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Help finding glaucoma specialist?
I am newly diagnosed with open angle glaucoma and already have significant vision loss in one eye, mild in the other. I need to find a really good and caring specialist and am willing to travel. There is no one in my area endorsed by the glaucoma society. My ophthamologist doesn’t seem to think I need a specialist , but I want a specialist as I can’t afford to lose more vision. I have researched some docs but am hoping to hear first hand experience if you have someone you really like. Thank you!
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Mary
I understand your concern. When my vision declined rapidly and my optomitrist could not explain why, I flew from St. Petersburg to Miami to visit the Bascom Palmer Eye Research clinic. They diagnosed me as having nuclear cataracts at age 38, and I had to have cataract surgery which corrected my vision. Since then I have had detached retinas and have developed glaucoma. I went back to Bascom Palmer and they referred me to an optamologist in St. Petersburg who did a fellowship at Bascom. I go back to Bascom every 5 years or so to see what is new. I've been fighting glaucoma for over 30 years now and have gradually lost central vision in one eye and about half the field in the other. But at age 79 I can still eye about 20/40 when the lighting is right and there is no glare. I see optimologist every 3 months and am currently on 3 eye drops: Pilocarpine, Dorzolomide, and Rocklatan. Have you thought about going to a nationally recognized eye research center such as Bascom or Wills where they can diagnose what your situation is and hopefully recommed an optimologist in your area? You can ask your doc for a referral or just signup yourself.
Don
Don, thank you so much for your response. I am sitting here in despair and it helps so much to connect with a fellow traveller on this difficult and frightening path. Yes, I am thinking of heading to a center of excellence, just don't know which to choose. I’m hoping someone can recommend based on first hand experience. I want to be sure that the trip will be worth it. I want a doctor who will take the time and not be rushed. The trouble is that the distance makes close follow up hard to achieve. I am losing central vision at age 65 and need to be aggressive.
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1 ReactionMary
I personally recommend Bascom Palmer in Miami. You will be seen by multiple doctors and one who will give you final results and recommendations. They can recommend a doctor they have worked with in your area for you to followup with. Here is link:
https://umiamihealth.org/bascom-palmer-eye-institute
Don
Duke Eye Center, 2351 Erwin Road, Durham, NC, (919) 681-3937 or Duke Raleigh Eye Center , 3480 Wake Forest Road, in Raleigh, NC. (919) 862-5380.
NYULangone (NYC) also has terrific group of ophthalmologists. But you could start by calling your local medical school for a referral. Also Columbia-Presbyterian in NYC has great group of doctors.
Tell us where you live? Philadelphia has Wills Eye Hospital.
I live in Louisville, Kentucky, and there really isn’t anyone here I would feel confident seeing. I am looking into Bascom Palmer, Don-I wish louisville had better air service for that trip. To the others who posted recommendations-do you have personal experience at those facilities. Thank you all so much!
In Sept of this year I went to NYULangone
Thank you, Victoria. Do you also have a local specialist? If so, what made you decide to go to NYULangone, if you don’t mind sharing? I was just diagnosed dec 5 and have lots of vision damage. Drops haven’t done much so far. Had SLT on one eye a couple days ago by a general ophthalmologist.
my regular eye doctor referred me to Kenneth Wald, a retina specialist at NYU, but very hard to get an appointment 3 month wait, but there are lots of good Dr there