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

[Leajess99]

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!

I refuse to take my kids back to a place like that after our last dealings there. The eye doctor that first saw them did not do half the exam and said my oldest did not need glasses at all (he's been wearing glasses for half his life and I could tell he was struggling with his vision) and my middle child's perscription was so low she really did not need glasses. Upon complaining they had a different eye doctor do a re-eval and he did the complete exam and found the kids still needed their glasses and what their perscription really was.

My youngest goes to an optomotrist who is in the same practice as a local opthomalogist. I am so much happier with this eye doctor. I would seriously find an independent optomotrist to see. Also if your eyes are bothering you I would recommend checking with an opthomalogist.

 

[logandsol]

I'm not going to argue for/against optometrist vs. opthamologist, but wanted to give a quick thought. I had the same "bumps" after wearing contacts issue free for 15 years. I saw an Optometrist, who prescribed Rx drops. I went for 10 days, no real improvement. I switched to an Opthamologist upon a friend's recommendation. She was very professional, but mentioned many times that I shouldn't be using the original drops that were prescribed. She switched me to a different Rx drop, and the bumps were much better in 2 days.
This could just be the difference in experience for each of these doctors, or it could be the degree. I don't know.
P.S. I still can't wear contacts, as the "bumps" return each time. HOpe yours go away soon!

 

[hurleysweety]

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.

I'm not trying to self-medicate. I think maybe sometimes its hard to really understand whats going on from one person's short post. There is a lot more to it, I just didn't think all the details were important. Thanks for your concern, I'm taking the proper precautions and have been wearing my glasses all day. Just had some bad experiences being told I needed things which turned out later, was completely useless. I plan to go see a relative's recommended eye doctor in the future.

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.

It was a strip mall sort of place, as that has all I have ever gone to except for one time (see other post). I don't think I had a bad attitude, I was just shocked about the experience and how I was treated.

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.

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.

I wasn't trying to bully the staff. I only went for my free exam - this place is known for making people come in for a "free" eye exam and them requiring them to come to a follow-up appt (which costs lots of extra, non-explained $$). I only asked for the trail pair to have a copy of my prescription since it was obvious they had no intention of letting me know what it was.

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.

I did start using a new eyeshadow on Tuesday and as of Friday have stopped using it thinking it might have been the problem. We shall see.

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.

I'm really glad I'm not the only one who has ever felt like this. I was beginning to think everyone else has pleasant discussions and likes their eye doctor visits. My MIL has been to a lot, and I mean ALOT, of eye doctors over the past year because of laser surgery that didn't heal right or something and was told at one point that she was, "just being picky" about her eyes. And she's a bit like me, and won't really stand up for herself or say anything (we're just too darn nice...lol), and it just outraged my FIL. I think everyone should be picky about their vision - I mean, hello??

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.

I have decided that if the drops do not make the decision better to go see an eye professional, and possibly track down the one I saw 5 years ago. Oh and I mentioned I'm not being vain. I actually like my glasses a lot.

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.

His whole attitude was very strange. He almost seemed nervous as he was writing the scripts. Turns out one wasn't filled out correctly (forgot the dosage) and the pharmacist had to look it up. Needless to say, I just didn't trust the guy with something so important like my vision.

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.

I think this discussion has now taken over my thread...but either way, they both do treat eyes. People have just experienced them differently and all have their own opinion. I'm sure if I looked, I could find a opthamologist that I trust less than the guy I met with today...haha.

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.

Thanks for your helpful information. The drops I got today are really great, and they came with a $2 coupon for my next bottle!

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.

Definitely not ignoring the issue. And a great piece of advice!

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.

This sounds like a much worse case of what happened to me before. I remember all the stares from people thinking I had pink eye or had been punched in the eye - ooh that was fun in college! That's why I went in right away, as soon as my scheduled allowed. I will be following them very closely this time as to not get to that red eye/glares from other people look!

