Can someone give me the proper medical name for an eye

[babylonsister]

surgeon? It's not opthamologist, but I'm not sure what it is.
Dad is having the needle-in-the-eyeball procedures to try to put a halt on the progression of macular degeneration and will be moving back to FL next week (snowbirds) where he'll have to find one in his area (Ft. Myers). His current NY dr. recommended someone in Naples, but that's too far away, and I just know there are docs blanketing FL, and am sure he could find one closer to home.
So I'm trying to narrow down the field for him via internet, but don't know what they're called.
Any help is appreciated.

[abluelady]

1. I Don't Know What Word You're Looking For

But an opthalmologist is an eye surgeon. Optometrists just do exams, i.e., glasses, contacts, etc.

[shanine]

2. retina specialist

I work for an ophthalmologist who is an eye surgeon and we refer patients to the retina specialist for treatment of macular degeneration. Someday these injections may take place in the ophthalmologist office . . but not yet. Good Luck.




edited for add'tl info

[babylonsister]

7. Thank you! I'll start there! nt

[acmejack]

3. Refractive Surgeon according to the Eye Surgery Education Council

Ocular Surgeon, Opththalmic Surgeon, Oculoplastic Surgeon, Vitreo-retinal Surgeon, Neuro-Ophthalmologist

edit: http://www.eyemdlink.com/Specialties.asp

[babylonsister]

6. Jeeze, so many to choose from! I think I'll have to call and ask

his current doc's name, and look him up. Thanks!

[Warpy]

4. It's an opthalmologist

Their practices include eye surgery. They are MDs, and while some specialize in certain areas, they had to qualify in all areas of ocular surgery.

Optometrists and oculists are not MDs and don't perform surgery.

[babylonsister]

5. Dad specifically claimed the doc wasn't an opthalmologist but

didn't know the exact type of specialist he was. :shrug:

[Warpy]

8. "Ophthalmologist"

or "Physicians--Eye" are the things you look for in the Yellow Pages.

The other titles exist mainly on the doc's letterhead.

[Kali]

9. what is this needle procedure of which you speak?

My Dad has this, or at least seems to be using for an excuse to whine about whenever he feels he is not getting enough "pity attention" (whenever he hears of anybody else's medical problems)

[babylonsister]

10. I'm researching articles now as Dad is not too swift with the

questions we ask him or apparently the ones he asks (or doesn't) his doctor.

Photodynamic therapy sounds about right. Dad did get the dye before this treatment:
http://www.vrmny.com/PDT.htm

And here's another possibility:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/03/26/CMGGHH540K1.DTL

The doctor told him last week that while both eyes have MD (one wet, one dry), the dry eye now has 20/20 vision and the doc claims the wet eye is improving. This was great news considering I've read there is no cure.

[Yoda Yada]

11. I know what your Dad is going through...

I am legally blind in my left eye (macular degeneration-wet) and have 20/20 vision in my right eye....for which I am very thankful.

There is quite a bit of research being done in the area of macular degeneration, and the "needle in the eye" treatment has been very successful for some people. (My condition was too advanced to participate in this treatment.) I live in Southern California, so the research that I was following came out of USC and UCLA. The actor, Dabney Coleman had the "needle in the eye" treatment done several years ago, and it was successful for him. I think it was only an experimental treatment back then, for wet macular degeneration only, and they didn't know how long it would last.

My doctor is in Long Beach California, and is a member of a Retina-Vitreous Medical Group. You might try a google search "Retina-Vitreous Medical Groups Ft. Myers Florida". See where it takes you. On the other hand, I am very big on medical referrals. You might try calling the "Naples doctor" that the NY doctor recommended. Tell them the NY doctor referred your Dad to them, but since it is too far for your Dad to travel, could they recommend a specialist in the Ft. Myers area. You will probably get another referral.

I would also suggest going to www.nfb.org That is the website for the National Foundation of the Blind. (Click on "Resources" or "Services"), but also look at the whole website.

Tell your Dad that, from what I have read, the people who have had this horrible-sounding "needle in the eye" procedure, are surprised at how quickly it is done, and how is not as painful as it sounds. (To the point that if they needed another treatment, they would not hesitate.) There is new research being done all the time concerning macular degeneration . I am glad that for him, he found out about it early.

Good luck. :hi:

[babylonsister]

12. Thank you for this info, Yoda Yada!

Dad already had the needle procedure once, and from all indications the anxiety was far worse than the actual treatment. He's going for his second tomorrow hopefully, and is supposed to keep having it done for awhile (yet to be determined once he finds a doc in FL). I will pass on your advice, RE: calling Naples. That does make a lot of sense.
I'm off to google Retina-Vitreous Medical Groups Ft. Myers Florida.
Again, thanks for your help!
And P.S. to anyone, this is a condition more common than many people know. I plan on getting my eyes checked yearly and will ask my doctor to check in particular for this, though I know sometimes it's not easy to detect.

[Yoda Yada]

14. You're welcome. Also....anyone can/should check out the Amsler Grid.

Just for some general information, the Amsler Grid (Google) is a quick test for macular degeneration that anyone can try if you think there is a problem. It is a picture (printout) of a small grid with a dot in the middle. You cover one eye (at a time), stare at the dot, and if the GRID appears wavy, grey, or distorted in any way, you need to have a checkup. You can do this quick test on your own... in between your regular checkups. Finding this problem EARLY is very important.

[Sgent]

13. Some thoughts`

An Opthomologist is the name of the physician specialty trained in the diagnosis and treatment (through medical or surgical means) of problems of the eye.

An Optomitrist is a non-physician trained in the use of glasses and contact lenses for purposes of correcting vision problems. Depending on the state, and the school /program they attended, they may also have licensure to diagnose and treat simple eye problems.

Various sub-specialties of Opthomology exist, these are physicians who have trained as opthomologists, then recieved additional training in a sub-area. These areas didn't exist in most cases 20-30 years ago, so many of the older surgerons who may have done research or emphasized those areas during their careers, don't have formal training.

Common subspecialties of Opthamology include Virtreous or Virtreo-retinal, neuro-opthomology, and a few others. However, ANYONE who sticks a needle in your eye should be a board certified opthomologist, the subspecialty is often less important (or unimportant).

Other than for the ABMS recongized boards (www.abms.org), membership requirements vary significantly -- many have few or no requirements other than a membership fee.