On a routine eye exam it was noticed I had some issue with bleeding behind the eye. I was assured she didn't think it was serious, as if it were, she'd send mt right away to the specialist. The issue could be from an old injury or many other things. About a month later, I saw the ophthalmologist and he seemed to have a hard time seeing what she saw so he sent me up for a test which involved injection of dye into a vein in my arm, then lots of pictures taken which enable him to see the blood flow behind the eyes. Test wasn't a big deal.

Results show I have "uveitis" As the name indicates, it's an inflammation. I have it in the peripheral area in my eyes. It's not common.It can be quite serious, but controlled. Thankfully, I have no symptoms or vision issue and this could be something I've had for a while. He wants to see me in another month. He did not prescribe any medication yet. Maybe that will depend on what he sees or doesn't see next month. At that time I'm not sure if he would treat it or refer me out. Apparently the fluid issue isn't related to the inflammation/uveitis. Originally he mentioned they may have to address the bleeding/fluid with a laser, but if it's an old injury, maybe not as we didn't end up discussing that yesterday. I didn't realize until today that the two issues were not related. I had made an appointment in Boston, if there was to be laser surgery I wanted another opinion, but this is not common so a different specialist would be in order. This issue can be associated with autoimmune issues as well as other health issues, but I don't think he is suspecting that at this time, and often times they don't know the cause. Obviously, I'm free to make an appointment for a second opinion, but I may wait until the next appointment to see what he sees/says.

I know a few of you have dealt with eye issues and wonder how you made out. Did you immediately seek out a specialist in a big city hospital, or did you wait until referred ?

Edited for clarification

 

My eyes are working fine...my typing not so much...Incorrect spelling in thread title again.....

 

Quality Check, Aisle 3

 

I know! I know!!!

 

 

I was born with a lazy eye and I had an operation to straighten it out when I was very young and then one other operation when I was a teenager. I had a regular eye doctor in R.I. and for the second operation my parents took me to a specialist in Boston. I remember his name was Dr. Kinder and he drove a Datsun z.

 

I'm not a fan of waiting for anything medical, even a referral. To me, the biggest failing of the medical profession is a sense of urgency outside of the ER. So, I've undertaken to manage my own medical projects. I've been in the OR more than 40 times in my adult life and the fact that I'm 75 and still kicking is proof that self-management may just work.

 

Did you mean the lack of sense of urgency outside of the ER? The doc wanted to see me in a month, but he's on vacation for two weeks in January. So next appointment is early February. Since whatever the issue is, is unchanged since my October exam, I'm not getting a sense of urgency and I'm Ok waiting to see what he says next time around.

I sent a message to a friend who's daughter is an employee at Mass Eye and Ear if she suggests I try to get in sooner to one of their specialists, I will. There is usually a wait for an appointment, of course.
I did get the notes and test results from my testing today. I may send them to the doc at Mass Eye and Ear (with whom I scheduled and appt a while back)to see if he suggests I keep his appointment or if he suggests someone else.

 

Lainey, hope all goes well with your vision in the years to come. Sounds like you are managing your vision health well though.

I started wearing glasses when I was in fifth grade. Over the years my eyes have changed...in a good way. While I now need reading glasses...1.75...I stopped wearing glasses around age 50 when the weakest lenses offered were still worse than no correction at all. I am still able to see fine as long as what I'm looking at is not too close up. Pretty close to 20/20 uncorrected.

 

^
Thanks...Some of these issues can come from exercise, but since I'm not bench pressing #150-200 pounds I don't think that's the cause. The doc told me to keep going to the gym. Good thing, as the season for eating continues...