Is This Possible?

[Jim123456]

     I've posted quite a few posts on here concerning my pale optic nerve I was told I had, and about how I was afraid they were a brain tumor. In fact, I just went for my MRI yesterday, but I have to wait for my results until I go back to see my neruo-opthomologist on the 29th. Anyways, I just had this quick question about something my neuro-opthomologist said to me the last time I went to see him. I'm starting to lose my trust in him, honestly.

     When I went to see him for my problem with halos, he had told me my optic nerves were "real pale and weak, and there may be something pressing on them." His exact words. I'll never forget them, they scared me so much. I've had anxiety pretty much my whole life, and one of my main fears has always been getting cancer. So for two weeks I was pretty much a wreck...not being able to work that well at my job or anything. So on Thursday, the day before my MRI, I happened to see my regular eye opthomologist. She has an office right out of a Wal-mart (but contrary to thoughts about Wal-mart, she's actually really good at her job), and I saw her as I was passing through. I ended up telling her what the neuro-opthamologist had said to me, and she just looked at me. She said "because I referred him to you, he wrote me a letter back on the results of your visit with him, and that's not what he put in the letter." She actually let me read the letter he sent to her; and although I don't remember the actual words, I know he said something along the lines of "I see the patient has an optic nerve that is somewhat a different color than normal; but I relate that to his perscription (my glasses), and do not think there is anything seriously wrong."

     I read that, and just went..."what???" So now I'm getting two different sides from him! First, he thinks it's a tumor...then he thinks it my glasses?? Does anybody even know if a pale optic nerve can be caused my wearing glasses...or should I look for a new neruo-opthmologist? I'm sorry I sound so desperate...I just need to figure out what's going on; and I can't get the results of my MRI over the phone. I already tried.

     Thanks to anyone who can reply to my questions.
-Jim

[Jim123456]

Okay, thank you for answering my questions.

-Jim

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

First, Wal-Mart hire optometrists to work in they optical shops not ophthalmologists. So I don't believe you saw an Ophthalmologist at Wal-Marts

Second I don't think the Wal Mart "doctor" acted in a professional way. All she did was confuse the issue and undermine your trust in your neuro-ophthalmologist.

If there is even a question of optic nerve paleness or pallor then a work up needs to be done because of the possibility of serious disease including tumors.

You'll have the answers on the 29th. When you go in I would ask about the clarification. Again I think the WalMart "doctor" acted unprofessionally.

JCH III MD