Ugh...Eye Doctors!!!! (a rant...)

[hurleysweety]

So I've needed to get new contacts for about six months but have been putting it off because 1) I hate going to the eye doctor and 2) I still had some from my last prescription. And even after trying to go through all kinds of work-a-rounds to avoid going, it turns out that by law, you cannot get new contacts if your prescription is over a year old.

So I went, reluctantly today, with DH in tow. I don't like going because I feel like they always try to upsell you. Its almost worse than a car dealership. Luckily, I didn't need glasses this time around. And I'm also a member of their "eye club" so I get a free eye exam. From the get-go, the whole place feels like a scam to me. I see the sales people talking to other customers about the benefits of these "super lenses" and oh, by the way, they are $100 more than the deal you came in here for...

Anyway, I went through the whole first part of the appointment where you get to tell them things like where the blinking light is and get that lovely puff of air in your eye. That was fine. Then I get called in to see the doctor and it all goes downhill. He asks me why I'm there and I tell him I need a new prescription and my eyes have been bothering me quite a bit lately. He thinks its allergies. I tell him I've never had that before (thinking of the kind that you have to deal with your whole life, like allergies to pets or grass). He then does like a stupid five minute exam and then looks at my eyelids. He turns back on the lights and points to a picture on the wall and tells me I have all these red bumps and they are really bad and that I'm going to need two prescriptions and no contacts for two weeks. I try to explain that its because I'm wearing old contacts and I've had a couple of really long days with them in - but nope, he really doesn't seem to care. And then, he tells me these prescriptions are both pretty expensive - $80 for one! And one I will have to use as long as I wear contacts. WHAT? So I start getting really skeptical at this point. Does he get a kickback for writing me this script?

He didn't listen to any of my questions or concerns. He didn't care that the bumps were probably caused my excessive irritation the past couple of days and that I wanted to come last week, but my schedule was too busy. I felt cheated and scammed. The doctor also added that I should switch to daily contacts which cost twice as much as my contacts now (which are already on the higher end!!).

All I wanted was my new eye prescription and a trial pair to hold me over until I can order more. Instead, they give me two eye drop scripts, and no trial pair. They (the "dr" and the receptionist guys) claim they can't give me a trial pair since I shouldn't wear the contacts anyway. And while I'm not vain or anything, I never wear my glasses outside the house. No one I know, expect for DH, has seen me in glasses. I'll wear them at work, fine, and around home, fine. But when I'm out with my friends, I would like contacts. Even after this they refuse. And I still don't have my lens prescription. So DH finally convinces them somehow that I'll need this trial pair, which they then claim they don't have any. And they kept whispering behind the counter. Finally, a guy goes back and brings out a random pair, but tells me I should not wear them and they are not quality (they are one of those off-brand cheap kind). He says that when I come back in two weeks, they'll order me a trial pair to wear. I have never, ever, in 10 years of going, heard of ordering trial pairs... The whole situation was unprofessional and I felt disrespected, like they thought they could out-smart me by making me come back and buying expensive "recommended" daily contacts. At this point, I was so desperate to get out that I scheduled my "follow-up" appt to get them to stop their selling "strategies" and left as quickly as possible.

Later, I went to the pharmacy and found out that both the eye drop scripts were going to cost me over $170! So the nice pharmacist recommended an OTC drop that cost me $7. And unless something really bad ends up happening, unlikely since my eyes have not bothered me all day, I plan to never return to that place.

I'm not sure what to do next year when my prescription expires. My "eye club" at this place will have expired by then, thank goodness. So I need recommendations on what to do...I don't ever want to go to one of these places again.

Thanks for allowing me to rant. I feel much better now!

 

[Marionnette]

So I've needed to get new contacts for about six months but have been putting it off because 1) I hate going to the eye doctor and 2) I still had some from my last prescription. And even after trying to go through all kinds of work-a-rounds to avoid going, it turns out that by law, you cannot get new contacts if your prescription is over a year old.

