Office Visit

Hi doctor.  I want to ask you a question about clinic procedures.  Because of my severe myopia, usually I make appointments to have my eyes dilated with a retina specialist.  But I no longer see him because he moved.  So I switched to another clinic.  I specifically asked for an appointment with a retina specialist at this place but they sent me to a general opthamalogist.  They said that I have to see a general opth first before I can see a retina specialist.  It does not make sense to me because my old specialist said I don't need see a general opth because he covers more than what general opths do.  This new clinic I'm seeing wants to charge me twice: today I already paid $165 for the general opth visit and I'll be charged again for the retina specialist.  Should I be wary of their practice?  I live in Brooklyn, NYC where it's notorious for medical fraud.

[berrywoo]

My original comments still stand.
Your retina is fine you don't need to see a retinal specialist, unless you want to waste your money and time!
The general ophthalmologist can perform a dilated eye exam which should allow him to adequately view the retina and diagnose any problems (PVD, RD, PDR, etc.)and begin treatment if necessary.
By the way "a few minutes" is the most time most medical doctors are given with there patients.
Scleral indentation is not necessary at every exam even if you have lattice degeneration!
Just continue to get yearly exams with the general ophthalmologist and know the signs of a retinal detachment. And if you ever suspect a retinal detachment call the general ophthalmologist and get in ASAP he/she should be able to see if you've got a retinal detachment or if it's just PVD, or a tear which he/she may be qualified to treat via laser or cryopexy or you may at that point just get referred to a retinal specialist.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Many retinal specialist will only see patients on referral.

Dr. O.

[jojobi]

The clinic already knew I have severe myopia from records they've kept of me.  Why would I need to ask for a referral if they know I need to see a specialist for my degree of myopia?  They already told me a general opthamalogist can't do anything for me.

[berrywoo]

A general ophthalmologist is fine for regular check-ups even for someone with a very high degree of myopia. You don't need to see a retinal specialist, because the general ophthalmologist is more than qualified to do a thorough dilated eye exam to make sure that nothing is wrong and even a refraction (which no retinal specialist does). If you ever were to have a retinal problem then the general ophthalmologist could spot it and give you the referral to see a retinal specialist. I don't know where you got the "general ophthalmologist can't do anything for me" line because it is totally false (even if your myopia is greater than -20D)!

[jojobi]

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for the input which is much appreciated.  The general ophthalmologist told me he can't tell me anything but urged me to see a retina specialist for a more in depth exam because I have -15 D in both eyes.  The general ophthalmologist spent only a few minutes with me.  The specialist I've seen took more time, he pushed a Q-tip against my sclera making sure he covered as much retina as he can, then he tells me some funky names of conditions I have but overall my retina is fine, no holes. Do you think I need only a general ophthalmologist?

[berrywoo]

My original comments still stand.
Your retina is fine you don't need to see a retinal specialist, unless you want to waste your money and time!
The general ophthalmologist can perform a dilated eye exam which should allow him to adequately view the retina and diagnose any problems (PVD, RD, PDR, etc.)and begin treatment if necessary.
By the way "a few minutes" is the most time most medical doctors are given with there patients.
Scleral indentation is not necessary at every exam even if you have lattice degeneration!
Just continue to get yearly exams with the general ophthalmologist and know the signs of a retinal detachment. And if you ever suspect a retinal detachment call the general ophthalmologist and get in ASAP he/she should be able to see if you've got a retinal detachment or if it's just PVD, or a tear which he/she may be qualified to treat via laser or cryopexy or you may at that point just get referred to a retinal specialist.