Help me find a clinic to correct Detached Retina

#25 03-21-2006, 03:44 AM

On 3/20/06 3:20 PM, in article
1142896831.112240.159640[at]i39g...oglegroups.com,
"topwebchoice[at]yahoo.com" <topwebchoice[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

> Charles wrote:
> > I have to go along with William Stacey description of this as bizarre.
> > I am somewhat dubious of the persons story as told because of their
> > initial post about old fashioned surgery and gas bubble. From that post
> > it sounds like they had been to the clinic.
> What's so bizarre?
> Not sure if you read my recent post above.
> I have indeed been to an MD/ophthalmologist (now two weeks ago) who
> indeed did see the detached retina himself. I had the impression it was
> urgent but Retina Northwest (the 'retina specialists') must do some
> sort of 'preop' consult (if I understand them correctly) before
> scheduling surgery. That appt. was some time in the future (as set by
> Retina Northwest) - so I had time (I felt) to consider my options
> (other clinics).
> The only thing bizarre to me is I'm getting conflicting information. On
> the one hand, the ophthalmologist suggested it was urgent yet Retina
> Northwest clearly does not agree (or does not have adquate staff to
> schedule an appt. sooner.) People here seem to feel this must be done
> TODAY.
> Which must I believe, the 'retina specialists' (Retina Northwest) or
> others?
> Are there any retina specialists online here who can clarify for me
> exactly where the truth lies?
The urgency depends on whether the macula is on, threatened, or off. If it

is a small inferior detachment, it can stay OK for a "relatively" long time.
If it is superior, it will come off faster. If the macula is threatened,
that is most urgent (<1 day). If the macula is already off, it it not
urgent; the damage is already done, and can wait a week or so for repair.

It all depends on the exam particulars, which you do not have.
Unfortunately, it can also depnd on the adequacy of the staff, as you
mentioned above.

#24 03-21-2006, 12:09 AM

In article <dabel-ED19F3.14014220032006[at]nnrp-virt.nntp.sonic.net> , Dan
Abel <dabel[at]sonic.net> wrote:

- quote -

> He said he'd call the eye doctor on call and see what he said. A
> couple of minutes later the nurse came in to dilate my eyes, and said
> the eye doctor was on his way. The eye doctor diagnosed a detached
> retina and called the retinal specialist. I had gone in after
> dinner, and was in the OR by 11PM.

That is pretty swift. Sounds like a good hospital.

--
Charles

#23 03-20-2006, 10:20 PM

Charles wrote:
- quote -

> I have to go along with William Stacey description of this as bizarre.
> I am somewhat dubious of the persons story as told because of their
> initial post about old fashioned surgery and gas bubble. From that post
> it sounds like they had been to the clinic.

What's so bizarre?

Not sure if you read my recent post above.

I have indeed been to an MD/ophthalmologist (now two weeks ago) who
indeed did see the detached retina himself. I had the impression it was
urgent but Retina Northwest (the 'retina specialists') must do some
sort of 'preop' consult (if I understand them correctly) before
scheduling surgery. That appt. was some time in the future (as set by
Retina Northwest) - so I had time (I felt) to consider my options
(other clinics).

The only thing bizarre to me is I'm getting conflicting information. On
the one hand, the ophthalmologist suggested it was urgent yet Retina
Northwest clearly does not agree (or does not have adquate staff to
schedule an appt. sooner.) People here seem to feel this must be done
TODAY.

Which must I believe, the 'retina specialists' (Retina Northwest) or
others?

Are there any retina specialists online here who can clarify for me
exactly where the truth lies?

#22 03-20-2006, 09:01 PM

In article <200320060601552088%fort514[at]mac.com> ,
Charles <fort514[at]mac.com> wrote:

- quote -

> In article <dabel-44EF1E.02333520032006[at]nnrp-virt.nntp.sonic.net> , Dan
> Abel <dabel[at]sonic.net> wrote:
> > Because, based on what you have posted, you have an emergency. That's
> > what they do. That's why they call it an "ER".
> Would they do emergencty surgery if someone went to the ER and had a
> detached retina or would they just tell you to see a retina specialist?
> I suspect the latter.

