to be refrigerated. Since the box says to do so, and the pharmacist does as well, I do keep them refrigerated. Which is right?

From their website it says:

" How should I store XALATAN?

Refrigerate XALATAN until you open it. Once opened, your sample or prescription XALATAN may be stored at room temperature (up to 77°F) for 6 weeks. "

 

[buckler]

Also from their website I found that you can save $10 per bottle on your next 10 bottles

http://www.xalatan.com/vision-matters/index.aspx

If you call back, ask to speak to the nurse and explain you will run out. If they aren't far from your homr, ask if you could stop in for a sample bottle to tide you over until your appointment. Then, when you go in for your appointment, ask for more samples.