Jul 24, 2008

Negative assumption leads to frustration

Dr. Soss / Daily News Columnist

Dr. Soss,

I'm really angry at the eye doctors I've seen lately. My eyes have been changing over the last 5-8 years. I'm very nearsighted and have (they tell me) a large amount of astigmatism. When my contact lenses are in my eyes, I also can't read very well. The problem is that none of the doctors I've seen can successfully fit me with contact lenses that make my vision really good both far away and at near. But, the lenses cost an arm and a leg. They want me to pay for it before I'm even satisfied. What kind of scam are these guys running? Nobody has found a way to get me the lenses I want. So, why should I pay for them?

R.W.

R.W.,

Do you honestly believe that these eye doctors are really out to "scam" you? Perhaps the problem is that the variables of your prescriptive needs and your expectations are not in sync. Your problem is not uncommon. Recently, I had a patient come into my office having seen at least two other eye doctors before me. He too was unsatisfied with his vision. He is extremely nearsighted with a distorted and progressively thin cornea (a disease known as Keratoconus). In addition, he has other eye pathologies which further reduce his vision. Just like you, he wants better vision, using contact lenses only. This requires a very expensive custom manufactured contact lens. I advised ahead of time that his expectation to achieve better vision is not realistic with the parameters associated with his eyes. However, he insisted we try.

When contact lenses are ordered on a patients behalf (especially custom lenses) there is a great deal of commitment by the eye doctor to calculate what might work the best for a particular patient. Additionally, the eye doctor must pay the manufacturer for the lenses that the patient desires. It is very obvious with this patient, (whose thinking is just like yours) that there is a great deal of frustration associated with trying to solve a problem that has no possible ideal resolution. Having said that; you are being unbelievably selfish and arrogant to think that these eye doctors are not making their best efforts to help you. The fact that you are not willing to pay until you are happy with the outcome (and if not you will not pay at all) is outrageous. When your placed on antibiotics by your family doctor, do you tell the pharmacist at your local drugstore that you will pay for the antibiotics only after you are sure they will work? Of course not! But, if you leave the pharmacy without paying, you would be arrested for stealing.

Unfortunately, not every problem in life is resolvable to your complete satisfaction. So, get off of your high and mighty horse and try to have a positive assumption that these professional individuals are doing there best. Not paying your bill will only continue to increase health care costs.



Questions to Dr. Soss should be sent to his e-mail theeyedoctor@att.net or via his Web site at www.dr-andrewsoss.com. All answers and opinions are those of Dr. Soss and not necessarily shared, endorsed or affiliated with this or any of our newspaper agencies. Dr. Andrew C. Soss, OD, FAAO, has been practicing for over 20 years. During that time he has been a clinical instructor in the department of ocular pathology at the University of California. As a primary eye care provider in private practice in Burlingame, he is also board certified in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of primary open angle glaucoma.