What do you do when you get a patient whose in denial about needing glasses?
My friend obviously can barely see past her nose but won't wear them, it just
seems so stupid and I don't know how to help.

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Message posted via http://www.medkb.com

What do you do when you get a patient whose in denial about needing glasses?
My friend obviously can barely see past her nose but won't wear them, it just
seems so stupid and I don't know how to help.

What do you do when you get a patient whose in denial about needing glasses?
My friend obviously can barely see past her nose but won't wear them, it just
seems so stupid and I don't know how to help.

We simply remind ourselves: "The patient has the disease". In other
words, if the patient is not motivated to comply with/use a therapy,
non compliance is the patient's problem. If he patient does not meet
the legal driving requirements, I report that to the MOT and inform the
patient that she must legally use them driving.

You can't help; if poor vision does't bother your friend it shouldn't
bother you and nothing you can do will make her wear them. Don't get
in a car with her if she drives without them.

Kerryn via MedKB.com wrote:
What do you do when you get a patient whose in denial about needing glasses?
My friend obviously can barely see past her nose but won't wear them, it just
seems so stupid and I don't know how to help.

We simply remind ourselves: "The patient has the disease". In other
words, if the patient is not motivated to comply with/use a therapy,
non compliance is the patient's problem. If he patient does not meet
the legal driving requirements, I report that to the MOT and inform the
patient that she must legally use them driving.

I don't consider a refractive error a "disease". It is not a
health/sight threatening
situation to the person (assuming the person is an adult and no danger
of
developing amblyopia).The person is only a
danger when driving (if not meeting the dmv requirements) and should
realize that
she/he places own self and others in harms way while driving
uncorrected.


Well, refractive errors have disease codes (ICD), and would certainly

Well, refractive errors have disease codes (ICD), and would certainly
seem to qualify as something that can cause discomfort and/or disability.

To say that driving is the "only" danger for uncorrected ametropes is
definitely wrong. Consder flying, crane operation, baseball, machine
shop work, carpentry, I could go on but you get the idea...

Now I have to tell little "Billy's" mom that her son has a disease.
Doesn't
matter that he only has a quarter cyIinder; poor kid is still suffering
with a
disease. Is that how you explain it to your patients?
How do you keep them from having their jaws drop to the floor?



Well, I would think that a .25 cyl doesn't qualify as a significant

Well, I would think that a .25 cyl doesn't qualify as a significant
refractive error any more than a single sneeze qualifies as an upper
respiratory infection. But a -2.00 cyl certainly is an ICD 367.21 and
can cause a lot of suffering for the patient...

driving. I've tried the subtle approach but she seems to have it in her
head
that glasses should be worn as little as possible, even if they'd help.

reason I asked what the pros do is because I wondered if you has some
suggestions for people when you prescribe on how much/when to wear them.
Is
there anyone here who's the same prescription?

-2.50 is pretty common. As a professional, I seldom require anyone to
wear -2.50 full time. If they don't create a hazard by driving without
correction, there's little reason to insist on full-time wear.

What do you consider to be **full time**
What reasons would make you insist on it for some who is -2.5

Jon via MedKB.com wrote:


What do you consider to be **full time**
What reasons would make you insist on it for some who is -2.5

A doctor will never insist that a patient comply with a recommendation,
whether wearing glasses, using artificial tears for dry eye, stopping
smoking or taking insulin for diabetes. All I can do is inform them of
the advantages of the recommendation and the consequences of not
following it. Occasionally a doctor may refuse to continue treating a
non compliant patient when the non compliance makes further treatment
futile.