What do I do if I suspect retinal detachment on the weekend ?

[Billyrocket]

Started having vision problems on a Saturday.  Local Doc said come in Monday.  Was mac off retinal detachment.  Don't know if it was that way Saturday as id proceeded to get worse over the weekend.  Hospitals usually do not have retina surgeons on staff in the ER

[JohnHaganMD]

You need an ER that is ideally Level 1 and that has ophthalmology coverage.

[Billyrocket]

Thanks for the reply.  I could not get a straight answer from the Doc.  I was willing to go to the ER, but he stated he did not think they could help me.  At least now I have a relationship with the surgeons practice.

[JohnHaganMD]

=

[chazas]

When I had my initial detachment the hospital emergency room had an eye specialist on call on a Sunday morning. He was a young guy. They got more senior folks, including the surgeon, in later in the day.  

[chazas]

I.e., if you don't have a retina doc who can see you quickly, get to the emergency room.  

[JohnHaganMD]

1. See an ophthalmologist that has 24/7 emergency care like the clinic I work for.  There are always 2 ophthalmologists on call and they are willing to see patients on the weekend, night or holiday.  OR you could contact your retina surgeon. They always have 24/7 emergency call.

[Billyrocket]

Contacted my on call opthamologist _sounded like vitrous detach to him.  Come in Monday

[Billyrocket]

MAC off retina detach

[JohnHaganMD]

Call the retina surgeon directly in the future.  WIth a history of RD in one eye if you have these types of symptoms in the other eye your on call ophthalmologist should exam you over the weekend, holiday and not wait.