 

[J3nn78]

If you ever run into an expired prescription problem again, I highly recommend this place
http://globallens.ca/
You do not need a prescription. I use them regularly. I do not go to the eye DR every year. I go to the DR only when I feel my prescription has changed, so I order from this site when my prescription expires and I don't feel my vision has changed.

 

[cheshireqt]

I hear ya. Waiting 2 weeks was good advice. Expensive drops when there is a generic He probably did not realize your insurance would not cover it. I used to wear contacts and got those bumps too. They always came back after some time. Finally I was told no more contacts for a year and then we will evaluate. Checked to see if I was a candidate for laser eye surgery. Went to 3 different doctors until I found the one with the best system, price and most important-someone I trusted to fiddle with my eyes in such a terrifying way. I always suspected people with good eyesight took their eyesight for granted, not knowing what a pain contacts and glasses can be (especially at the beach!) Got the eye surgery in 2003 and now I know I was right! I don't think about my eyes at all any more. I had to pay out of pocket, but if you add up what I would have spent in contacts and solution in a year and new glasses every two years I think I am way ahead financially. Even if not, I felt very liberated and that was worth it. Just thought I would throw that out there as a possible solution. From what you described of your contact wearing habits, you will probably get the bumps again.


ooh after writing I saw your update post about your MILs experience with laser eye surgery. Yikes! You may think I am off my rocker suggesting it?! All I can say is I had a great experience and it made me really happy

 

[Marionnette]

OP, the OTC medicine is most likely NOT the same thing as what he prescribed. In all likelihood, the prescriptions were for an antihistamine and a steroid. The two will work together to reduce the swelling of those little bumps. The advice not to wear the contacts for two weeks was so that the mechanical abrasion caused by the contacts would not interfere with the healing process. Imagine rubbing sandpaper over a wound as it is trying to scab over. It's essentially the same thing. Every time you blink, the contact rubs over those little bumps on your inner eyelid.

There are reasons why there is a law requiring a renewal for contact lens prescriptions. Eyecare professionals support it but they did not write it. They do have to follow it in order to keep their license to practice. You cannot blame that doctor for refusing to give one to you when he had not done a complete refraction and your eye was not healthy.

You didn't get a warm fuzzy feeling from this doctor. That's understandable. Not every healthcare professional is a people person. And I would also be wary of a doctor that failed to write the script properly for the pharmaceuticals. The condition that you have is seen quite frequently in contact lens wearers. He should know how to write that script in his sleep. Go to another doctor and forget about this one's "eye club". You're getting what you paid for. Visit one in private practice if you want a positive experience. They don't keep patients very long if they can't keep them happy. And a visit for medical reasons will not be as expensive as a visit for a routine eye exam. In fact, your own health insurance may cover it.

I sincerely hope that you reconsider the way that you are treating your eyes. OTC drops are a poor substitute for the medications he wanted you to use. Wearing contacts during the next two weeks will not help your recovery, and could possibly make things even worse. And using the prescription off of a pair of trial lenses wouldn't work...those 1-800-SEND-ME-LENSES companies will call your eye doctor to verify the prescription. If he says 'no', then it's a 'no' for them.

You get one pair of eyes in your life. Take care of them.

 

[dolfinjuls]

Just wanted to say that I had no intention of coming off in any way but worried! I see so many patient's come in that just don't take care of theiir eyes and have done serious damage. I agree that the cost of the drops are crazy. I know there are a few prescritpions that are crazy and patient's usually refer to them as "liquid gold" haha.

 

[l_mccafferty]

I just wanted to give my experience with my contacts.
I used to be able to wear my contacts (monthly lenses, removed at night) every day.
My eyes started to hurt and feel as if they were scratchy.
Went to my opticians and was told that I have the redness and bumps on my underlids.
I've been back a few times with different trial lenses (which they did have to order) and I've also been told to use drops. Any drops with the active ingredient sodium chromoglicate in it will help reduce the bumps.
They can be caused by allergies or also by the build up of proteins and lipids on the lenses, this is why they recommend daily disposable as it can reduce this.
I've also been given a hypoallergenic solution for keeping my lenses in and this has helped so far!

