optomotrist physican for glaucoma?

[frosty50]

should i be seeing an optomotrist physican for glaucoma.? he said he is qualified and any answers he does not know he can ask a glucoma doctor. he has a  computer machine that takes a picture behind each eye and shows where there is damage so each time it's done the computer program will tell you if there is a change. the last time it showed i may have some vision loss in the right eye but he said the vision fields test will show, the problem i have with the vision fields test is i get so anxious,nervous and upset .it makes me ill. over the years i have skipped every 6 months doing and do once a year. not only is it uncomfortable with your shoulders sunken down really low and your body  leaning forward.  that clicking and clicking of machine you wonder if you missed something. i noticed it clicks when it moves on to the next bright light. Are all visual fields machines noisy? i can not keep my eye fixed on the center as i move my eyeball all around looking for that spot which i find better.  This test is not for me. I have a hard time breathing  and concentrating . i don't know why? I'd rather have a root canal done.  i have told the doctor this and he says to try and relax and joked  about having a glass of wine next time i come in for this.  is there any other test besides that which indicates vision loss?i take lumigan once a night. for the past three years or so. I have only missed three times and let me tell youi remember those  times how nice my eyes felt without the drops. no scratchy feeling, no tearing and especially very little red in my eyes. i almost felt that i looked normal. no one looking at my bloodshot eyes and commenting. With these drops i have eye lashes that go into the inner eye that i have to painfully pluck as they rub on the little pink (gland} and make mine red. Lumigan is the best choice though right?  thank you?

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

In my opnion a non-MD, non-Physician, limited training optometrist in not qualified to treat glaucoma. By spending millions of dollars and tens of thousands of hours lobbying various state legislatures (ultimate special interest group) they are allowed to treat glaucoma legally.

It is not ideal and in my opnion all glaucoma should be cared for by an eye MD, physician. The training and qualifications of the Eye MD are 2 to 3 times that of the optometrist.

Find an Eye MD glaucoma physicain near you at www.aao.org

JCH III MD

[AnnaE]

For treatment of glaucoma, find a glaucoma specialist at aaa.org. You need an MD. Find one right away.