Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips Optometrist v. Opthamologist

Which do you see for eye treatment? Is an optometrist qualified enough to handle AS eyes?

Thanks,

Craig

Ophthalmologists have an MD behind their name, so have a few more years of education. Although optometrists can easily spot iritis and things like that.

I was referred by an optometrist to my ophthalmologist for my eye problems. As soon as they hear B27 or spondylitis and "eye pain", they get serious. I think (and someone correct me if I'm wrong), optometrists might a good starting point to identify the problem - only if you can't get in to see an ophthalmologist. But if you have any recurrent problems or known conditions, I'd be more comfortable knowing an ophthalmologist was treating the problem. (In Alberta, my optometrist wasn't able to prescribe steroid drops either.)

If you're experiencing problems with your eyeballs that you suspect are AS related you def. want to see an opthamologist... and pref. one who has experience with the fun things that go along with auto-immune disorders. They have the medical training to deal with issues that an optometrist won't have.
Otherwise, for run of the mill getting glasses, contacts or checking your prescription an optometrist is fine.

Here's me keeping me fingers crossed for you that you're not experiencing AS eyeball issues...


http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ophthalmology-Optometry-979/difference-optomotrist-opthalmologist.htm

Hey Megan! Optometrists in the States can prescribe steroid drops and they have the equipment to do plaquenil screenings. I know what you mean though. It is nice to see an opthamologist when you have AS.

Thanks,

Craig

Hey Kurumi! Thanks for the response!!

I see an ophthalmologist. I would feel fine using an optometrist if I didn't have eye issues. Funny that I'm at risk for iritis; my dad has it. But I see the ophthalmologist for herpes simplex keratitis. Fortunately she is familiar with the HLA-B27. I see her at least every 3 months these days.

Craig - For starters, here in France and in UK (prob same all over EU) an optomertrist may not/cannot prescribe. So one goes to an optomertrist for a check up. Now, depending on the optomertrist, that is, depending on his equipment, it 'can' be a good thing to go to an optomertrist in order to get A DX... But, this does depend on his equipment. (My optomertrist in the UK is fantasttic, has equipment better than you'll find in most hospitals, let alone in clinics, or opthalmologists or with other optomertrists. I will NOW go to him for check-ups, unless of course I 'can' find anyone here WITH such excellent equipment.)

Check out the Heidelburg 11i - takes 3D photos, can spot glaucoma 8yrs in advance of other technologies... Then the Carl Zeiss Meditec HFA ll - this takes the peripheral vision, plots it and defines the complete eye vis-aa-vis 'dead' points, semi-dead, blurry, near-to blurry etc tc. Most just give a 'pointer', but this new camera is really spot on.

The 'big' clinic I went to here, for my script, did not have anything like to the equipment... ONLY had the old pretty much out-dated 'puffer' to test the IOP (intra optic pressures).

But, for scripts, you'll need to see an opthalmologist - and hope that the opthomologist, who 'can' prescribe also has the equipment!

Cut to the meat? Opthomologist: Find the BEST eye dept you can, the BEST eye person you can, and stick with them.

You can get a list of specialists in uveitis/iritis through www.uveitis.org or www.iritis.org. Dr Foster in Cambridge MA can direct you to the uveitis specialist closest to you. Eye doctor, definitely, but one who actually has specialized in uveitis. Just posting this for others' benefit, too: my first flare up and I had no health insurance so I went to a doctor, not eye doctor, who thought it may be severe allergies and gave me allergy drops. The flare got worse and I went to an optometrist who thought it was the worst case of allergies ever. I suffered so much and didn't realize my vision was at risk. Somehow I recovered, but my next flare, which I just assumed must be those crazy allergies coming back resulted in my left eye becoming damaged. I treated with allergy drops, and when it got worse I saw an eye doctor who diagnosed uveitis. Quote from my current eye doctor: "Allergies are way over diagnosed." : )
Happy and healthy eyes to you all,
Jan

Thanks for the post!

Hey Molly! American optometrists can prescribe medications. They don't go to medical school like our opthalmologists do however. From what I have read and heard here an opthalmologist is the way to go. I see an opthalmologist now and plan on staying there!! He seems very knowledgeable about AS and has treated iritis in the past. He gets you in the same day if you are an AS patient.

Craig