No. The ER is always in a hospital, in my experience. That's where
they do surgery. I went to the ER for what I thought was a detached
retina last July. I saw a couple of nurses and then a doctor who had no
clue. He used a slit dingus but didn't dilate my eyes. He said he'd
call the eye doctor on call and see what he said. A couple of minutes
later the nurse came in to dilate my eyes, and said the eye doctor was
on his way. The eye doctor diagnosed a detached retina and called the
retinal specialist. I had gone in after dinner, and was in the OR by
11PM.

--
Dan Abel
dabel[at]sonic.net
Petaluma, California, USA

#21 03-20-2006, 04:28 PM

Dan Abel wrote:
- quote -

> In article
> <1142829036.073716.162530[at]v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com> ,
> topwebchoice[at]yahoo.com wrote:
> > I dont understand why some in this thread have implied
> > I've mishandled this situation. I was posting here for
> > (hopefully) helpful information. If anyone knows of any
> > retina specialty clinic here in Portland, Oregon which
> > might be somewhat more responsive, I'd really consider
> > it (and appreciate any helpful info, please).
> > > Someone suggested I go to the ER. Why would I do that?
> > I've already been diagnosed in no uncertain terms by the
> > first MD/ophthalmologist with detached retina. What good
> > would that do?
> Because, based on what you have posted, you have an
> emergency. That's what they do. That's why they call it
> an "ER".

You didn't make it clear that they could do more than just
diagnose it. They have eye docs at every hospital. They
can admit you and operate or whatever as soon as indicated.
I get the impression that the OP thinks they would simply
diagnose and tell him to go home and make an appointment
with a specialist (which is what they would do if it's not
immediately threatening).

-Quick

#20 03-20-2006, 10:01 AM

In article <dabel-44EF1E.02333520032006[at]nnrp-virt.nntp.sonic.net> , Dan
Abel <dabel[at]sonic.net> wrote:

- quote -

> Because, based on what you have posted, you have an emergency. That's
> what they do. That's why they call it an "ER".

Would they do emergencty surgery if someone went to the ER and had a
detached retina or would they just tell you to see a retina specialist?
I suspect the latter.

I have to go along with William Stacey description of this as bizarre.
I am somewhat dubious of the persons story as told because of their
initial post about old fashioned surgery and gas bubble. From that post
it sounds like they had been to the clinic.

--
Charles

#19 03-20-2006, 09:33 AM

In article <1142829036.073716.162530[at]v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com> ,
topwebchoice[at]yahoo.com wrote:

- quote -

> I dont understand why some in this thread have implied I've mishandled
> this situation. I was posting here for (hopefully) helpful information.
> If anyone knows of any retina specialty clinic here in Portland, Oregon
> which might be somewhat more responsive, I'd really consider it (and
> appreciate any helpful info, please).
> Someone suggested I go to the ER. Why would I do that? I've already
> been diagnosed in no uncertain terms by the first MD/ophthalmologist
> with detached retina. What good would that do?

Because, based on what you have posted, you have an emergency. That's
what they do. That's why they call it an "ER".

--
Dan Abel
dabel[at]sonic.net
Petaluma, California, USA

#18 03-20-2006, 04:36 AM

In article <1142829036.073716.162530[at]v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com> ,
<topwebchoice[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

> I dont understand why some in this thread have implied I've mishandled
> this situation. I was posting here for (hopefully) helpful information.
> If anyone knows of any retina specialty clinic here in Portland, Oregon
> which might be somewhat more responsive, I'd really consider it (and
> appreciate any helpful info, please).

