Has anyone had to take their dc to a retina specialist?

[summerreading]

I took my 13 year old to a developmental eye doctor. She did a full exam and dilated him and said she saw some "tugging" on one retina. She said it could be from growing but is sending us to a specialist. I'm wondering what to expect and if anyone has had this issue before.

 

Thanks.

[gardenmom5]

I took dudeling to a retina guy when he was a year old.  he has two blank spots on his rentina.  we watch them, but they're stable.

 

I used to work for one.  it's not much different from any other eye exam.  they will dilate just to be able to see the retina.  depending upon what is going on, perhaps some additional tests.  but it's nothing to worry about.

[Pawz4me]

My mother had to see a retina specialist regularly for several years and I always took her. As Kristen said, it's really not much different from any other eye professional. The one my mom saw had a series of tests that were usually done, so we'd get taken to one room where someone would do something, then to a waiting room, then to another room for something else, back to the waiting room and so on until we finally saw the specialist. So the appointments were always rather time consuming.

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

I've got all sorts of retina issues.  Agreeing with the others, it *feels* like your standard eye appointment.  

[prairiewindmomma]

In addition, they may do a special type of test called an OCT(optical coherence tomography) where they take cross section "photographs" to map out the retina.  It feels like a standard eye exam, but it's another machine you stick your chin into and you stare at a dot.  Likewise, a visual field test---you stare into a machine and click a button  every time you see a pinprick of light.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Dd goes to a retinal specialist. She complains that there is a lot of "hurry up and wait ". She also complains that she's the only young person in the waiting room. ;). That probably depends on the doctor's office.

 

Once her eyes are dilated, it is hard for her to read etc. so we spend the time talking or doing verbal games.

 

 

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[summerreading]

Ok thanks. I'm getting to plan something since it seems lot likes of waiting.

[umsami]

My husband is a retina guy.  First, be prepared to wait.  A lot.  Typical appointment can take 2-4 hours and there is often a lot of waiting.  Why so long? Part of it is just the nature of all that is done...the dilating, etc.  Part is because if the retina guy encounters somebody with a detachment that can be fixed in office like with laser or cryo....they'll do it then.  

 

Usually, you'll go back for dilating drops, basic vision check, etc.  Then you wait....while the eye dilates.  They'll likely do an OCT, which is painless.  They should not do an FA on your son.  (Fluouroscein Angiogram...let's them look at the veins in the back of the eye.)  They will likely look at the back of your child's eye using a slit lamp and a lens....and he will be told to look up, look up to the right, look right, etc.  You may hear them talk about the "cup" and it's size...this refers to the optic nerve.  They may also choose to scleral depress him, which is painless....but involves the chair lying back flat or almost flat.  The doctor uses a metal tool to press on the sclera (white part) as they look at the back of the eye using a lens.  This allows them to see the periphery better.  

 

Your eye has this gel like substance called the vitreous.  It can tug on the retina causing a detachment.  This is often seen with high myopes due to the egg shape that the eye takes when one is myopic (negative prescription versus positive...so glasses/contacts would say something like OD -8.5 D  and OS -7.5 D )

Edited December 3, 2016 by umsami

[TravelingChris]

I go and get visual field screening tests which I really dislike but am glad that the recommendation now is only once a year- I take a drug that can cause retinal damage.  Otherwise the exam is like a regular exam with dilation.

[Crimson Wife]

I took my DD to see one after the diagnosis of her hearing loss because I guess it's standard to check for early signs of Usher's Syndrome (most common cause of later-onset deaf-blindness). As it turns out, the genetic tests later ruled out Usher's Syndrome and found a different mutation but I'm glad that the ophthalmologist checked DD's retina. It was a long appointment but not that different from a regular eye exam. They did do that scan thing that prairiewindmomma mentioned. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

The scans they do will depend on what they find to some extent.

[Hammfried]

I just had my fundus eye photograph done a couple of weeks ago. It's basically a photograph of your eyeball and can show clear imaging of your retina, macula, and blood vessels. This is helpful for tracking diabetes and other silent illnesses in older patients. You stare at a green light in a machine and it takes a digital image of your eyeball, so pretty quick and painless. My doctor keeps the images in my record to refer back to for any sudden changes. My particular insurance doesn't cover the exam but we pay out of pocket for the reassurance since retinal detachment is kind of a big thing in my immediate family.

 

Are you able to call the specialist's office before the appointment to ask what types of exams they offer?

[Bootsie]

My husband is a retina guy.  First, be prepared to wait.  A lot.  Typical appointment can take 2-4 hours and there is often a lot of waiting.  Why so long? Part of it is just the nature of all that is done...the dilating, etc.  Part is because if the retina guy encounters somebody with a detachment that can be fixed in office like with laser or cryo....they'll do it then.  

 

I see a retina specialist. I have never waited that long--even the two times I have had laser surgery for retina tears or the times that the specialist has seen me on an emergency basis.   My father had a detached retina and had laser surgery in the mid-1960s when it was brand new.  One of my earliest childhood memories is going to the retina specialist with him--arriving at 8:00am and not seeing the specialist until noon.  I haven't experienced that in years, however.

[umsami]

I see a retina specialist. I have never waited that long--even the two times I have had laser surgery for retina tears or the times that the specialist has seen me on an emergency basis.   My father had a detached retina and had laser surgery in the mid-1960s when it was brand new.  One of my earliest childhood memories is going to the retina specialist with him--arriving at 8:00am and not seeing the specialist until noon.  I haven't experienced that in years, however.

 

You are lucky. :)  Most retina places have very long waits.  If one looks at reviews on Vitals.com or something regarding a retina doctor, often that is what the patient mentions. I just wanted her to know that is pretty much the norm, and to expect it.  If you luck out and don't wait...yippee! :)  

[Ellesmere]

I know someone, (not young, though), who had to go and it ended up being a lengthy visit because the first visit was for a known issue and needed immediate treatment. They didn't know that going in, though, but luckily both the patient and the driver had the whole day free.

I think they were there (unexpectedly) for three hours or something ... longer than expected. Everything was fine and follow up visits, AFAIK, were not that long. But I know for me, I plan extra  time on any eye exam because of the dilation and all the issues that I have with it. Not everyone has the same problems, though.

[Bootsie]

You are lucky. :)  Most retina places have very long waits.  If one looks at reviews on Vitals.com or something regarding a retina doctor, often that is what the patient mentions. I just wanted her to know that is pretty much the norm, and to expect it.  If you luck out and don't wait...yippee! :)

Ugggh.  I do have memories of long waits as a child with my dad at the retina specialist.  I was hoping things had changed.  I recently moved but have continued to see my specialist (250 miles away) because she is highly recommended and has closely monitored my situation (and I can schedule appointments when I am visiting family).  I have been thinking that I need to find someone new locally in case I have an emergency.  

[Jean in Newcastle]

As others mentioned, some of the long waits can be because you are waiting for different things.  In our office, you go check in with the receptionist and wait to be called (not very long).  Then you go to the room and have an exam from a PA and have dilation.  We then wait in another waiting room for the next test or doctor depending on what they want.  The more tests, the more waiting for whoever is doing that test (and presumably for the machine).  The actual specialist is at the end and doesn't take very long.  At least that is how it goes at our office.  Lately dd hasn't needed as many tests because her condition is stable and is just being monitored at this point.  So her visits go a lot quicker now. 

[summerreading]

Thanks for all the feedback . God willing, the waiting is the worst part. I hope the doctor is just being overly cautious.