Eye Specialists

My Experience With Eye Specialists

This happened over twenty years back. My eyesight which was normal till then was getting worse. The power had gone up to minus 5.5 and without glasses in a couple of years and it was difficult for me to recognize a person about ten feet away. My eye doctor had no idea why the power was deteriorating. I decided to have a check up at one of the best eye hospitals in the city. But there was a long waiting list and I was asked to go to their rural centre for a check up. One Dr. G checked my eyes. He asked if I was seeing any black spots. I replied in the negative. He asked me to wait for one year and have a check up. If I saw any black spot, I may go for an immediate check up. I waited for one year and went for another check up. The doctor spent the best part of 2 hours checking my eyes. Drops for dilating had been literally poured into both eyes. With the dilated pupils and bright lights at the examination table, I found it very difficult to open my eyes.

Finally he said that there was some problem and I needed to be examined by Dr. K, a retina specialist at their main hospital. He also got me an appointment for this one afternoon. I came out with both eyes closed as I could not withstand the glare of sunlight.

Two days later, I was at the hospital with my wife at the appointed time. We were made to wait and eye drops were applied regularly. Over two hours passed. Still I was not being called. I was having headache and wanted some coffee. We rushed to the canteen in the basement, gulped some coffee and returned to the seat in a hurry not to miss when called by the doctor. Unfortunately, he had called my name when we were in the canteen. I entered the retina specialist's room with my wife.

He checked my eyes and said I could go. I asked him what was the problem with my eyes. He responded in a strange manner. He said. "Don't tell me you do not know. It is in the file." I was shocked and asked, "How do I know what is in the file? The file is with you." Then he came out with a statement that it was a case of degeneration of the retina. I asked him what should be done about it. He responded with a single syllable, "Nothing."

I realized that I was getting nowhere with him and walked out of the hospital seething in anger. Later I met my friend Dr. N, an eye specialist I knew from my Railway service days. He said degeneration of retina is something common due to age (I was around 52 years of age) and there was no cure. I was not satisfied.

When I met an old friend a few days later, I was describing my experience with the retina specialist. His sister's daughter suggested to him that I could meet Dr. M, who was her friend’s  husband. He was practicing at a place close to my house.

Dr. M is the son of another eye specialist. His wife is also an eye specialist. They were practicing from the first floor of their house. He examined me in detail. I explained the previous history. When I told him that the retina specialist had said nothing can be done, he repeatedly asked me if I was sure. I confirmed that was the opinion of the doctor. Dr. M told me that degeneration of retina can be arrested by cryogenic treatment. It would be painful and can be done immediately. It would cost me Rs.200 and if I was willing, he would treat me right away. I agreed. The treatment lasted just about ten minutes and the pain was manageable.

Dr. M also said that the reason for my eyesight deterioration was a peculiar form of cataract. This type of cataract developed fast resulting in quick power changes. However, I could wait for about a year for getting operated. I went back to him after one year. He said the eyes were ready for operation, but he was going to England for microsurgery training. He could operate me and then go or I might wait for three months for him to return. I was not sure I could face any emergencies if he was not available and hence decided to wait for his return,

He came back by October end and fixed November 3 as the date for the first operation of the left eye. He was doing the operations in a Nursing Home close to our house. I was to get admitted the previous evening. The operation would be the first thing in the morning at 6 am. On the day of admission, I had developed severe cough and was taking some antibiotics. I phoned up the doctor to ask him for advice. He asked me to admit myself. he would bring an ENT specialist to examine me.

My wife and I went to the hospital in the evening of November 2. The doctors examined me and said I was fit for the operation. Since I had been taking antibiotics, there was no risk according to them. The surgery was a smooth affair and the second eye was operated within two weeks.

Later the retina problem had to be attended with laser treatment by Dr. M and my eyesight has remained normal over the years. Dr. M has grown tremendously in his practice. However any patient who visits his hospital will return completely happy about the treatment not only by the doctor but by everyone of the staff as well.

I am writing this to show the readers how some doctors behave with patients in site of being experts in their fields, while there are doctors who consider every patient as someone to care for.

P.S. For obvious reasons I have not mentioned the real names of the doctors.