Have you been evaluated by a Retina Specialist?

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

Last fall I incurred a vitreous rupture at the rear of my right eye which bled, then yanked on the retina over on the right side causing it to tear. Went to an ophthalmologist who diagnosed all of this, taking a wait and see stance. Eventually said the retina would heal in a few months.

This put my cataract surgery yet again on hold, plus the retina tear hasn't healed at all. Still experiencing flashing and the vitreous "waves" are really interferring with my vision. Just could not understand why nothing was done initially.

Went back to the ophthalmologist this past Monday who said it's probably time to see a Retina Specialist, so will see one in 10 days. After having read on the internet about such specialists a few days ago, it appears I should have been referred to one right off the bat.

If you've had experience with such a specialist, I'd appreciate hearing about your experience. Was told my appointment would be 3-4 hours. Was yours? What did it entail? Details on these appointments are scanty online, with the exception of being dilated.

Thanks so much in advance.

I am still oxox · ‎03-09-2010

I am currently under treatment by a specialist my eye doc saw something suspect at my last appointment.

The visit was much like a normal eye doc appointment just longer and more detailed.

A lot of lights and mirrors and in my case wait and see.

I am going back this week for a follow up

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive what could go right.

Dinaki · ‎12-21-2010

Three years, I was taking my regular eye exams when the doctor said to me there's something on my left eye he sees and he did recomended a specialist.

I did go two days after and I was been diagnozed after tests, eye injections etc etc, with macular degeneration on the left eye.

Its an eye desease that there is not a cure

http://www.preservision.com/about-amd/about-amd-overview?utm_medium=paid%20search&utm_content=macula...

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cheryl24 · ‎03-10-2010

My sister went for a regular eye exam and she was diagnosed with a detched retina, She was sent immediately to a specialist, I went with her. .It was detched and she had surgery the next morning,

hoosieroriginal · ‎03-04-2012

I've had the flashing and floaters a couple of times - went to specialist and he basically said it's an age thing with me - no retina tear or anything. It's weird though and very frightening when it happens. Nothing to mess with.

sophiamarie · ‎08-08-2013

I have been seeing a Retina Specialist for about 3 years. At the first visit, they take a lot of pictures but it doesn't take 3-4 hours. If you are taken on time and everything goes smoothly, it should take no more than 2 hours, including the exam. I was lucky. My doctor was new to the group (of about 16 different specialists) and was trained at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He is young (probably eary 30's) and very friendly and has patience.

I was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration (the dry form). I had regular visits. Then, I had cataract surgery. Coincidentally, 2 weeks after my last cataract surgery, I had a routine follow-up appt. with Dr. Retina. Upon looking at my pictures (which they take every visit) he noticed something different. He thought it might be an inflammation from the surgery, so he gave me drops to use for just one week. They didn't help, so he diagnosed me with the "wet" form of Macular Degeneration in my right eye.

I started getting injections that day. Now, I get them every 8 weeks. My sight has not changed. I am still 20/20 with "readers" because the Ophthalmologist put distance lenses in my eyes and told me I would just need reading glasses.

Now, every visit, I get my pictures taken (which he compares to the last ones), they numb my eye and then I get the injection. If my appts. go smoothly and on time, the whole visit takes about an hour (including the 15-20 minute wait for the eye to numb up). After that, if I had to, I could drive myself home. But hubby comes with me, so that's not a problem.

One day, he even took a video of the whole thing.

sophiamarie · ‎08-08-2013

@Dinaki wrote:
Three years, I was taking my regular eye exams when the doctor said to me there's something on my left eye he sees and he did recomended a specialist.

I did go two days after and I was been diagnozed after tests, eye injections etc etc, with macular degeneration on the left eye.

Its an eye desease that there is not a cure

http://www.preservision.com/about-amd/about-amd-overview?utm_medium=paid%20search&utm_content=macula...

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Are you saying that you were getting injections "before" being diagnosed with the "wet" form???

JML · ‎03-16-2010

I have wet macular degeneration in my left eye and have been having treatments for over 2 years. When first diagnosed, I went into Boston to see specialist who started treatment. It is nothing to fool around with. vision in that eye will never be 100%. I am ot sure about the situation mentioned here, but with my issue waiting could have resulted in blind ness in the left eye.

sophiamarie · ‎08-08-2013

@sfnative I don't understand why you didn't get to see a Retina Specialist immediately. They have the equipment and experience that no other specialist would have and can, hopefully, give you a diagnosis on the spot and start treatment.

Please come back here and let us know how your appt. turned out. Good luck.....

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

@sophiamarie @JML @hoosieroriginal @cheryl24 @Dinaki

Thank you, everyone, for replying so soon after my post. Aside from reading about your individual visits to your retinal physician, it was disheartening to hear about those of you who are suffering either the wet or dry form of macular degeneration. Am so glad that you're all being treated and following up. Since this runs in families, it's something I have to be evaluated for on a yearly basis, as my Dad had it, but he chose not to have it treated. Can you imagine? He was just that impossible.

Frankly, I believe my ophthalmologist waited way too long to refer me to a retina specialist. I could be wrong, but wlll see. The sight in my right eye is so bad that if I cover my left eye, I'm unable to read anything on this page - and I have a laptop sitting on my lap, right in front of me.

Thanks, again, everyone!