I think some of us are surprised that you were not scheduled for an
appointment sooner than the 28th. My experience was that I was
schedualed right away. But I am only going on my experience as a
patient, I am not a doctor, or an expert on the urgency. Personaly if
they had schedualed me so far off for an appointment, and I had a solid
black curtain in the top of my visual field I would have found another
specialist, there must be several in a city the size of Portland or
went to their office and talked them into seeing me sooner.

One thing I find dubious is that your initial post stated that the
clinic wanted to use old fashioned surgical methods rather than a gas
bubble. If you havn't been examined by the clinic how do you know, or
how would they know what method they might use? Any repair is going to
be surgical. Whether they use a buckle or a gas bubble would be
determined after an examination. In my case they told me they were
going to use a buckle after the examination but changed their mind and
did the gas bubble at the surgery.

--
Charles

#17 03-20-2006, 03:30 AM

Charles: To clarify, the ophthalmologist told me in no uncertain terms
that I had retinal detachment with at least 30% vision loss in the left
eye (solid 'black curtain' from the top right of visual field). He
immediately ('stat' was his term) ordered his medical asst. to make the
first appt. with Retina Northwest. I was present when she did it, and
she clearly explained that it was for a retinal detachment. I called
MYSELF last friday to tell Retina Northwest that my vision loss has
gotten noticeably worse in the previous days, and they bumped up my
appt. from the 28th of this month to the 24th.

I dont understand why some in this thread have implied I've mishandled
this situation. I was posting here for (hopefully) helpful information.
If anyone knows of any retina specialty clinic here in Portland, Oregon
which might be somewhat more responsive, I'd really consider it (and
appreciate any helpful info, please).

Someone suggested I go to the ER. Why would I do that? I've already
been diagnosed in no uncertain terms by the first MD/ophthalmologist
with detached retina. What good would that do?

#16 03-20-2006, 12:03 AM

In article <cR8Tf.48426$F_3.2758[at]newssvr29.news.prodigy.net> ,
"Quick" <quick7135-news[at]NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

> immediacy in terms of hours. Your response hasn't seemed
> go past expressing concern over the medical expertise
> available in your area. Have you even called anyone?
> The refering doctor? To tell him they gave you an appointment
> for the 28th? The clinic to see if a doctor there is aware of
> the condition you were referred for? The local emergency
> room to see what they think about it? I got the impression
> from the responses here that it's possible that you are hours
> away from being permanently blinded.

I understand (as a layperson) that it is more like months than hours to
permanent blindness. It is a permanent vision loss that should be
worried about.

That's more a matter of hours. With my first detachment, I called.
They wanted to see me *now*. Not tomorrow, not later this afternoon,
not after lunch, but right now.

I have suffered a permanent vision loss. My left eye sees fine in
seeing to the right. However, my nose is in the way. I have to turn my
head to see to the right.

--
Dan Abel
dabel[at]sonic.net
Petaluma, California, USA

Similar Threads
Thread	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Lasik post detached retina surgery??? rayjohn3@gmail.com: Any information or comments on having Lasik post detached retina surgery. I had my detached retina repaired about 2 years ago. Trying to get...	Lasik Eye Surgery	11	07-16-2007 07:45 PM
Detached retina and weight training Joe: Is there a significantly increased risk of a detached retina occuring during weight training? I ask this because I do some resistance training and...	Vision	38	01-30-2005 02:46 AM
Detached Retina Question CJL: A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with a detached retina. The opthamologist wants to see her again in one month. I was under the impression...	Vision	2	01-23-2005 10:50 PM
Cataract on eye with detached retina Raghavendra B K: Hello, My mom underwent a surgery in 1990 for retinal detachment with multiple retinal tear. The surgery could only restore about 20-30% of her...	Main Category	11	11-19-2003 06:38 AM
Cataract on eye with detached retina Raghavendra B K: Hello, My mom underwent a surgery in 1990 for retinal detachment with multiple retinal tear. The surgery could only restore about 20-30% of her...	Vision	11	11-19-2003 06:38 AM

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode