Behavioral Optometrist

[Mimi411]

Has anyone had experience with going to a Behavioral Optometrist?  If so how was the experience for you?   I am a 32 year old with severe myopia.  I wear -20 power contact lenses.  i also have all the symptoms of glaucoma and told recently that I am developing cataracts and that I have lattice degeneration. your  Also anyone in a similar situation please let me know your experiences.  Thanks.

Mimi

[Mimi411]

Ok thank you.  I actually live in the San Francisco Bay Area and Dr, Ward is only an hour away.  I will surely check him out......Thanks again.

Mimi

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[berrywoo]

If you've got progressive myopia and have the financial means go to California and see Dr. Brian Ward. He is quite the pioneer in myopia research. Also, search these forums as a couple of the members have seen him and undergone his posterior pole buckling surgery.

[Mimi411]

No offense but I've been wearing glasses and have been severely myopic since a young age.  

I go to multiple Opthalmologists and Optometrists.  I go to a Retinal specialist as well.  yI've had every test imaginable and spent thousands to do it. Sorry but telling me to just go get yearly exams is NOT enough. Or thinking I don't know the difference between an Optometrist and an Opthalmologist???????

I thank my lucky stars I have not had a retinal detachment.  Would've been nice for all the Doctors I've seen to mention the list of activities I should avoid.  I won't stand for it anymore.  I want to find Doctors who understand the severity of my condition and stop giving me a band aid as a quick fix.  I'm 32 and my eyes are still getting worse.  Um didn't they say it would stop when I hit 16?????  Right............

[JodieJ]

Given your severe myopia, lattice degeneration, and other issues, you should consider having yearly dilated exams with an experienced general ophthalmologist or an ophthalmologist specializing in retinal conditions.  (An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor trained to treat eye conditions/disease.)  You can find one in your area using the doctor directory at www.aao.org.

It's been my experience that optometrists are better than ophthalmologists at fitting contact lenses, so you might want to see an optometrist, too.  An optometrist is not a medical doctor.  I believe that a behavioral optometrist provides vision therapy, which would not benefit you.    

[Mimi411]

Ok I understand your reply.  In my case I have little or no option.  None of my Doctors suggest anything to help.  I do all my regular exams and just go on wearing my same old contacts  .  But I really need more than that.   I wish I could find a Doctor in my area that REALLY understand people with such a high degree of myopia...........

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Behavioral optometrist: what a hoot.  Sounds like a great plan to do a walletectomy on the public.

JCH MD