Can I contact any ophthalmologist or will DoDMERB tell me who to go see?

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Vision Disqualification

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R152.35 Obtain a corneal topography exam with a written interpretation and the original color topography results
R151.01 Consult - ophthalmologist regarding regarding high myopia. Please perform comprehensive eye exam including axial length both eyes, dilate fundus exam to evaluate for peripheral retinal pathology including lattice degeneration, retinal holes/tears or other risk factors for retinal detachment. Will need corneal topography that includes axial saggital curvature, pachymetry maps and posterior float elevation maps. Belin Ambrosio Ectasia Display is an example of the topography that will provide this. 2) R152.02 - Obtain a dilated fundoscopic exam and document whether lattice present or not, retinal holes or other defects noted. 3) R152.35 ? Obtain corneal topography that includes axial saggital curvature, pachymetry maps and posterior float elevation maps. Belin Ambrosio Ectasia Display is an example of the topography that will provide this.
R152.02 Obtain a dilated fundoscopic exam

I honestly don't know what most of these things mean, but according to the Doctor in question he isn't sure he can do the tests required.
 
So it appears you're a high myope which means your eye glasses/contacts prescription is worse than about -6.00 diopters. High myopes are associated with a higher prevalence of pathology in the retina like retinal holes, tears, lattice degeneration, and Fuch's spots. All these conditions also put you at higher risk for retinal detachment. A dilated fundus exam (DFE) is where you will get an eye drop to dilate your pupils. This gives the ophthalmologist (or an optometrist) the ability to better look into the back of your eye to make sure your retina doesn't have any badness going on. This is not a fun test (quite frankly can be painful) if the examiner also does a "scleral depression" with the DFE.

The BAD test and corneal topography will take a look at the shape of your cornea (layer in front of your eye). An irregular shape can explain why your vision is the way it is. If you've ever seen a contour map of the earth, then that is what those tests will look like. The colors will tell the examiner the contour of your cornea. Looks like DODMERB wants the results in color so make sure you get those from the examiner. The colors should be red, blue (light and dark, green, and yellow with lines.

To distinguish between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist, I call the former an eye "surgeon" and the latter an eye "doctor." Ophthalmologists are physicians who graduated from medical school and a 4-year residency in ophthalmology. Optometrists go to optometry school and some do a "residency" in a specialized area but not all of them. Optometrists treat all eye disease but cannot do surgery. In general, ophthalmologists can do all the tests above. Optometrists, if they are in a standalone practice, may or may not do all of the above. In many cases, ophthalmologists and optometrists work in the same practice so they should be able to do all the tests mentioned above. Is your eye professional an ophthalmologist or optometrist? MD vs OD?
 
Speaking from my DS’s experience, locate the best ophthalmologist in your area, explain the situation, and try to get an exam ASAP. My advice is to make sure the office staff at the clinic understands the urgency.

Best wishes, & persevere!!
 
I was speaking to an OD. I called DoDMETS today and was informed they will provide me with the means of scheduling the appointment as soon as they receive the orders from DoDMERB which will take as long as 5 business days. I can get another Ophthalmologist to do the exams before they receive their orders. However, I am required to pay for another Ophthalmologist. I am not sure if getting it done a week early will be worth the money or if I should just wait for DoDMERB and DoDMETS to schedule an appointment asking for everything.

The possibility of going to an ophthalmologist and being unable to get everything to DoDMERB's specifications done at one time is very scary and makes me feel as if I should just wait for the process to work itself out. I am just also fearful that the window for acceptance will pass before I deemed qualified.
 
The benefit of having your own doctor do the exam is that they will hopefully be sympathetic to your cause and you get to choose who does it. And it will be accelerated a week. Time is a concern.
 
Vision Disqualification said:
I was speaking to an OD. I called DoDMETS today and was informed they will provide me with the means of scheduling the appointment as soon as they receive the orders from DoDMERB which will take as long as 5 business days. I can get another Ophthalmologist to do the exams before they receive their orders. However, I am required to pay for another Ophthalmologist. I am not sure if getting it done a week early will be worth the money or if I should just wait for DoDMERB and DoDMETS to schedule an appointment asking for everything.

The possibility of going to an ophthalmologist and being unable to get everything to DoDMERB's specifications done at one time is very scary and makes me feel as if I should just wait for the process to work itself out. I am just also fearful that the window for acceptance will pass before I deemed qualified.
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If I were in your shoes, I would not wait. It seems that DoDMERB was very specific about what they want. In my DS’s case, right before his exam, one last call was placed to DoDMERB to verify again exactly what they wanted. We were anxious, too. Every day one waits is a day lost. Also, in my opinion, it certainly is worth the money to get this accomplished ASAP. I can’t stress enough how important it is that the clinic understands the urgency. And, when the report is completed, you will want to forward it to your rep at DoDMERB immediately. Don’t just assume that it’s up to the clinic to handle this. My DS micromanaged these steps because of the importance and timing.

Good luck.
 
Alright. I have seen Fort Stewart MTF today and finished my exam. I'm very fearful of the fact it's an optometrist and not an optalmologist is scary. But according to this OD he will contact DODMERBB and ensure his consultation is fine. If not, I will be returning tomorrow for their optalmologist. They are very concerned of the specific nature of the requests. It just so happens I'm on active duty orders at Fort Stewart at the moment so this was the fastest thing I could do.
 
Personally, it doesn’t matter who - eye doctor or eye surgeon - does the tests. I mentioned the difference only because I’ve seen a lot of eye doctors (optometrists) who are in a stand-alone practice that don’t have the capability to do the tests you mentioned above.

If the eye doctor at Ft Stewart can do the tests, then that’s just as good as the eye surgeon doing them in my mind. If the eye doctor has any questions about interpreting the tests, then he just walks down the hallway to get the eye surgeon to weigh in.

Good luck. Hope it all works out for you.
 
Well I'm scared. I don't know what the charts mean. I don't mind sharing them with everyone here if they want to see, but I'm pretty uncertain. They said surgery wasn't a bad idea, but that's a no go for usma.
 
Yeah, but then he immediately followed up with its up to them to give me a waiver. And there is a much higher risk of me getting a retinal detachment then an average soldier. It's pretty unnerving.
 
Vision Disqualification said:
I'm also still scared about timing even though I handled the remedial the day after they gave me the ami request.
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Good job acting promptly. You might want to obtain a copy of the report for your own records/knowledge. If you need clarification on anything, be sure to ask the doctor. Never give up hope. Always persevere! Hang in there!!
 
Did the eye doctor say who have an increased risk of RD because of only risk factor? It in this case, then it would be the fact you're a high myope.

Or did the he say you had something going on in your retina like a hole or tear which would increase your risk for an RD even more?
 
Ouch. I don't think that'll get waivered.

However, I need to caveat my opinion by letting you know I don't (and never have) work for DODMERB or any of the commissioning source waiver authorities so I don't know their decision-making process.

Good luck though. Keep pushing go get the paperwork done. If you don't, then you'll know for sure you won't get a waiver. By submitting the info needed for the waiver, you'll at least keep yourself in the admissions process.
 
The problem is, I've looked at the paperwork and he hasn't noted anything other than a reccomendation to see a retina specialist for further testing.
 
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