What kind of eye doctor do you see?

[Special Kay]

I have terrible vision (completely unrelated to MS) and struggle to figure out which eye doctor to see. I have four:

Neuro-ophthalmologist - for period OCT tests, MS-related stuff etc.)
Regular ophthalmologist - for general eye health
Contact lens specialist - for prescribing contacts
Optometrist - for prescribing glasses

My ophthalmologist balks at writing a glasses prescription and my contact lens person only does that one thing (but she's a genius, which I need).

So: which eye doctor do you see? And any advice for me in getting this down to one professional?!

[SNOOPY]

Hi Special Kay,

I only see an Ophthalmologist. He writes prescriptions for glasses and contacts.

I have been using an Ophthalmologist since I was a kid and they have always written prescriptions for glasses and contacts.

You may want to check around for a different Ophthalmologist that will take care of most of your needs.

[grammy2many]

EYE CARE

I just use an Ophthalmologist too. He does my exam and writes script off glasses and contacts. He also does my annual OCT and visual field test. Hope you can find a good one to cut down on your dr. visits
Blessings-
Sue

[its2much]

My neuro says I don't

need to see a neuro-opthalmologist; however, I'm uncomfortable not doing so.
I've had optic neuritis in both eyes. The neuro-opthalmologist does so many more tests compared to the flashlight shined in my eye by my neuro.
Last time I saw an optician he thought I had glaucoma and sent me to an opthalmologist.

[MSer102]

I have four:

Neuro-ophthalmologist - for period OCT tests, MS-related stuff etc.)
Regular ophthalmologist - for general eye health
Contact lens specialist - for prescribing contacts
Optometrist - for prescribing glasses

My ophthalmologist balks at writing a glasses prescription and my contact lens person only does that one thing (but she's a genius, which I need).

Your ophthalmologist sounds like a waste of time and money. Your optometrist has had exactly the same kind of training your ophthalmologist has as far as eye health and examiniation, uses exactly the same equipment and performs exactly the same kind of exam. And since your ophthalmologist won't write prescriptions there's no reason at all for you to be seeing him or her. Really.

If you were to develop an eye health problem that your optometrist can't handle - and people who have no idea of what optometrists can actually do will be the most vocal in telling you wrongly that they can't do anything - your optometrist will refer you back to the ophthalmologist. And it kind of sounds like you aren't even aware of what your optometrist can do. Until that happens it doesn't sound like there's any reason at all for you to see your ophthalmologist. Unless your optometrist tells you otherwise, he or she can handle your general eye health and eye exams.

For almost everybody, contact lenses are a choice. So if you choose to wear contacts your contact lens fitter is a choice. But she sounds like a great choice so you have to continue seeing her. If she doesn't function for you as a general eye doctor then you absolutely still need your optometrist.

The neuro-ophthalmologist is for MS-related stuff and does things that your optometrist and contact lens doctor don't do, so there's a good reason to keep seeing the neuro-ophthalmologist too.

The general ophthalmologist is complete overkill. The other three doctors are necessary. I don't think the question is how many doctors does somebody see. The question is how many doctors does it take to get done what needs to be done. You need as many doctors as you need to get done what you need to get done. If it weren't for your contacts, you could get by with 2. Other people can get by with 1. For them it sounds like a general ophthalmologist is what they need. For you, it's entirely different.

I see a neuro-ophthalmologist several times a year because I've had many episodes of optic neuritis and there isn't another doctor who routinely does what my neuro-ophthalmologist does. He's a genius. For my general eye health and glasses I see an optometrist, who is also a genius. Even if I wanted to start wearing contact lenses again, my optometrist could do that for me. So I would still only need 2 eye doctors. But remember, that depends on what I need as a patient and what they do as doctors.

[grammy2many]

Agreed

Sorry didn't think about optical neuritis -- I haven't had that symptom (yet)

[KatieAgain]

I have a General Ophthalmologist that provides my eye exams, contacts, glasses, and monitors my Optic Neuritis for my MS specialist.

I have yet to ever see a Neuro Opthalmologist...however, I think my MS Specialist is going to change that. I had Bilateral ON this year.

[hunterd]

I see a retinal surgeon, but it is for diabetic retinopathy, and he always checks for damage due to MS. I do not know if that is what you were looking for, but I would see a neuro-opth. I hope this helps you some.

[heliotrope]

Ophthalmologist only for me, despite the fact that I have MS related eye problems. Why? Because she specializes in my problem, but mostly because of her "bedside manner." I need someone who will listen.

[Toomnyhats]

I see a neuro-opthamologist who has a MS Eye Care clinic. I've had several episodes of ON so I need her level of care.

I suppose she could write a new lens rx for me, but I haven't needed one for several years so I'm not sure.