Should I see an MD, opthamologist or optometrist?

[TejasFJR]

The first week in March I found I had a broken blood vessel in my right eye. Given that I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before and then spent a long day riding, I thought it was likely do to eye strain. About 3 weeks later I woke up and found I had another one in exactly the same spot. I'd been working some late nights and again attributed to eye strain. Well yesterday, I found my 3rd in about a two month period. I was about to schedule an eye appointment but started to wonder if I shouldn't maybe go see an MD.

Thought I'd ask to see if any of you had any experience with something like this.

 

[ionbeam]

Seeking medical help/advice from a motorcycle forum? :blink: :blind: <_<

Dr. TWN? Dr. Rad?

Where is GR8EYES when you really need him :clapping:

 

[radman]

Find someone who specializes in Vampire Medicine. Avoid an evening appointment just in case.

 

[TejasFJR]

Seeking medical help/advice from a motorcycle forum? :blink: :blind: <_<
Dr. TWN? Dr. Rad?

Where is GR8EYES when you really need him :clapping:

See what the world comes to when you spend most of your day interacting with a keyboard???

Besides, thought there might be one or two reasonable responses in the sea of smartassed replies I'd likely get.

 

[radman]

Seeking medical help/advice from a motorcycle forum? :blink: :blind: <_<

Dr. TWN? Dr. Rad?

Where is GR8EYES when you really need him :clapping:

See what the world comes to when you spend most of your day interacting with a keyboard???

Besides, thought there might be one or two reasonable responses in the sea of smartassed replies I'd likely get.

Fine. Start with Mr. MD. He'll steer you in the right direction should it be necessary. But don't blame me if you show at 19 hundered hours and he's wearing a cape.

 

[ionbeam]

Besides, thought there might be one or two reasonable responses in the sea of smartassed replies I'd likely get

WellHell, I gave a somewhat useful answer -- GR8EYES is your man, the Forum's resident eye doc. For real. Look up his profile and drop him a message. Dunno how he will handle the billing. Paypal?

 

[FJRocket]

My brother was a diabetic and used to burst blood vessels in the BACK of his eyes all of the time, resulting in quite a bit of reduced vision and need for cryo/laser surgery. Don't know about vessels in the front where you can see them in the mirror. If it were me, I'd already be at an opthamologist getting run through the mill.

Yes, where is GR8EYES when you need him?!?

 

[vectervp1]

Didn't your mom ever tell you if you kept doing that you would go blind?!?

If your worried about it, I would go see your family doc. Alot of times med insurance will not cover an eye doc unless you are referred by your family doc.

 

[TejasFJR]

Since I'm only home on Fridays, scheduling stuff can be a pain. Went ahead and made an appt Friday afternoon to see my family Dr.

 

[Fallen Jim Rides again]

Since I'm only home on Fridays, scheduling stuff can be a pain. Went ahead and made an appt Friday afternoon to see my family Dr.

Marcos, good choice. My dad had that problem and it was related to high blood pressure. Go see the MD. Your daughters will thank you later.

On a side note, still waiting for the chance to ride out west of the metroplex. IF you and SO are so inclined. Been pretty busy for a while but the semester is winding down now and May is looking pretty good for medium distance rides.

 

[Scab]

GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED!

 

[twowheelnut]

Hey, don't look toward me for medical advice. Hell, I'm still trying to come to terms with the 'floaters' running around in my eyeballs!

And, word. PM gr8eyes. Glenn's a gr8 guy and I'm sure he'll steer you in the right direction.

 

[TejasFJR]

Jim,

May should be a good month for us. She's done with the sememster and the girls still have classes for the month. Hoping we get some good Friday rides in and we're definately going to take you up on showing us around your parts here before too long.

As far as the high blood pressure, I'll double check it this evening at the Walgreen's down the road but I've always been notorious for having really good blood pressure. I'd think there'd be other symptoms if that were it but I really don't know. Regardless will get a quick read this evening.

Also, thanks for the suggestion that I PM gr8eyes. Just sent him one.

 

[JimLor]

Good call on seeing a doc. I was cooking breakfast one morning and Lorie looked at me in shock and said words to the effect, holy crap your what happened to your eye! Bloody looking - I figured it didn't hurt so no big deal, but she MADE me to to the eye doc right away. Checked my BP first - actually forgot what she said about it, but no more problems.

 

[donaldb]

TejasFJR-Scab is right you really better have your BP ck'd. Those mall and store machines are not always accurate and blood pressure should always be taken based on an average, which means, you should have it ck'd every day, a couple times a day for about a week, write it all down and then take an average. They have a machine at my gym, I ck my BP when I arrive and when I leave every M,W & F. Take your BP at relaxed times and stress times. Also, Glycoma has to do w/internal eye pressure, as I am borderline and am checked every year. I am not sure if such internal pressure would in any way have an affect on your recent problems. Suggest you have all this checked closely--and soon

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I figure an MD, or Opthamologist would be my first stop, but I do like my MD and many of them are useless.

That said, I really only replied to show you how much our community cares about you

 

[TejasFJR]

Aww shucks I feel all warm and fuzzy now. Couldn't get in to see the Dr so it looks like I'm going to have to see one of their nurse practitioners. Hope she's cute.

 

[gr8eyes]

Tejasfjr, sorry for such a long delay in the response but I've been busy and just saw your PM and this thread.

The blood pressure recommendation is a simple place to start but I'm doubtful thats the problem. It would have to be stroke high to cause the blood vesseld in the eye to break.

Actually what you have is called a subconjunctival hemorrage and id very common. the most common reason in descending order are:

1) idiopathic-that is no one knows why it occurred

2) pressure build up in your head- ie when holding your breath, lifting alot of weight,sneezing,vomiting, blowing your nose etc.......

3) Some rare blood dyscrasia's- ie sickle cell anemia

One question: are you on any blood thinners or routinely taking aspirin?

We do usually get a bit concerned when someone has this happen 2-3 times in a 3 month period, but if its in the same place each time that means the wall of the blood vessel is weak in that area now.

I would see an Ophthalmologist if it continue's. But be prepared he'll probably just blow you off till he's seen you several times in a short period of time.

There may be some blood work that he needs to do.

Glenn

 

[TejasFJR]

Tejasfjr, sorry for such a long delay in the response but I've been busy and just saw your PM and this thread.The blood pressure recommendation is a simple place to start but I'm doubtful thats the problem. It would have to be stroke high to cause the blood vesseld in the eye to break.

Actually what you have is called a subconjunctival hemorrage and id very common. the most common reason in descending order are:

1) idiopathic-that is no one knows why it occurred

2) pressure build up in your head- ie when holding your breath, lifting alot of weight,sneezing,vomiting, blowing your nose etc.......

3) Some rare blood dyscrasia's- ie sickle cell anemia

One question: are you on any blood thinners or routinely taking aspirin?

We do usually get a bit concerned when someone has this happen 2-3 times in a 3 month period, but if its in the same place each time that means the wall of the blood vessel is weak in that area now.

I would see an Ophthalmologist if it continue's. But be prepared he'll probably just blow you off till he's seen you several times in a short period of time.

There may be some blood work that he needs to do.

Glenn

Glenn,

I'm not currently on any kind of medication or asprin. As far as any kind of strain that might cause pressure, I can't really think of anything. There for a while I did think that maybe my helmet was a bit too tight but I was feeling discomfort on my ear that has pretty much cleared up.

I had been thinking I should go in to see if my vision Rx needed any adjustment so this just reinforces the need to do that.

Thanks a ton for the info.

-Marcos