Would like a medical opinion

[Nikilet]

Last year I went to a new eye doctor and had (I trust) a thorough eye exam. Told him I needed to make sure the Spiriva I had started taking about 3 months previous was not causing any eye problems. I questioned him very specifically and he got a bit testy with me, telling me that there were absolutely no indications of any eye problems; no cataracts, macular degeneration or glaucoma. She also diagnosed me with dry eye and suggested I use drops 3-4 times a day. She recommended several over-the-counter drops.

I have bifocul glasses that I wear most of the time since I quit working. But I also wear monovision soft contacts (Acuvue Oaysis for Astigmatism).

I've been taking Occuvite for years, and also take a large number of other vitamins and supplements every day, Fish Oil, CoQ10, Primrose Oil, D, C, and many more.

I didn't like this doctor's attitude so didn't go back to him this year. Made an appointment at our area Eye Institute even though I figured it would cost more because of "where" I was going. You can imagine my shock when I was told that I had just the beginnings of cataracts and macular degeneration (MD). I asked if the MD could develope so quickly and was told if they hadn't dialated my eyes they wouldn't have been able to see it. I told them my eyes had been dialated and they did not give me any further answer. Just to set my mind at east, I made another appointment with a leading retina physician there, Dr. Abraham. She participates in numerous clinical research trials related to diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and vein occlusions. She did confirm the MD.

I replaced the Occuvite with a different eye vitamin recommended. It has the newest ingredients recommended for MD, but not the beta carotene because I only quit smoking about 18 months.

Now about a week ago I started seeing these tiny black dots and finally did a search online. I have no doubt they are what is called floaters. Just seems so strange that I am suddenly being bombarded with eye problems. The floaters have been in evidence pretty much every day for about a week, until yesterday. I didn't have any, and none so far today either.

I would appreciate any comments on all these conditions. If there is something I should do that I haven't, please advise. And thank you in advance.

[Nikilet]

I can understand your comments with regard to cataracts. But macular degeneration is quite serious and I can't imagine a doctor spotting even the hint of it and not telling a person. Does anyone else have an opinion?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Many doctors do not comment on minimal cataracts or macular degeneration.  The first stage of a cataract begins in 40's when one begins to loss the ability to focus at near.  This slowly progresses to the point when vision is decreased due to the cataract.  Think of it this as  white color to off white to gray to black as the continuum.

Dr. O.

[Nikilet]

Sorry, but I see that the comment, "She also diagnosed me with dry eye and suggested I use drops 3-4 times a day. She recommended several over-the-counter drops," is in the wrong place.

It was the eye doctor I initially went to this year who diagnosed me with dry eye.