Ophthamologist or Optometrist?

I called to get an appt with an ophthamologist to have my eyes checked and they scheduled me with an optometrist.

I said something to the woman and she said it didn't matter.  What are your thoughts?

 Also, can I ask just to have my eyes checked for this and not have a regular eye exam?  My insurance will not cover the regular eye exam.

Thank you, that is what I thought also. I will call and asked to be changed.

Chartreux,

I believe the reason Debicat was asking was because she is starting to take Plaquenil. In that case, you need a complete exam annually. It is due to the medication, not the autoimmune disease.

"All patients who are starting Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) should have a baseline eye exam within the first year of starting treatment to include dilated fundus exam, testing of central visual field by either an Amsler grid or an automated threshold 10-2 central visual field."

Then an annual exam of central visual field, also check red/green color sensitivity...these are where problems from plaquenil are detected. In the past it was recommend you check every 6 months, but it's moved to annually.

There is a simple at home test if you are worried in between checkups. Here is a link to it: Plaquenil and Your Eyes

I decided not to take the plaquenil for right now.

I want to get the dry eye tests done and go from there. I usually do get an eye exam every 2 years though since I wear glasses.

Can I just get the dry eyes tests without a regular eye exam? I want my insurance to cover the costs and they will if it is for a diagnosis but they won't cover a regular eye exam.

Thanks everyone for your input! I appreciate it.

Lynnwood,

I was thinking the same thing. I just wanted to know what is going on with me and if I have Sjogrens. The drops I have been using are Refresh Tears - lubricant eye drops.

I probably should use them more than I do though. I blink a lot because my eyes bother me so much.

It seems like I am having more issues and I wonder if it's related. I know I have Osteoarthritis also now. I still have the strange chest discomfort that I have had since February. Just not sure if it all goes together or if that is something different.

I would like to have everything documented just in case I get worse as I get older.

Chartreux,

Thanks for the reply. I have seen two rheumatologists already. I have had blood work also. My ANA was positive but the antibodies were negative. The doctors suggested a lip biopsy and the dry eye tests. I decided not to do the lip biopsy because I heard it can be inconclusive and painful. That's why I was going to get the dry eye tests. I have told the eye doctor's for years about my dry eyes and they have never suggested anything except getting some eye drops.

Both rheumatologists said I have Sicca syndrome. When you google that, it takes you to Sjogren's.

I heard it was hard to get diagnosed but I had not idea how hard.

Thanks again!

My dry eyes and blepharitis/dry eye were diagnosed by a really good optometrist. I will switch to an ophthalmologist but I was grateful for this optometrist. She was even qualified to prescribe Restasis but I agree, it's probably best to see an ophthalmologist. The optometrist office is open at hours that are convenient for me, so that's why I went there.

Hi everyone, I am back with an update.

I went to see the ophthamologist today. Did you know they know have a test where they prick your finger and squeeze blood out and put 5 spots on this paper and send it in for testing? Weird that the ophthamologist does it though.

They did that test plus some other eye tests. He does not think I have sjogrens based on the amount of tear production I had when he was shining lights in my eyes. They did not do the shirmer's test though and want me to come back in 6 weeks and will do it then. Not sure why, maybe because the other stuff they did was aggitating my eyes.

They have this one thing where she put it in each eye 4 times and it was supposed to measure the amount of salt in my eyes. I believe one was negative and one was positive. He also thinks I might have an allergy issue with my eyes and maybe that is why my eyes bother me so much. He gave me a different eye drop to try also. So I don't know anymore today than I did yesterday which is frustrating.

It will take several weeks to get the results from the blood test they took today.

I have a followup appt with the rheumatologist in a month but may reschedule that until I get the results back from the blood.

Lynwood, from what I can see, it doesn't have a name, but here is a link to an article about it.

http://www.immcodiagnostics.com/about-us/news/article.aspx?Newsid=53

Lynnwood

Here is the "pamphlet" for the test. It gives you more information.