Not what I asked. Do you consider ametropia a disease (no matter what
degree) and do you tell your your patients that they are suffering
a disease?  I'm not trying to be confrontational here but curious.
Wouldn't
that mean that refracting opticians are diagnosing and treating
eye disease?

A -2.00 uncorrected cyl can cause some asthenopia but I don't
consider that "suffering"- I've had patients in the past that have
been asymptomatic with this amount as well.

Happy new years!

frank

Well, I would think that a .25 cyl doesn't qualify as a significant
refractive error any more than a single sneeze qualifies as an upper
respiratory infection.  But a -2.00 cyl certainly is an ICD 367.21 and
can cause a lot of suffering for the patient...

I guess I learn something new every day. Never considered refractive
error
as a pathology/disease as opposed to a condition.

Now I have to tell little "Billy's" mom that her son has a disease.
Doesn't
matter that he only has a quarter cyIinder; poor kid is still suffering
with a
disease. Is that how you explain it to your patients?
How do you keep them from having their jaws drop to the floor?

You forgot shooting a gun and putting on make-up.  ;)

frank

Well, refractive errors have disease codes (ICD), and would certainly
seem to qualify as something that can cause discomfort and/or disability.

To say that driving is the "only" danger for uncorrected ametropes is
definitely wrong.  Consder flying, crane operation, baseball, machine
shop work, carpentry, I could go on but you get the idea...

w.stacy, o.d.

I don't consider a refractive error a "disease".  It is not a
health/sight threatening
situation to the person (assuming the person is an adult and no danger
of
developing amblyopia).The person is only a
danger when driving (if not meeting the dmv requirements) and should
realize that
she/he places own self and others in harms way while driving
uncorrected.

frank

We simply remind ourselves: "The patient has the disease".  In other
words, if the patient is not motivated to comply with/use a therapy,
non compliance is the patient's problem.  If he patient does not meet
the legal driving requirements, I report that to the MOT and inform the
patient that she must legally use them driving.

You can't help; if poor vision does't bother your friend it shouldn't
bother you and nothing you can do will make her wear them.  Don't get
in a car with her if she drives without them.

Dr Judy

What do you do when you get a patient whose in denial about needing glasses?
My friend obviously can barely see past her nose but won't wear them, it just
seems so stupid and I don't know how to help.