thanks to the o.d.'s.......

[deleted6669]

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recently had a pt refered to the er from the local optometrist at the mall. young lady in her early 30's went to be evaluated for glasses due to loss of peripheral vision b/l over 24 hrs. astute O.D. quickly recognized significant bitemporal field cuts and sent pt to er immediately for work up. long story made short: pt seen by me, stat ct showed evolving subdural bleed(occipital). admited to neurosurgery for cure. to the unknown o.d.....thanks for the assist!

 

[cpw]

thanks for telling us about it 😀

 

[Potato!]

Someone needs to get a hold of these types of stories and get them published in some newspapers. Teach the public that an optometrist can do other things besides writing a prescription for new glasses. It is especially important in places like British Columbia where it will soon be legal for opticians to refract without an optometrist present. If the public understood the additional benefit they could receive from a full eye exam, they probably wouldn't opt to cheap out. Teaching the public however, is easier said then done...

My 2 cents

 

[christie]

Today I learned about Racemose angioma and how its an O.D's responsibility to write a letter to the patient's dentist and internist who present with this outrageous looking fundus in association with A-V malformations elsewhere, a condition called Wyburn-Mason syndrome. This condition affects the facial/jaw bone.

A woman had oral surgery and the patient's O.D. did not write a letter to the dentist and during surgery the patient hemorrhaged, if the O.D. notified the dentist, he could have been aware of the condition and this wouldn't have occured. Hopefully, other O.D.'s including myself will not make this mistake.

 

[JennyW]

Today I learned about Racemose angioma and how its an O.D's responsibility to write a letter to the patient's dentist and internist who present with this outrageous looking fundus in association with A-V malformations elsewhere, a condition called Wyburn-Mason syndrome. This condition affects the facial/jaw bone.

A woman had oral surgery and the patient's O.D. did not write a letter to the dentist and during surgery the patient hemorrhaged, if the O.D. notified the dentist, he could have been aware of the condition and this wouldn't have occured. Hopefully, other O.D.'s including myself will not make this mistake.

This is an interesting case. But Wyburn Mason syndrome is generally not something that an OD would find and then say "HEY! You have Wyburn Mason! Neat! I'll see you next year!" Generally these patients have neuro imaging done, are seen by specialists, and therefore, should be at least somewhat aware that they have something going on.

Does this patient bear some responsibility?? Why did the patient not mention this to the dentist??

That is probably a whole separate thread. How much responsibility do patients bear for their own health care? How many patients have you seen that have no clue what medications they're taking, despite the fact that these medicines are likely keeping the patient alive? How many patients have you seen where the history goes something like this:

You: Have you had any surgery?
Patient: Yes. I had quadruple bypass.
You: Ok. Who did that?
Patient: I don't know.
You: What hospital was it done at?
Patient: I don't know.

Ok. So what you are saying is that someone cut into your chest, fooled around with your heart, most likely saving your life, and you have no idea where it was done, or the name of the person who did it? Yikes.

Jen

 

[cpw]

that happens more at the VA than I would like to admit. Fortunately I work at a paperless hospital where it's all connected and I can just go... oh! you saw dr X last week. How did that go ? It's great!

But unfortunately in private offices it goes more like the dialog above. (I love it when patients bring their meds with them !!) ---- except for when I had one lady you brought them in a loose ziploc bag and half of them I had to identify by site !! 🙁 not fun !!