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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffMake an appointment with your eye doctor if you have any changes in your vision that worry you. If you're thought to have a retinal tear or retinal detachment, you'll likely be referred to a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating eye diseases (ophthalmologist). You may be referred to an ophthalmologist who is also a retinal specialist.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to absorb all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For retinal detachment, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- What are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- Is my vision loss likely temporary or chronic?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Should I see another specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
- What will determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?
- If I need surgery, how long will recovery take?
- Will I be able to travel after surgery? Will it be safe to travel by plane?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may allow more time to cover points you want to address. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- Have your symptoms been continuous, or occasional?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- Have you had any symptoms in your other eye?
- Have you ever had an eye injury?
- Have you ever experienced eye inflammation?
- Have you ever had eye surgery?
- Do you have any other medical conditions, such as diabetes?
- Have any of your family members ever had a retinal detachment?
- Facts about retinal detachment. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/retinaldetach/retinaldetach.asp. Accessed Oct. 8, 2010.
- Wilkinson CP. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. In: Yanoff M, ed., et al. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Edinburgh, U.K.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/212799885-2/0/1869/0.html. Accessed Oct. 8, 2010.
- Arroyo JG. Retinal detachment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 11, 2010.
- Posterior vitreous detachment, retinal breaks and lattice degeneration. San Francisco, Calif.: American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://one.aao.org/asset.axd?id=99eddbb5-cf3e-4619-a411-887961b738a2. Accessed Oct. 8, 2010.
- Fletcher EC, et al. Retina. In: Riodan-Eva P, et al. Vaughan & Asbury's General Ophthalmology. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=19. Accessed Oct. 8, 2010.
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