View Full Version : How should I act at ophthalmologist appointment?
So I have an ophthalmologist appointment. Mainly because I have bad eye strain with my most recent glasses prescription. I had eye strain with my other prescriptions as well, but just blamed it on anxiety and tried to ignore it. Even when I didn’t think too much about my eyes I still had symptoms. I know I have eye anxiety, but I have real eye problems as well. I’ve actually blamed some of my very real eye problems on eye anxiety. An example is needing glasses and issues with depth perception. I thought I was imagining those issues because one eye doctor said I don’t need glasses. But eventually it turned out I have poor vision in one eye which explained my depth perception issues. How much should I mention my symptoms? I have bad anxiety about people not taking me seriously, especially doctors. So sometimes I avoid mentioning symptoms to not look too neurotic. But some of those symptoms turn out to be real and important. I’m mainly going there to have my eyes checked while they’re dilated. I know my eyes are otherwise healthy.
nomorepanic
12-01-18, 11:30
Just write it down, print it off and give it to them and let them decide.
I agree with Nicola, the night before your appointment sit down and write all your questions and concerns down on a piece of paper and hand it off to the doctor when you see him.
I do this all the time, not because I am afraid to speak out but because either I forget or get side tracked and often realize later once I get home that I forgot to ask him something...
I agree with Nicola, the night before your appointment sit down and write all your questions and concerns down on a piece of paper and hand it off to the doctor when you see him.
I do this all the time, not because I am afraid to speak out but because either I forget or get side tracked and often realize later once I get home that I forgot to ask him something...
I’m concerned about eye strain, headaches and having trouble seeing computer screen or small details. I’m also wondering why my right eye(the better eye) prescription keeps getting lower while my left eye stays about the same. I also deal with migraines, but it might have nothing to do with eye strain.
Maybe I’m just getting these symptoms because I’m a migraine sufferer and my prescription isn’t actually that wrong. I heard about this guy who had the wrong prescription who was also a migraine sufferer until they fixed it. I’m just worried I’ll look like a hypochondriac if I bring up too much concerns. Should I even mention my migraines? I did notice more migraines after my prescription changed, but that could be because of a cold. A lot of times during my migraines the headache goes away completely if I close my eyes for a few minutes and keep everything dark and quiet. Is this normal for migraines?
Should I mention at the appointment I have spaced out vision and things sometimes look too small to see properly or does that sound too much like mental health issues? I’m trying to avoid sounding mentally ill even though these vision problems concern me.
Should I mention at the appointment I have spaced out vision and things sometimes look too small to see properly or does that sound too much like mental health issues? I’m trying to avoid sounding mentally ill even though these vision problems concern me.
Yes, you should mention everything and do not fear sounding mentally ill. Thats what the doctor is there for, to listen to your complaints and try to figure out whats going on but he cant do that if you dont tell him everything... Its important so make sure you write EVERYTHING down and hand it over as soon as he sits down.
Yes, you should mention everything and do not fear sounding mentally ill. Thats what the doctor is there for, to listen to your complaints and try to figure out whats going on but he cant do that if you dont tell him everything... Its important so make sure you write EVERYTHING down and hand it over as soon as he sits down.
Would he even know what I mean by spaced out vision? It’s like everything goes out of focus and into my peripheral vision. It’s not the same as blurry vision.
I do not know if he will know what you mean but when you write it down also write a short description of what you mean... Exactly what you just wrote above...
1 Spaced out vision (Its like everything goes out of focus and into my peripheral vision).
2 Blank blank blank
3 Blank blank blank
and so on until you have written everything you want him to know and everything that concerns you.
Are ophthalmologists bad at prescribing glasses? I know they’re mainly for health stuff. They did ask me to bring my glasses, so they probably are going to test my eyes. The optometrists I’ve talked to keep saying optometrists are better, but maybe they’re biased.
I do not know if they are bad at prescribing glasses but I am certain they asked you to bring your glasses so they can check with and without them... An Ophthalmologist is an actual medical doctor with far more training then an Optometrists...
Catherine S
16-01-18, 16:11
An Opthalmologist is an eye surgeon, an optometrist isn't. So I would say an Opthalmologist would know every disease of the eye there is to know....as well as every benign condition too.
Tell him/her everything you've told us and don't doubt what he/she tells you. They're the top people for your eyes.
An Opthalmologist is an eye surgeon, an optometrist isn't. So I would say an Opthalmologist would know every disease of the eye there is to know....as well as every benign condition too.
Tell him/her everything you've told us and don't doubt what he/she tells you. They're the top people for your eyes.
I’m worried he’ll find nothing wrong with my eyes or glasses prescription and just dismiss me. This has happened to me many times with other doctors.
I’m worried he’ll find nothing wrong with my eyes or glasses prescription and just dismiss me. This has happened to me many times with other doctors.
Well in all honestly, if there is something there to be found, he is the best person to discover it....
Well in all honestly, if there is something there to be found, he is the best person to discover it....
I’ve just heard ophthalmologists are bad at refracting since they’re more focused on health. So far I just assume I have healthy eyes with a bad glasses prescription and maybe suffer from migraines.
But why the referral then? I am not sure what you mean when you say they are more focused on health, they specialize in eye and vision care so your certainly seeing the best doctor where your eyes are concerned...
---------- Post added at 19:27 ---------- Previous post was at 19:26 ----------
When is your appointment?
But why the referral then? I am not sure what you mean when you say they are more focused on health, they specialize in eye and vision care so your certainly seeing the best doctor where your eyes are concerned...
---------- Post added at 19:27 ---------- Previous post was at 19:26 ----------
When is your appointment?
Health is testing for glaucoma and stuff. Refracting is testing for glasses. Testing for glasses is what I want. My glasses feel too weak, so my eyes feel strained. My appointment is in two days.
It went terribly. They didn’t know shit. Now my mom is taking me less seriously.
Health is testing for glaucoma and stuff. Refracting is testing for glasses. Testing for glasses is what I want. My glasses feel too weak, so my eyes feel strained. My appointment is in two days.
So you all you want is an bog standard eye test? I don't know how it works where you are but here you can walk into any high street optician and get one. It costs about twenty quid. :shrug:
So you all you want is an bog standard eye test? I don't know how it works where you are but here you can walk into any high street optician and get one. It costs about twenty quid. :shrug:
I know. I got this test for free in Canada. I guess my vision problems are all in my head.
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