So I went, reluctantly today, with DH in tow. I don't like going because I feel like they always try to upsell you. Its almost worse than a car dealership. Luckily, I didn't need glasses this time around. And I'm also a member of their "eye club" so I get a free eye exam. From the get-go, the whole place feels like a scam to me. I see the sales people talking to other customers about the benefits of these "super lenses" and oh, by the way, they are $100 more than the deal you came in here for...

Anyway, I went through the whole first part of the appointment where you get to tell them things like where the blinking light is and get that lovely puff of air in your eye. That was fine. Then I get called in to see the doctor and it all goes downhill. He asks me why I'm there and I tell him I need a new prescription and my eyes have been bothering me quite a bit lately. He thinks its allergies. I tell him I've never had that before (thinking of the kind that you have to deal with your whole life, like allergies to pets or grass). He then does like a stupid five minute exam and then looks at my eyelids. He turns back on the lights and points to a picture on the wall and tells me I have all these red bumps and they are really bad and that I'm going to need two prescriptions and no contacts for two weeks. I try to explain that its because I'm wearing old contacts and I've had a couple of really long days with them in - but nope, he really doesn't seem to care. And then, he tells me these prescriptions are both pretty expensive - $80 for one! And one I will have to use as long as I wear contacts. WHAT? So I start getting really skeptical at this point. Does he get a kickback for writing me this script?

He didn't listen to any of my questions or concerns. He didn't care that the bumps were probably caused my excessive irritation the past couple of days and that I wanted to come last week, but my schedule was too busy. I felt cheated and scammed. The doctor also added that I should switch to daily contacts which cost twice as much as my contacts now (which are already on the higher end!!).

All I wanted was my new eye prescription and a trial pair to hold me over until I can order more. Instead, they give me two eye drop scripts, and no trial pair. They (the "dr" and the receptionist guys) claim they can't give me a trial pair since I shouldn't wear the contacts anyway. And while I'm not vain or anything, I never wear my glasses outside the house. No one I know, expect for DH, has seen me in glasses. I'll wear them at work, fine, and around home, fine. But when I'm out with my friends, I would like contacts. Even after this they refuse. And I still don't have my lens prescription. So DH finally convinces them somehow that I'll need this trial pair, which they then claim they don't have any. And they kept whispering behind the counter. Finally, a guy goes back and brings out a random pair, but tells me I should not wear them and they are not quality (they are one of those off-brand cheap kind). He says that when I come back in two weeks, they'll order me a trial pair to wear. I have never, ever, in 10 years of going, heard of ordering trial pairs... The whole situation was unprofessional and I felt disrespected, like they thought they could out-smart me by making me come back and buying expensive "recommended" daily contacts. At this point, I was so desperate to get out that I scheduled my "follow-up" appt to get them to stop their selling "strategies" and left as quickly as possible.

Later, I went to the pharmacy and found out that both the eye drop scripts were going to cost me over $170! So the nice pharmacist recommended an OTC drop that cost me $7. And unless something really bad ends up happening, unlikely since my eyes have not bothered me all day, I plan to never return to that place.

I'm not sure what to do next year when my prescription expires. My "eye club" at this place will have expired by then, thank goodness. So I need recommendations on what to do...I don't ever want to go to one of these places again.

Thanks for allowing me to rant. I feel much better now!

You went to a professional who knows more about those "little bumps" on the inside of your eyelid than you do and you're questioning his decision? I'm sure that he can tell the difference between a little irritation caused by eye strain and a little bit of overwearing your lenses vs. long term misuse. And that's why he appeared to dismiss your explanation for them.

Any conscientious professional would not give you a script for new lenses with your eyes in the condition that yours are in. Your eyes need the two weeks of treatment and rest. Only after your eyes have healed can you be refitted for your new lenses. He could be sued for malpractice if he did otherwise.

I don't think you should return to that doctor because you obviously do not have any faith in his ability. Ask your friends and find someone you can trust. But don't waste your money on professional care if you're going to self-medicate and do whatever you please anyway.

 

[vicki_c]

I have to agree with Marionette. I would not dismiss out of hand a recommendation from a doctor or optometrist. At the very least, you should get a second opinion. Clearly though, that will cost you more. It sounds like you went in with a bad attitude, and then when you were told something you didn't want to hear it irritated you more. I really don't think anything that you described sounded that underhanded to me based on my own experience with optometrists and opthamologist (38 years worth of experience too).

