Visiting the Eye Doc

A year and a half ago, my dad got a scary diagnosis. He was told he had a moderate to advanced case of glaucoma. The day we heard the diagnosis, my mom and I were in a state of shock. I remember that day vividly. My dad had lost 40% of his vision in one eye and the other eye was affected as well. We immediately envisioned my dad going blind. Thankfully, if he is lucky, however that won’t happen. With proper treatment, most glaucoma cases can be sustained to prevent more damage.

Thankfully as well my dad quickly found a doctor and felt comfortable with him. Another bonus was the medication he was prescribed seemed to manage his problem so we had little to worry about. We were all at ease that my dad could drive on into old age.

Last October, however, when my dad went for a checkup, my dad told us that his eye pressure was rising again (which meant that perhaps the medication wasn’t managing it — and he could loose more vision)– and it was of some concern to the doctor — but the doctor said they would re-evaluate it in six months. That six month evaluation came yesterday.

When we greeted my dad after the visit, he told us things weren’t looking good. Both my mom and I got a pit in our stomach. We listened my dad out.

He said that the pressure in his eye last time was 21-23mm Hg — and this time it was 25-26mm Hg. He then gave my dad a new medication and told him to start the sample at once — and to come back in three weeks to see how this “sample” worked.

I asked my dad if the doctor told him about any side effects of this sample drug. My dad said that the doctor said there were none outside of darkening of the eye lashes. I didn’t believe him.

I asked my dad if he noticed any vision changes and my dad said under his breath yes though he had not mentioned it to either my mom and I. I asked my dad if the doctor told him his vision loss was perrmanent?

My dad said he lost the ability to read an entire line on the eye chart.

I was mortified. An entire line???

With glaucoma, once you loose your vision — you don’t get it back!! It is permanent. I guess I asked it because I was hoping he would say it wasn’t.

I was outraged….and smelled a rat!

Isn’t this doctor supposed to prevent this from happening, I asked? If you were having serious problems — then he should have made you come in for a visit once a month until you corrected this. If we keep waiting like this, you could go blind! This is not good medical care!!!

I was very alarmed.

And mad.

I remembered back to the last time my dad visited this doctor. He told my dad that while his pressure was slightly elevated, if they kept it under 30mm Hg they would be okay. My dad doesn’t remember this…

Something wasn’t adding up to me. This time it wasn’t above 30mm Hg yet he is on the defensive with “new” drugs.

Why?

Was he getting kick-backs?

I expressed my concerns to my dad who flat wanted to reject me for questioning his doctor. My dad got agitated.

I then advised him and my mom that I would (a) get a second opinion, (b) I would read about this drug to see if it is “new” drug. If it is a new drug, I would NOT take it until it is well tested and studied! (c) I would read about the old drug to see if dosage could be increased — in the event his second opinion does concur that he needs to bring his eye pressure down. His current eye doctor told him it could not be increased. I want to know the truth!!

Well, first thing this morning, I have already found a lot more to horrify me. The drug is NEW. The standard care for a patient with glaucoma is monitoring 4 to 6 times a year. This guy only sees my dad twice a year!! Treatment protocol also dictates that when pressure rises even slightly — evaluations should occur at minimum every four weeks until the situation resolves! Hello, that’s logical!

Also, they say that ideal eye pressure is between 15-21mm Hg — and for someone over age 65, the medical treatment goal is to keep the pressure below 25mm Hg. Hmm….

I’m worried about my dad and VERY FRUSTRATED this morning. I’m wishing I didn’t have eyes for lies… but if it helps my dad, I’ll be happy. Very happy. My dad didn’t sense anything was wrong… Now in the face of the evidence I have exposed, he believes me that perhaps this doctor didn’t care about him like he should…