12/23/2020
Public Service Announcement:
If you have an EYE problem, please see an EYE doctor.
Case in point: this patient went to the ER 10 days ago for a red eye with slightly blurry vision and some eye pain and was diagnosed with pink eye. He was given antibiotic eye drops. Today he was concerned because his condition was not resolving, so he went to his primary care physician who referred him to me. This patient has something called angle closure glaucoma, a serious eye condition that needs immediate treatment. This is not pink eye or anything related to pink eye. If this patient had seen an eye doctor last week, this would have been diagnosed right away, and a surgical procedure would have been performed to save his vision. Unfortunately, this condition has persisted for too long, and this patient will likely have severe vision loss permanently.
Please call an optometrist or ophthalmologist if you have an eye problem. Primary care doctors and emergency rooms are such a fantastic resource and we love working with them. However, eye doctors have highly specialized training, knowledge, and equipment all dedicated to the health of your eyes. I see patients every week who saw an urgent care, ER, or their primary care doctor before they see me. Many times they are diagnosed correctly and are on a good treatment plan. Many times they are misdiagnosed and a new treatment plan needs to be started. It's not the other physician's fault. They simply do not have the same type of education and training about the eye as an eye doctor. Optometrists and ophthalmologists are experts in eye health and have an entire office of equipment devoted entirely to one organ of the body.
Next time you have an eye problem, please consider calling an eye doctor. We truly care about your eye health. Vision is so precious.
