New tests in annual Eye Exam

I had my annual eye exam today. I always opt out for the extras that insurance doesn't cover. I have always felt I am being nickled and dimed and I admit I am cheap. One exam was a detailed retinal image - brand new machine. The form I had to fill out stated it could possibly replace having my eyes dilated. Which I absolutely hate - but was not guaranteed. Cost was $39 so I checked the No box. Get back and the doctor talked me into it. -- But she was not pushy. She explained the machine and said there was a very good chance I would not have to go through having my eyes dilated. So for $39 I decided it was worth the gamble. Glad I did. She showed me the pictures and my eyes look good and I did not have to go through the pain/discomfort of dilatation. The images are very detailed and she showed my optic nerve/retina and all the blood vessels around. I forget what the machine was called Opcon or something like that. I highly recommend spending the extra money if you are a wimp like me when it comes to getting your eyes dilated. My doctor knows that every year I try to wiggle out of it. The only uncomfortable thing about the new fangled machine is the photo flash is pretty intense. Blinding for a couple of seconds. She couldn't get my left eye to cooperate at first. They had me pull down my mask after about 4 tries. She said sometimes the eyes can't cooperate with the presence of the mask because the brain is distracted and I wasn't able to keep my eye focused. My brain is distracted on any day. Soon as I pulled the mask down it worked. Of course the mask went right back up. The vision in my left I has changed - she said it was actually better. WTF - I will take it. She has to tweak my contacts and they had to order a trial pair. I use Biofinity Multifocal and really like that. The only downside is that they are supposed to last a month but I change them out every two - three weeks. Insurance pays for about 12 pair.

I was asked if I wanted to order glasses -- heck no -- I rarely use them and I just buy a cheapo pair on line. There was a woman checking out while I was there. She was looking at glasses when I first got there and she was just finishing as I was checking out. She ordered two pair of glasses - her total = $1022. She sighed and I winced. I felt bad for her. But we left together and she climbed into an Infiniti SUV - so I didn't feel to sorry for her. Not judging at all.

 

After my last eye exam in Sept I was sent to a specialist.
That specialist charged my insurance company $1,065.00.

 

I get that done now. My regular eye doctor is a neuro ophthalmologist.

 

I’m a big fan of the scans. Unfortunately, I’ve had retinal tears and detachments in each eye. Lucky for me one eye came out 20/20 the other not so good. Glad your taking eye health seriously. The last few years have been trying for me.

 

Not seeing 39 bucks as a gamble in this regard. Glad things checked out bueno.

 

Add me as a thumbs-up fan of the scans (which, fortunately, are covered by my insurance). At my last visit, the scans showed the beginning of wet macular degeneration in one eye -- with no symptoms or clue that anything was going on in there -- resulting in a same-day referral and visit to a retina specialist. Apparently it's a good to catch that at the beginning and there are treatments to slow the progression, but no cure. Not something an avid reader wants to hear!

 

I’m glad she explained it. When she showed me the photos she explained she could see so much more of the eye than she could dilating them. The gamble was -in my thinking at the time- I would still have to get the eyes dilated. What she explained to me was much more detailed than their obligatory form. So yes very much worth the money.

 

Talk about eyesight improvement. For years I needed reading glasses to read the paper, magazines etc. For the last two years, I have not. On my last eye exam (2019) the ophthalmologist said my eyes have improved. He liken it to Lasik, but it happened on my own.

After my head injury last December, I can't read sh*t w/o glasses and I am dreading my upcoming eye exam.

 

I'm near-sighted. My myopia -- don't go there -- has been improving for years, as well. I have (light) prescription sunglasses that I wear all the time but I seldom put on my glasses unless driving at night, though my uncorrected eyesight is well below the minimum threshold required for driving; I'm just accustomed to it. Never put them on to watch TV, etc.

 

I have astigmatism, which for years I wouldn't say out loud for fear people wouldn't sit next to me. I loved my eye Dr., but his house burned down in an area fire several years ago and he sold his practice and he and his lovely wife moved to Hawaii. The gentleman who bought his practice moved in all kinds of new computer equipment, scanners and the like. Our insurance now only covers up to $79 for an annual eye-exam... anything else you're on your own.

After my first visit with this guy, who I thought was incredibly knowledgeable and professional by the way, my bill plus a pair of glasses was north of $1,200. I decided to go to another eye-doctor the next year who's been around town for a long time as well and he's still basically old-school, where you hold the paddle up to one eye, etc. (HA... not quite that old school) I also now just ask for the prescription and get the glasses at WalMart or Costco... I didn't mind spending the extra dough for glasses at the first eye Dr... did I mention his wife was LOVELY?... but wasn't into the assembly line of the new guy who bought the original practice.

Glad all turned out well for you @Valgal

 

I usually get my exam done by my optometrist, and pay extra for the scan. I'm seriously considering getting the exam done by an opthamologist and take that prescription to the lens grinder. Comments? T i A!

 

I have been using the Optomap screening vs dilation for years.
VSP pays for it all except $10.
I would never go back to a Eye Care provider that did not have the latest technology.

 

I have VSP too. I have been to one of our two Opthalmologist in town. My health insurance covered more there and the copay is a bit less than if I use VSP. But their office is so busy. It takes 6-8 months to get in. They stack their appointments so tight you get rushed through. The techs do all of the tests/exam and there is very little time with the doctor. She comes in at the very end after the eyes are dilated.

One reason we switched back to an Optometrist was my husband. He had his vision checked at the same Opthalmologist. Their office doesn’t sell or fit glasses so he went to Walmart with the script. Got a simple pair of glasses. He said everything was blurry. Took them back to Walmart they ran the lenses said it is the correct script. Went back to the Opthalmologist office a tech rechecked the lenses and said it was right. He would have to make an appointment if he wanted to be rechecked and made him feel like he was a bother. He went back to using his old pair and the next year. Went to a new Optometrist- the one we see now. He brought his old glasses and during the exam she told him the script was way off. He got a new pair with the new script and could see.

I really like this Optometrist- She spends time listening, gives you options etc. There may come a time I have to see one of the other medical doctors, but for now I’m quite satisfied.

 

I get the scan every other year. I have to pay for it out of pocket but it's worth it not to have my pupils dilated (I don't do the dilation on the off years either).

 

That's the main thing! Our optometrist in Clear Lake has had the Opticon (or whatever name) scanner for several years - YAY! I'll never go to an optometrist who did not have one. The dilation meds would nauseate me until they completely wore off - no thanks! I could either wait in my car until I could see or call someone to pick me up. Never again.

 

Around here they use Optomap, seems like for 30 years or so.

 

I’ve been to 2 different Optometrist offices and the Opthalmologist office and was never offered this exam. I go every year and never skip a year. Small town health care we are a few years behind on all the newest gadgets.

 

I haven't had an eye exam in a few years. Probably time for another. I have had the "bright flash picture exam" (or whatever it's called) a couple of times, though. But it didn't stop them from dilating my eyes. They both just seemed to be part of the standard exam.

 

I hope my doctor has that machine - I have an eye appointment the end of the month and hate getting eyes dilated...

 

https://www.optos.com/

^ above link for anyone who wants to read more about the Optos line of machines ( I believe Optomap is the name of the exam, yes they patented an exam name, I know). They have various versions and prices.

My optometrist at Costco got one a few years back. The only downside is that its so cheap to do the scan ($20 or $30) that I usually do it anyway cause YOLOoooooo.

Speaking of YOLO, the Optos actually saved someone's life by identifying a blood vessel blockage early: https://www.massdevice.com/how-optos-retinal-scanner-saved-a-physicians-life/