Your eyes are not something that you want to self-diagnose on, I agree.

I also couldn't tell if you went to a private practice type place or somewhere like a Lenscrafters place in the mall. I am personally leery of the chain places in the malls, although I know lots of people go to them.

 

[cglaura]

As with any medical issue, if you are not comfortable with your doctors information, get a second opinion. An eye exam cost around $60, I'd pay that for peace of mind.

You have every right to question a doctor. They are not infallible, they make mistakes and they mis-prescribe (I know that is not a real word...but you get the idea). Go with your gut instincts.

 

[Sadie22]

There are many vision-threatening conditions which are not apparent until discovered during a thorough, professional eye examination. By all means get a second opinion but refrain from trying to bully the staff into doing something that would be harmful to you.

 

[pezheadmeg]

If you're that worried get a second opinion. But I would trust the eye doctor. My eyes are something that I don't mess with. Mine are bad enough as it is.

And yes it could be allergies, I was having bouts of blurriness. When my eye doctor ruled out the medical conditions he told me to watch my cosmetics. It was the make up remover I was using.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

Although you should never ever try to self medicate yourself (especially where your vision is concerned) you should trust your instincts and listen to that little voice inside your head. If you get bad vibes from a doctor then just leave and go to someone else for a second opinion. I have seen my fair share of eye doctors due to an accident I had when I was 2 years old. About 6 months after I was married I was referred to an older, distinguished looking opthalmologist for a new prescription. (Because of my injury I always need to see an eye surgeon.) Anyways, I did not like his attitude from the beginning but thought it was just me being particular. After the examination we got to talking and I told him I was newly married and pregnant. He asked me if my DH knew of my injury and when I told him yes, of course he asked me and I quote because 14 years later I still remember the sting of his words
"and he married you anyways?" What kind of professional would say something like that? I don't know if he was trying to be funny but I was not laughing. I was stunned. I cried all the way home and I even had to ask my dh if he regretted marrying me. Dh was so furious that he wanted me to report him, but regretfully I never did. Please go to a new eye doctor. Maybe this one was a scam artist but not everyone is and your vision is just too important to allow yourself to guess at what the problem might be.

 

[rigs32]

It sounds like you're going to an optometrist (not a doctor, but licensed as a medical professional). You might want to consider an opthamologist (MD whose specialty is eyes) if you have red bumps on your eyes. If you are wearing really old contacts, they're harboring bacteria. And if you're wearing them for a long time, it's no wonder your eyes are having problems.

It sounds like you care more about vanity than the health of your eyes. If your favorite pair of shoes rubbed your heel so raw that it was infected, would you continue to wear that shoe even against medical advice? Cause that's what you're doing here.

As for ordering a trial pair? My eye doc has to do that all the time. They only keep the most popular sizes and scripts in the office and my eyes are not one of those.

 

[krcit]

I'm lost on why you feel he was scamming you It sounds like you may over wear your lenses. I'm guilty of that also but I've gotten better at giving my eyes a chance to 'breath' ever since my eye doctor told me my eyes were starved of oxygen. I would wake up, pop in my lenses, wear them all day and then take them out just before bed so that the only time I didn't have them in, my eyes were closed. It sounds like you have an infection and your eyes need to heal. I would listen to the Dr or at least get a second opinion or you may permanently damage your vision.

 

[Marionnette]

It sounds like you're going to an optometrist (not a doctor, but licensed as a medical professional).

Not to nitpick but they are doctors in the same sense that a chiropractor or dentist is also a doctor. And they are trained to treat common eye diseases such as the one that the OP described. An opthamologist can also treat it but will most likely charge more than the optometrist.

 

[fab5friend99]

Sounds familiar to me! I never had allergies and I was about 30 when my contacts started bothering me one spring. I also got those red bumps inside the eyelid. Back then I had to a prescription for allergy eye drops but now now the same stuff is sold OTC - I beleive it's called Opcon A and it works great but it does sting. The same main ingredient is now available in other eye drops since it's OTC. Just don't rub your eyes. It just makes it worse. As a prevention I take the generic claritin and that seems to really help the eyes. I don't have to use the eye drops much any more because the eyes don't get itchy with the claritin.

