Vision Tests

[Linda/NJ]

Here is the latest - I am still disgusted. I went for my 3rd visit yesterday. They did the field test (very difficult test to stare at a light & not move your head & click when you see flashes of light, which is alot. I felt like I was always seeing the lights. They did not like the results of the test, showed me a picture of each eye reacting to the test & right showed a darker area in one spot - I said what does this mean! They tell me that eye did not respond as well, optive nerve to brain. Then they do the pupil dilation & looked behind eyes, all look perfect. So they are concerned because 2 tests do not look normal for someone my age. Now they want me to come back for a 4th visit next week to check the pressure in my eye later in the day, the first time was morning. Why? To see if there is a different pressure reading. My reading is 14 in both eyes, which is perfect. (Normal is 14 - 17)My DH is very digusted as well. He took me but I could of drove home myself the test made you sensitive to light & a little blurry up close. I flat out ask her DO I HAVE GLAUCOMA OR NOT? No, but they are concerned something else is going on. May send me to a damn specialist! Or come for visits every couple of months. What! I do not think so, if you do not know what is wrong & just gonna do these tests over & over again. I assumed they were opthamologists but it turns out they are optometrists. I feel like an idiot. I am worried that something is wrong or not! Do I go for a 2nd opinion with an opthamologist? I am getting rather stressed since it is concerning my eyesight. Should I just listen to every friend & family that is telling just do not go back & forget about it - since they are ripping me off. I just do not want to go through all these tests again with a whole new doctor.

 

[MeganMK]

Linda,

First off, I am sorry you are going through all of this. I empathize more than you will ever know. I was born with congenital glaucoma. I go through all the tests you are listing several times a year. I absolutely HATE having them done. That being said, they are necessary. The reason they don't automatically run the tests for everybody each year is because most people show no symptoms of glaucoma, so they aren't necessary. Once a symptom or sypmtoms show up, then the tests begin. The visual field test is a pain, but it's results are really helpful in determining a diagnosis. People who suffer from glaucoma have a reduced visual feild, or peripheral vision. It basically means glaucoma sufferers have blind spots the the left and right, and the test helps determine how big of a blind spot you have, which in turn helps diagnose how advanced the glaucoma is. Thickening of the cornea is another symptom of glaucoma, as is elevated intraocular pressure. That is why they want to test your eye pressures at different times. Some people have higher pressures at different times of the day. Mine is higher in the later afternoon. Some people find it's higher in the morning. Just because it's not elevated all the time, doesn't mean you don't have glaucoma. I take medication twice daily to keep the pressures in check, and at the last visit they were 13. But I still have glaucoma. There was a period when I was 8 that they could NOT control the pressure and it was in the high 40's. Pressure that is too high, or that fluctuates greatly during the day can cause damage to the optical nerve, or cause it to completely detach, resulting in blindness. If that happens, it is irreversible.

Please don't think that your doctor is trying to scam you. This is a disease that there is no cure for, and if not treated promptly will result in blindness. If diagnosed, it CAN be controlled with medications. Some forms of glaucoma are harder to diagnose than others (there are several types) If you are unhappy with the results you are getting from your doctor, request all of your records and test results, and head to a specialist.

Please let me know if you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer. Sorry this is so long!

 

[Linda/NJ]

Thanks Megan for all your helpful information. Especially since you are experiencing this. I know how serious it is, my close Aunt was diagnosed at age 50, she is now 76, so I learned a lot from her. She has been on eyedrops all these years. I guess since they are not sure with their prognosis I am not happy. They give me a firm NO but insist something else is going on. I think I will feel better going to a specialist - an opthamologist. Who basically knows more and is a medical doctor. Optometrists are not doctors? Can you enlighten me on that?

 

[MeganMK]

I actually wasn't aware that an optometrist was not a certified doctor. Probably because I have always seen opthamologists. Yes, and opthamologist will definitely have more experience in this area and hopefully be able to pinpoint the problem. When you go looking for an opthamologist, I would specifically ask what their experience is with diagnosing glaucoma. And who knows, chances are that this will turn out to be nothing at all!

 

[Linda/NJ]

Thanks again Megan.

 

[bustermom]

Hi Linda! Long time no chat!

I've had my share of eye problems as I was born with Duane's Syndrome (my right eye doesn't move to the right). If you want to get an expert opinion from the best of the best and get everything resolved/diagnosed all at once, I can't recommend enough Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. It may be overkill for what you're looking for, but when it comes to your vision I don't believe in taking chances... and with an entire hospital full of eye specialists, you're bound to get answers. The last surgery I had was about 4 years ago and it was great to have so many doctors available to my primary surgeon for consults - you can't beat that kind of combined experience.

Here's a link to their website:
http://www.willseye.org/

Hope things turn out well for you! (And try to stay dry - sheesh - what's with this RAIN??) :rolleyes:

 

[Linda/NJ]

Hi Gloria! Thanks for the info, yes I heard great things about Wills Eye & Shea Eye Institute in Philly. I am getting my file from the optometrist & going to an opthamolgist, I certainly hope someone can tell me whether I do or do not have a problem. I will let you know what happens. I worry so much, I am stressed out by all this. Yes, 1 week of rain is really getting to me, hope we get sun soon

 

[littleone]

Hi Linda,

I agree, you need to see an opthalmologist, wishing you good luck and let us know how it goes.

Penny