Retina Specialist Visits
Tell us about your most recent visit to the eye doctor.
Hey Brown Eyed Girl, Keep in mind that your doc is very well paid for his time, but with your money. You have paid for a specific amount of time and maybe you wont need all of it, but ask the doc if you could ask questions in the time allotted for your appointment. If the answers can be found online, don't waste her time...she has probably answered that question hundreds of times...but it is the first time for you, and you paid to get it answered
what is chronic dry eye condition? How did you learn about that? 
my optometrist diagnosed the chronic dry eyes. The meibomian glands are clogged. The oils they secrete help keep the tear layer intact. I think cataract surgery made it worse. I have to use drops several times daily. Regards, Sharon Moore patient leader
Like every 6-7 weeks, after jumping through all the hoops to get to the doctor; he pops in, gives the injection and leaves. Assembly line medicine. When pictures are taken, he glances at screen, says "looks good" - and chuckles at my response, "Now if only I could see." as he walks out the door.This sounds really frustrating and dismissive. I'm sorry to hear that you've yet to find a doctor who makes you feel really taken care of and heard. How did you find this doctor? Have you had a chance to see if there's anyone else in your area that you could perhaps go to for injections despite the long wait time? I know sometimes our community members travel far and wide for appointments which can definitely add an extra sense of frustration. Thank you for being a part of this community and sharing your experience with us. You're not alone in feeling this frustration and we're really glad you're here to talk about it with us. Sending you warmth, Abby (Team Member). @Brown Eyed Girl as long as they keep me seeing I really don't care about their being in a rush or their bedside manner. Just say'n
Thanks, Abby. Do other folks get counseling as part of AMD care or am I asking too much?
There is nowhere else to go for treatment and only two Specialists in this clinic.I don't think that's asking for too much at all! A macular degeneration diagnosis can feel really scary and I commend you for being here and reaching out for help. If you haven't done so already, maybe you can try speaking with one of the specialists and ask them if they are aware of any support groups in your area? We also have a great list of general resources which could be a good place to start: https://maculardegeneration.net/mental-health/coping-general-resources, and https://maculardegeneration.net/mental-health/faq. Please know that you have come to the right place to ask all the questions about macular degeneration and we will do the best we can in supporting you to our capacity. Please continue to let us know how you feel and any resources that you're able to get in contact with. Wishing you all the best, Abby (Team Member).
I have just started seeing my retinal specialist every 3 months (dry AMD) because the ForeSee Home Monitoring System, which I had been using daily to help early detection from dry to wet, was no longer accurate due to more deterioration in the 'good' eye. My bad eye was never good enough for this monitoring to work. This was disappointing to say the least.
I've been doing a lot of drawing/painting recently, working close up on details and I use a tactical headlamp for really good/directed light. I still have a hard time getting a pen to go exactly where I want it to go. On this site a while back, there was mention of 'low-vision optometrists. There are two in my city of 200,000. They were found at the ABVI (Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired) which has an association with GoodWill. Don't know if all cities have this. I had my appt a couple of weeks ago and it was such an excellent visit...a kind, caring person who was very helpful. The visit was almost an hour...just me😀 They do different types of visual tests with the purpose of recommending aids which would be helpful for the particular type of issue you have. The recommendation for all that close-up work was a pair of glasses solely for that (reading too) and the lens was totally a magnifier, unlike the progressive lens I wear all the time. This is unlike what you might see in the drug store as 'magnifier' glasses, as it was specific to my own spherical/cylindrical/axis measurements along with a different magnification for each eue. Plus he suggested Cr 39 plastic for the lenses vs the polycarbonate lenses typically used for their lighter weight. The glasses are working great!!! The weight is not a problem once they were adjusted correctly.
My retinal specialist never mentioned these specialized docs, nor did my ophthalmologist or optometrist. This site has so much great information...and I thank you all for that!!! If you have specific tasks which you are finding progressively difficult, check around your area for these low vision specialists😀how unfortunate that the local low vision services were unable to meet your needs due to lack of staff and funding. The beauty of this macular degeneration Community for me is the encouragement and information shared by the members. I was delighted at my last exam to find out that my optometrist had previous experience working in a low vision clinic. He spent an hour with me at that visit telling me about various aids available to help me around the house. Best wishes, Sharon Moore Advocate This is such a wonderful and encouraging message for our community members. We are so grateful that you are here to share your experiences - both good and bad! But I am so pleased to read that your latest visit was pleasant and you felt seen and heard. Please continue to keep us posted on how your visits go, and how you feel! Sending good vibes your way, Abby (Team member).