 

[Kate and Pete]

The red bumps are your own fault - you (admittedly) wore your contacts too long. That infection (which I've had before), can get really bad and do some serious damage to your eye if you let it go untreated. What would you like your doctor to do? Tell you it's okay for you to continue to wear your contacts? He didn't give you samples or renew your prescription because it wold be negligent for him to do so. You have to clear up your eyes first.

I don't mean to sound really "judgy" - I've gone through this exact same situation - but you have to understand that's it's your fault - not the doctor's.

 

[msmayor]

I am reminded of something my eye doctor told me once, years and years ago, when I first got contact lenses...

"Remember that you are given but one pair of eyes for your life...treat them as the precious thing they are."

While you may not feel comfortable with the advice you were given, I would not dismiss it. Get a second opinion if you need to, but don't ignore the idea that there really may be an issue with your eyes.

 

[cole6179]

I would say get a second opinion if you need, but otherwise, take the advice of the dr. I know from experience. I did the over lens wearing and my eyes would get like that. They never really bothered me, but one day it just escalated. I had a permanent red gross eye. I was told no contacts and on meds forever it seemed. Then, the bumps caused scar tissue which had to be surgically removed last year from my eyelid. (Although it took me 4 doctors, 2 years and a $1500 deductible to figure this out) I am in dailies now. It's been a long time, but I am sooooo happy to look normal (no red eye) and not have to wear glasses.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

It sounds like you're going to an optometrist (not a doctor, but licensed as a medical professional). You might want to consider an opthamologist (MD whose specialty is eyes) if you have red bumps on your eyes. If you are wearing really old contacts, they're harboring bacteria. And if you're wearing them for a long time, it's no wonder your eyes are having problems.

It sounds like you care more about vanity than the health of your eyes. If your favorite pair of shoes rubbed your heel so raw that it was infected, would you continue to wear that shoe even against medical advice? Cause that's what you're doing here.

As for ordering a trial pair? My eye doc has to do that all the time. They only keep the most popular sizes and scripts in the office and my eyes are not one of those.

An optometrist IS a doctor. Optometrists go to school for 4 years beyond college and actually have more training in eye care than opthamologists. The first two years, they are in several general medical classes with other medical students. Then they specialize in all aspects of eye care, whereas opthamologists specialize in eye surgery. Optometrists can not only provide routine vision care, they also are capable of diagnosing and managing many eye diseases. They can tell by the interior of your eyes if you are showing signs of undiagnosed diabetes or other non-vision diseases. Anything requiring surgery, such as cataracts or retinal detachment, will require an opthamologist. However, don't let anyone tell you that optometrists aren't really doctors because their degree is Doctor of Optometry (OD) instead of Medical Doctor (MD).

 

[dolfinjuls]

I myself work for an optometrist and I would say that after his findings if he had allowed contact lens wear then you would be in the wrong place. It can be dangerous for your eye health to continue wearing contacts and cause permanent damage if you don't wait until your eye has healed. I understand it can be frustrating especially if you've never had problems in the past, but it really is in your best interest to listen to the dr. if you were really uncomfortable with the dr then by all means find someone you respect but be careful with your eyes you only get one set!

 

[ajh88]

I had exactly the same thing your eye doctor described last spring. My contacts (not disposable but daily wear - I took them out every night) were not due to be replaced but suddenly started bothering me. They seemed to build up a lot of protein during the day, my eyes burned like allergies, etc. I ended up with 2 very long, scary sounding names...superficial punctate keratitis and giant papillary conjunctivitis (which is the one with the bumps, I believe) - I think I'm remembering those correctly. I had worn contacts for over 23 years with no problems until then.

My eye doctor (who I trust implicitly) essentially told me the same thing yours did, but with no scripts involved. He would not give me an Rx for contacts nor would he give me a trial pair until I wore my glasses for 2 weeks and returned for a follow-up. At that time, he gave me a trial pair and I still had to come back a week later for another follow up to get my Rx. He didn't charge me for the follow-ups, but he wouldn't just give me an Rx either.

