Something Can Be Done!

Photo Credit: Bill Lloyd, MD

Have you felt it?

Recently there has been a run of pessimism on our WebMD Vision & Eye Disorders message board. An unusually large percentage of visitors are suffering, worried, frustrated, or all of the above. A common thread running through these messages is exhaustion...everything has been tried and there appears to be little more for their doctors to offer.

"Isn't there anything else that can be done?"

This is a critical point in the patient care experience and it can define when doctors actually become healers.

Here's what I know: There is always something else that can be done.

Trying again - Some treatments don't work the first time. Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy often has to be repeated. The trick here is to be patient and give your treatment sufficient time to work. Don't hesitate to ask the doctor, "Would it help to repeat this treatment?"

Alternatives - When Doctor A informs you she has nothing else to offer, perhaps Doctor B does! It could be clinical expertise or technology. Some physicians are reluctant to refer patients elsewhere for fear of losing them permanently. Keep probing for answers. Don't hesitate to ask the doctor, "Can you recommend someone else who has experience dealing with my problem?"

Innovative options - If conventional treatments are unsuccessful it may be time to think outside the box. Are any investigative clinical research studies being conducted to explore your condition? Off-label use of FDA-approved drugs frequently leads to drug breakthroughs. Avastin, Topamax, and even the previously-banned Thalidomide found new ways to relieve "incurable" diagnoses. Don't hesitate to ask the doctor, "Who is doing the most research about this condition?"

Never stop caring - Even if the disease cannot be reversed, even if the eye goes blind, even if the blind eyeball shrinks and disappears, the need for caring never stops. Maybe vision cannot be restored but the patient can still be supported. The fellow eye will require protection and close observation. There will be emotional/behavioral adjustment issues related to the permanent loss of vision. Eye discomfort and cosmetic appearance can always be optimized. Opportunities to care are limited only by the physician's compassion and creativity.

So, remember this. The next time you hear some doctor declare, "I'm so sorry, but there's really nothing that can be done," don't become angry. Find comfort in the knowledge that you have identified that physician's limits. Time to find a new physician.

Related Topics:

• WebMD Eye Health Center
• Coping with Vision Loss

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