Refreshing Honesty

Yesterday, my dad had an appointment with a nationally-renowned eye institute — for a second opinion about his glaucoma. If you aren’t up to date on this story, you can read more here.

My dad was run through a battery of tests — and didn’t get in to the see the actual eye doctor for nearly three hours. When the doctor was finally able to see him, my mom and I were allowed into the room.

A middle-aged man with a round shape, beard, mustache and thinning sandy blond-colored hair came into the room. He wore glasses, and went to immediately wash his hands. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t smile.

I watched his every move.

To warm-up the situation, I spoke up and told the doctor he was going to have an audience today because my mom and I were concerned about my dad’s eyes.

He chuckled, smiled and said cool.

He then reviewed my dad’s paperwork and asked my dad questions. He wanted to know why he wanted a second opinion.

My mom and dad spoke up and told them one of our concerns — that the prescription that was given to my dad was for a new drug. And worse, my dad’s first doctor told him there were no side effects — which we found out was untrue.

The doctor responded that all drugs that he is to prescribe had side effects. None of them didn’t. Even water would produce a side effect.

We laughed and appreciated his honesty, and we did relate to his sense of humor.

Then he asked for the name of the doctor my dad saw.

My dad told him.

There was silence.

I piped up and told the doctor that we had another concern as well: My dad’s eye pressure was on the rise and this other doctor didn’t want to see him but at six month intervals — and that could potentially cost my dad eyesight and I wasn’t happy with that.

The doctor didn’t respond, he just started to examine my dad. He looked into my dad’s eyes with bright lights. I had to look away because I knew it was uncomfortable for my dad.

When the doctor finished, he said he concurred with the other doctor that he definitely had glaucoma. That we were sure of for ourselves. Second, he said that he would also put my dad on the same drug recommended by the other doctor.

We expressed our concerns, fears and cautiousness. I continued to watch the doctor’s every move. I was his harshest critic.

He then told us he would still recommend the drug — and he explained all the potential side effects, what to look for, what to be concerned about. And upon my asking — what he would do if this was his dad.

He said he would put him on the new medication.

He showed compassion and caring.

So, do you think this girl with eyes for lies got it wrong?

Keep reading.

As the doctor was explaining the different dosage options available to my dad — we realized that he wanted my dad to take both medications — his old one and this new one. We were surprised. We told this new doctor that the other doctor didn’t want him to do that…that he only wanted him to take the new one

…and out came the truth as I had feared.

The new doctor told us that if my dad stopped his old medication and just took the new one — his eye pressure would skyrocketed back to where it was pre-medication — and it would greatly jeopardize his sight. These medications do different things and the first one was just as critical as the second one!

The first eye doctor was messing with my dad’s eyes!! Was he trying to scare him into surgery where he would potentially make more money? Why was he only seeing him once in six months if my dad’s eye pressure was elevated? I smell a rat.

The good news? This new doctor told us he believes he can care for my dad’s eyes and likely prevent any blindness. He explained we still have four more medications to try — and laser surgery — before true surgery which is our last option.

Today, I love having Eyes for Lies.