He also wanted me to switch to disposables, which can be better for your eyes. I haven't found a brand I can tolerate as well as my daily wear non-disposables, so I'm still in glasses. I did like the weekly ones better than the daily ones though.

As for the eye drops, unless the eyecare center where you went had a pharmacy in-house, I seriously doubt the doctor receives any sort of compensation for writing a prescription for you.

As others have said, if you felt uncomfortable with his exam, you're certainly free to get a second opinion and it sounds like maybe you should in this case (since you aren't satisfied with his care or exam). However, what he told you certainly seems in line with what my eye doctor conveyed to me last year. FWIW, no prescription for anything is good for more than a year (eyeglass, contacts, medicine, etc.).

 

[Princess Nancy]

An optometrist IS a doctor. Optometrists go to school for 4 years beyond college and actually have more training in eye care than opthamologists. The first two years, they are in several general medical classes with other medical students. Then they specialize in all aspects of eye care, whereas opthamologists specialize in eye surgery. Optometrists can not only provide routine vision care, they also are capable of diagnosing and managing many eye diseases. They can tell by the interior of your eyes if you are showing signs of undiagnosed diabetes or other non-vision diseases. Anything requiring surgery, such as cataracts or retinal detachment, will require an opthamologist. However, don't let anyone tell you that optometrists aren't really doctors because their degree is Doctor of Optometry (OD) instead of Medical Doctor (MD).

An Ophthalmologist goes to 4 years of Medical School, after that they do one year of interning in general medicine, then 3 years specializing in Ophthalmology. During that time they learn all aspects of eye care, They do learn Cataract surgery. If they want to specialize in other types of surgery ie glaucoma, retina etc, they must do a fellowship in their specialty of 1 or more years.

So MD's have significantly more training, twice as much actually.

With that said, not everyone has to go to the Ophthalmologist, nor do most Ophthalmologists want to see you for routine eye exams. They tend to treat more diseases of the eye and monitor people as they get older to help preserve their vision.

 

[Colleen27]

It seems to me that there are two issues here - first of all, you don't sound at all comfortable with the establishment you're going to for your eye care. By all means, change that! There's no reason to continue doing business with a company you feel is anything less than straightforward and honest.

But the issue with the contacts is something else entirely. I've worn contacts for almost 20 years now and have on a couple occassions had to go a couple weeks without them because of irritation. Fortunately it hasn't been an issue since I switched to disposables (2 week, not dailies), but it isn't something I'd mess around with because in the long run ignoring it could damage your vision or interfere with your ability to continue wearing contact lenses in the future.

 

[hurleysweety]

Oh wow...I think maybe I came off in a wrong way....or maybe didn't explain something right. I was just complaining mostly that the drops were so much money. I'm using the OTC medicine for a couple days and not wearing the contacts and seeing how it goes. I had this problem 5 years ago when I never took my contacts out and saw an opthamologist (after going to an optometrist) about it and he was the best person I ever saw. Unfortunately, it was under my parents much much better insurance, and being a dependent at the time, was not a cost to me. He gave me the most honest, genuine advice a doctor has ever given me and really listened to everything I told him (which meant a lot because in that situation, the professionals I saw just thought I was being a wussy girl...). Within a few days my eyes were healed, but I still wasn't taking it that seriously, just started taking out my contacts at least once a week. Once I got married to my DH, I began to follow his regimen of taking them out every night. Any time I've had an issue, I take them out and use my glasses. I take 100% better care of my contacts and vision than I did the first five years I wore them. I use non-preservative re-wetting drops and replace them as needed (I was using night/day 30 day contacts as I have been for the past 6 years).

Because I appear much younger than I am, I'm often "taken advantage of" and am skeptical when people make fast decisions that cost me extra $$. I take my vision seriously, and I was just upset how I was treated. I've also never experienced people being so...upfront...on the boards before (I'm kinda feeling defensive now. :/ ). But I'll just take it that you are concerned, so I appreciate that - hoping that I didn't just create a bunch of enemies for myself. If things get worse, both scripts are on hold at my pharmacy and can be picked up as soon as I give them the green light.