I highly recommend Dr. Gordon Byrnes at the Retina Group of Washington.
Large floaters appeared in both eyes after laser cataract surgery that inserted special lenses, apparently a common side effect. I waited a few months to see if they would go away naturally, as recommended by my Ophthalmologist. When I learned two weeks before a scheduled appointment that the doctor I was referred to by my Ophthalmologist is not in my insurance network, I needed to find another Retina Specialist. Dr. Byrnes had a large number of 5-Star reviews on Healthgrades and Google, more than most of the other Specialists in my insurance network, and his office was not that far from my house. I was able to make an appointment through their website for two weeks from that day.
The entire staff from the front desk to the Technicians (sorry, I do not know who may be a Nurse, Aid, or Tech) is very courteous and professional. Wait times are more than reasonable.
Dr. Byrnes is patient and listens. He said the procedure needed to remove the floaters, a Vitrectomy, is a fairly simple procedure that takes about 10 minutes. He did point out that he does not charge an additional fee for this procedure as many doctors do. As a matter of fact, the other Retina Specialist I was scheduled to see would have charged an additional fee not covered by insurance of at least $500 per eye. So I will end up saving over $1,000 for both eyes.
My left eye had fewer floaters than my right so I chose to have the Vitrectomy on my left eye first. The surgery went very well, the floaters were completely gone. I will at some point schedule to have the Vitrectomy on my right eye with Dr. Byrnes.
I also told Dr. Byrnes that I had been having discomfort in both eyes for several years, much worse in the left eye. Most of the time the discomfort was more of an annoyance or distraction, but would sometimes increase from a dull ache to a throbbing ache to pain later at night. It felt like a muscular pain behind my eye or the entire eyeball. I would sometimes get up at night and take two Aleve, but I was not sure if the Aleve helped or if the pain just stopped on its own.
Dr. Byrnes said it could be Dry Eye. When I told him my left eye waters a lot which I always thought meant I did not have Dry Eye, he said that actually is one indication of the disease. He recommended specific over-the-counter eye drops. I woke one morning with both eyes feeling very uncomfortable so tried the drops. Immediately, or after perhaps 1-2 minutes max, the discomfort was completely gone and lasted 13 hours. I used the drops twice a day in both eyes for two days, and an additional day in the left eye. Have not had to apply any the last two days in either eye. What a difference. I now keep a few vials in my purse just in case. read more
