Dancing Buttacupp

Last Friday the 18th I managed to sneak off..(ok, so I got my boss to approve) to KL to go for eye check-ups to satisfy my curiosity. I left my house at 6.45am and arrived at my friend’s house around the same time in the evening.

My observations of some private doctors:

* If you don’t do your research or bring a report from an initial check-up, they won’t bother to perform a full test

The first Dr of the day is very prominent. I was advised to get his (name obscured to protect Dr’s identity) expert opinion on my condition. After telling the good Dr my problem, I was quicly asked to look into the eye contraption, and followed by manual spot-light check.

It was deduced that yes, I do have cataract. However, it was then I was informed that I have 2 holes in my retinas.

Nice.

He believed that the cataract isn’t serious, and I should delay surgery. Instead,  buy photogray lense and come in for regualr 6-month check-ups to see the ‘progress’ of the cataract.

The holes in my retina however, is serious.

Naturally, after discovering you have another eye problem, you have all these questions. I didn’t appreciate that the Dr was trying to ’shoo’ me out the door by speaking at faster, and not anwering any of my questions. What was annoying is how most of the advice was on quickly I should get my operation. Imagine, I had all these questions and it was left for me to find the answers on my own.

Not surprisingly, I was charged 3 times more than the first Dr.

Nice.

Then, I decided to get a 3rd opinion. The 3rd Doc performed an additional test and concluded that I have cataract, but I do not have a serious issue with the holes in  my retinas. He advised me to come in for regular 6 monthly check-ups.

I was charged some where between the 1st and the 2nd Doc.

In a nutshell, here is the chronology of conclusion:

Doc #1

• Performed a one-process-check-up
• Discovered congenital cataract
• Advised to go for surgery
• Charged RM 50

Doc #2

• Performed a 2-process-check-up
• Confirmed Cataract
• Discovered holes in the retina
• Dissented from the cataract removal surgery
• Encouraged surgery to correct the holes in my retinas
• Charged RM 165

Doc #3

• Performed a 3-process check-up
• Confirmed the 2 problems above
• Advised against having any surgery since it is not critical
• Charged RM 105

The issues are:

• Why isn’t there a standard process for an eye check-up (or any check-up)? I knew if I didn’t know about these popular ailments they would not have cared to perform the additional processes. I was outraged as I failed to understand how Doc #1 didn’t even detect the holes in my retinas.
• How can Doctors have very different views on the same topic? Yes, many things are subjective, but hey, if holes in your retina is serious, then show me how serious and stop telling me to do an operation when you can’t back it up with facts.
• At the ridiculous rate that you’re charging your patients, at least perform a FULL check-up. Nobody is dieing in your department that day nor were there any patients with critical problems.

Then I realized that many practicing Docs in the private hospitals and clinics don’t really care about the welfare of their patients. If they did, they would have bothered to ask you about your condition, they would have performed all necessary tests, and given the best medical advice. Furthermore, just because people pay more, doesn’t mean they will give the best service or care for your more. It only means they get more money. I’m not saying all are like this, but 3 out of 3 that I met are. Wait, is it an ASian thing? (giggles)

Last resort, go to a Govt Hospital and get an advice.

That check-up will have to be in mid-July.

Darnit.

On the flipside of things, it does put the pressure off of me. I will delay ALL surgeries until I have more info.

Until then, it’s photogray glasses and buh bye contacts (sob sob). The brightside is, I still have my eyes. Alhamdulillah

-Asma Wan signing off-

Some of us are forced to consider options in life:

"To accept a lower paying job but fulfills developmental and creativity needs OR the more glamorous high paying jobs?"

" To accept someone to satisfy that irratitating feeling of loneliness when you have exactly nothing in common, OR trust that the soulmate is just around the corner but you haven’t spotted him yet ?"

" To either be unpopular in your decisions for the greater good (family, society, career,etc) OR fan-and-nodding your way up in life ?"

" To continue consuming sinfully rich and fattening food like cheese cake, brownies, etc, OR opt for a healthier life style ?"

"To be a working mom OR a stay-at-home mom ?"

" To send your children to private, public, OR chinese/indian/religious schools?"

Yes, some of us have to make difficult decisions and hope that our good intentions will produce the best results.

How about, "should we go for surgery knowing the high risks of failure and the resulting potential disaster

OR

do we allow nature to take its course, enjoy the time that you have now and wait for the disaster to take affect in due time? "

A history of eye problems brought me to a specialist. My expectations were simple: Eye drops or anti-biotics or the sort.

Then, the cute Dr revealed to me something that explained all the unexplainable moments in my life.

- The occurrence of my lazy eye

- The reason why my vision changes ever-so-frequently

- The sensitivities I have towards glare

So, that’s when I discovered what congenital cataract is.

The normal cataract that I know usually makes an entrance to 45-year-old folks and above. My late-grandpa had it, my grandma had it, and my mom’s condition is still at the early stages. This is not a hereditary ailment, it is a condition that happens when people grow older. Similar ailments are Alzheirmers, etc.

Naturally my jaw dropped when the Dr informed me of my condition. Guessing that I knew what cataract is, she explained.

This condition mostly happens at birth, and it is very rare, affecting 0.03% of babies. Hence, it is called congenital cataract and not senile cataract (the normal one).

Due to my young age and the rarity of the condition, surgery is highly risky. Potential negative repercussions from the operations must be anticipated.

Initially, I thought that the surgery only required laser treatment. Boy, how wrong I was. Laser treatment only corrects the ‘blurry vision’ of a patient. It corrects the vision back to 20-20.

To remove cataract, the Dr had to cut my eyes, remove my infected lense, and replace them with new ones. That’s it. Sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it? No sweat.

Piece of cake.

My eyes will still be blurry (because the blurriness was not corrected), but at least the the grey matter covering my lense is removed.

If I opt not to have the surgery, the disease will cover the whole lense, and one day and I will lose my sight forever. It’s how long I am willing to wait.

I am actually considering waiting, but then I realized that I couldn’t drive when the sun is too bright (eye had to be closed), I had to sleep through a movie as my eyes couldn’t stand the glare, and had to close my eyes when vehicles put on the high beam at night (while screaming!), couldn’t watch TV at Ira’s house cos the light was blinding…so I guess it’s pretty serious.

The plus side is congenital cataract is not hereditary (so it won’t be passed down to my future generations), and that it is not reversible.

From the looks of it, I am fairly certain to go through with this. I am putting my faith in the Dr. Heard that Dr Baljit Kaur is the best in the nation. Need to track her down…

This is when  I wish I can spend more time with my family and friends. I wish I could travel the world, check out historical and lovely sceneries…or just sit in front of the Travel and Living, and Discovery Channel more!

Then again…this is for the best.

I’m a big girl.

A big girl shouldn’t cry.

Whatever happens happens.

Do remember me in your thoughts and prayers.

Okie dokie guys. I’ll see you when you see me. Pardon the pun

-Asma wan signing off-