MRI's and the Eyes

You can wear ear protection inside the MRI.

Thank you for responding. I spoke with the department of MRI application. I was told last year that sponge ear plugs are used and earmuffs. This is minimal protection for the ear canal since one has to listen to a roar of a jet plane for 1 hr. and 15 min. My point is.................clinics and doctors go to the extreme of protecting their credentials and insurance for the clinic. at the expense of the patient. A CT Scan I would accept of the head, but they want more. Many people I've talked to had cataract surgery without having an MRI. I feel I have become a specimen. My health is important in the right hands. Judy

I have no pain in the right eye. Just double vision. The Hearing Foundation told me that an MRI would deplete my hearing ability over time. I would worsen the breakdown of the Cocklear Hairs. My search is for a doctor who will do the cataract procedure without wanting an MRI. CT Scan I will take.

I have had cataract surgry. All went well. No mention of any MRI or CT scan for my cataract surgery. Any specific reason they want to administer MRI in your case? I had an MRI for my ankle but stopped the procedure shortly after it began. Too loud even though I had ear plugs and ear muffs.

Not all doctors are guilty of overstating their precautions and suggestions for a procedure to be done before surgery. The mystery is that after being at the clinic for almost 6 hrs. (they are very popular and many people waiting to have their eyes checked), the two doctor's at the clinic did not indicate what they expect might be the problem. When I got home I began my research. I found out many patients did not undergo an MRI (you realize how powerful these machines are ?) . Several friends indicated this has become widespread in protecting the corporate members in owing the clinic for lawsuits. I am trying to protect my hearing and how damaging an MRI can be. The ears are vulnerable to the powerful sounds the MRI gives off. There is another test that looks at the blood lines in the brain and then there is a CT Scan that does help the doctors. I've told them about my hearing buzzing. It falls on deaf ears. What is interesting is that after I saw the eye doctor's, I went to see my new General Practioner for another issue. Never told him about the eye clinic. Out of his mouth he says he wants an MRI of me from the neck down. That's when I realize that two different doctor's were pushing an MRI for their office files within a 2 mos. period of my having seen them. One for the head and the other for the neck down. I withdrew from their services immediately. What about my ears ?? No response. Thank you for your response. It is valuable to me.

@dance4life

I had cataract surgery… both eyes two months apart…in 2009 as did my husband. No MRIs or CAT scans were ever mentioned or done . In the mid 1980s I had surgery for a detached retina..again no scans or MRI were necessary although, if you go online you will see information to the contrary stating why MRIs are necessary before cataract surgery. Our surgery was done at a renowned cataract institute…mine by the son of the founder and my husbands by the founder himself. St Luke’s has been around since 1968 and has patients from all over the world at different locations. Anyone I know who had this surgery (I asked) never had scans either. But it may depend on the individual and maybe St Luke’s does require it in some cases. I certainly would want to know specifically why and also seek another opinion. St Luke’s, by the way started audiology service several years back.
So great that you are doing your research and being an advocate for yourself.

FL Mary

FL Mary

Thank you so very much for your response, Mary. This helps me a great deal and gives me the kind of assurance I needed to confirm my feelings told me something is not right. Once when I called my new GP's office 2021, a nurse there said to me............."did they tell you at the clinic what they suspected and a better definition of why they feel this is important not only to me, but to them as well. " Her words confirmed my suspicions. The clinic has become more of a commercial interior pushing people to buy their glasses there also. The clinic has been around for 50 yrs. I went to a second clinic for a second opinion and they looked up my file at the first clinic and the doctor said he wanted an MRI. No illustration shown or medical terms to make me feel they were concerned about my ears and the newly discovered buzzing sound in my ear canal. MRI's I'm afraid are being passed out like candy. I am not giving up. I continue to seek more opinions and visits to new doctor's offices. The best doctor's are in the city of Chicago, but it is not safe to go there because of the assaults and your car is carjacked. Northwestern Hospital is "top shelf". Afraid as a woman to be in their parking covered garage. Michigan Avenue's finest clothing stores and jewelry have been broken into by gangs. It's a frightening world and Nation we have now. Thank you, Mary.

Understand your predicament. I live in Montreal so there isn’t any financial issue involved. Tests are covered by government funds at a given fee which the patient doesn’t have to contribute to. They are done in a hospital setting. You can choose to go to a private clinic if you prefer but then you (or your insurance) have to pay.

Yes, things are different in Canada and I was very grateful to make contact 30 yrs. ago with pharmacies there for my Estrogen supplement, PREMARIN. The U.S. pharmacies were price gouging me and I could not afford the $350.00 every 3 months. I sought my pills in Canada. Mailed to me and very satisfied. Thank you Canada. Love you. The U.S. corruption of Big Pharma then cut Canada off from supplying us pills. U.S. not interested in American's with less affordability. My eye situation.................I am continuing with my research and trying to find the right doctor and location. The two private clinics I went to for inspection only are in cahoots with each other. They can read your files. No honest opinion and safety in their decision. Thank you for your help.

MRI from the neck down?! In 2017, I told my PCP about an issue I was (still am) having in my thoracic spine—it’s not pain but a burning sensation and I’m actually feeling it right now. Anyways she said she would order an MRI of my entire spine. I had the MRI done but it turned out that is was only of my lower (lumbar) spine. I have no lower back pain—never have—have no idea who made the mistake, meaning if my doctor order the wrong thing or if the imaging center ran the wrong test. When I told my doctor’s office a mistake was made, that the MRI was supposed to be of my entire back, they told me that isn’t even an option. I’ve since switched doctors and don’t trust the quacks I was seeing but if your doctor said s/he could order an MRI from the neck down, then surely they could have done an MRI of my entire back and if not at least of the blinking part of my back I was/am experiencing issues with.