looking for opthamologist in Syracuse NY

[driedout10]

Hi all,
Can anyone recommend a good opthamologist (one who will prescribe Restasis) in Syracuse (New York State)? Or if not, can you help me figure out how to go about finding one in New York state? I may have to have to travel there from Canada to get Restasis when my current special access prescription runs out and this is the closest big American city to me.
Thanks all!
Chun
PS. to the moderators : any idea when the Topics Board will be listed again? Sorry, don't mean to rush you when you are doing hard work.

[Jen]

I live in Orange County NY and my opthamologist had prescribed me Restasis and it seems to be working for me.
If this is not to far to drive  his name is ....Dr. Malen in Warwick NY.  Very nice man....good luck!!

[allium]

Hello, Chun:

Where in Canada are you coming from?  I assume that it's SE Ontario, or Ottawa region.  I don't know if you are seeking a second opinion, or are just looking to be prescribed Restasis.  I'm not sure how that would work to obtain a Rx that is not distributed in your country. 

If you are looking for a general opthamologist, Watertown, NY has several in the yellow pages and is near the border.  There is a large medical center in Syracuse which seems to be a teaching hospital:

http://www.upstate.edu/uh/connections/physicians.php?DeptCSID=134

This website has some doctor rankings in Syracuse:

http://www.ratemds.com/social/?q=node%2F28883&country=0&dlname=&dcity=Syracuse&sid=35&dspecialty=Ophthalmology&dgender=&zip=&radius=10


You can also try calling the US Sjogren's Society, and they might give you a contact name in Syracuse to speak with (they may or may not recommend things).

Currently, many US opthamologists have shifted their private practice to focus on Lasik and cataract surgeries, less for disease treatment and research (money).  A medical center or teaching hospital would give a better opportunity to find an opthamologist who has familiarity with eye disorders and disease. 

I can't tell you any specific doctor in Syracuse, as I live near Rochester.  I've been through three different opthamologists here trying to get help, and will soon start on my fourth (at the University Of Rochester Eye Institute).  Restasis has not done a lot for me in the last seven months I've been on it. 

Anyone else live in western NY state (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Finger Lakes)?  It seems that I am a lonely soul here on the Sj World Forum!  Pipe up now, don't be shy.

Warwick, while a lovely town, would be a very long trip from Canada. It's a long trip from Rochester, too.     I am willing to go where I have to, if it comes to that.

Good luck.
Sheila

[driedout10]

Thanks a lot for the info on opthamologists in the U.S. It's interesting because while searching, I went on a site called www.ratemds.com which allows you to search for all kind of docs and look up (supposed) reports and rankings that their patients have given them. I noticed that many of the opthamologists were into lasik, which is the last thing anyone with dry eyes needs! I guess that's where the money is. It is an interesting site though if you are looking for a family doc or a plastic surgeon - a lot of opinionated comments there!
Also, I finally called Allergan (the maker of Restasis) yesterday to ask how long you can know whether or not Restasis is going to have an effect and the woman on the line told me, if it hasn't taken effect in 4 weeks, my opthamologist should seek other options! That was news to me as my opthamologist told me it took 3 months! Hard to know who really knows what's going on, but she did say by 6 months it would reach it's peak efficacy.
Anwyay, thanks again for your help, I will research teaching hospitals in the Watertown area.
Chun