I know I'm in the UK but hopefully this helps explain it somehow.

 

[sookie]

Hi OP,
I wanted to pipe up. You said in an earlier thread "everyone must have had good experiences with their eye doctors" and you implied that no one understands.
I'm the opposite. People get afraid of the dentist - I get afraid of the eye doctor. I had an optometrist throw an opthalmascope at me (seriously) when I was about 8 years old or so because I was asking too many questions while he tried to do a dialated eye exam.
I frequently have tears and a spaz attack when I go to the optometrist.
That being said - I think those strip mall places are a crock. I have for a long time. They do try to upsell you.
Now my thoughts on your situation:
The doctor felt that you should not be in the contacts for two weeks. He offered to write you the script after a follow up in two weeks (if you were able to go back in them). He did the right thing. I have prescriptive rights and I would do the same thing.
Physicians, and medical providers who can write prescriptions don't get kick-backs for meds. When I write for a script - lets say it IS for an allergy eye drop - there is usually a reason I am writing a script for it versus an OTC alternative.
My advice is to not go back to that optometrist but to do the recommended follow up at another eyecare provider of your choice. I DO think that the strip mall places are scams. I can go in to an eye doctor and use my vision insurance and come out with a very expensive pair of glasses (my last pair was DIOR) for no more than my copay (10 bucks!). My friend with the same insurance doesn't do the checking around and goes to those strip mall places - pretty much none of them take vision insurance and you have to pay out of pocket - in her instance around 400 bucks for a decent pair of glasses. But they won't even tell you most of the time, if you present an insurance card, that they are not using your benefits because they are "out of network". And people just pay the bill.... so frusterating!

 

[tar heel]

Another vote for going to an MD. I get my prescription from my doctor and my lenses where I can get the best price.

 

[Soarin_04]

...I'd say leave the contacts out, use the OTC stuff, and look around for someone who can give you a second opinion. Ask colleagues, others in the area who they go to.

I'm a really firm believer in "if it doesn't feel right, it's probably not."

 

[luvthemouse71]

As others have said, you can run into serious problems over wearing contacts. I wear the ones you change out every two weeks. A box has 6 pairs in it for about 80 dollars. They aren't extended wear, meaning I take them out every night to clean them.

I know this is the budget board, but there are some things you shouldn't be cheap about- your vision and health are in this category. I think a second opinion is fine, but realize that just because a doctor may have a crappy bedside manner, it doesn't make him/her incompetent. I work with some excellent surgeons who are complete D- bags personality wise, and some that are nice people, but I wouldnt let them water my plants..

I think ultimately, the doctor did the right thing in not giving you contacts right then. Always better to err on the side of caution.

 

[hurleysweety]

I really appreciate all your help. I wore my contacts for a tiny bit today and have been wearing my glasses and just trying overall to take excellent care of them. So far, I have felt none of the irritation I felt on Weds/Thurs/Fri and I think it might also have to do with a makeup product that I'm not wearing anymore too. Either way, I'm watching them carefully and will continue to keep my contacts out. I understand prescriptions are written for a reason, and have a whole lot of history of experience with all kinds of doctor/diagnosis stuff relating to that because of some family members past but anyway. If I need to, I will make the $$ work and pay for the drops.

I hate to put my mom out on blast...but she's been wearing contacts since her early 20s and I've never seen her in glasses! She always has contacts in - and not once in my memory did she have any eye problems. I do not understand how she has done that all these years - and I've told her so, I think she's nuts!

And I give credit to my DH for teaching me how important it is to take them out every night. He also wears his glasses about half the time he's awake - so I'm trying to get in that habit (after these two weeks, of course) to get to a point where I can do the same.

FWIW, I think that night&day contacts should really be discontinued. They are misleading to contact lens wearers that it is okay to not take clean your lenses regularly. I even had a doctor tell me that as long as I took them out once a week, I should be okay. Goodnesss...I'm now beginning to wonder how may other young college people out there are sleeping in their contacts as much as I did!!??