I have been wearing contact lenses for approximately eleven years. My first contact lens experiences were with a Dr. in College Park, Maryland. The Dr provided excellent car. Additionally, he and his staff spent a great deal of time working with me as I initially had some difficulty putting lenses in my eye. After seeing the Dr in College Park for approximately two years, I was enticed by the advertisements of America’s Best Contact Lenses in Rockville, Maryland. Although I was certainly not dissatisfied with the Dr. at the time I did not see any reason not save several hundred dollars a year at America’s Best. For over seven years, I visited America’s Best for eye care. At each appointment, the waiting room was packed with more patients than you could imagine. The large number of patients meant that the optometrist was often running over an hour behind schedule. Once I finally was able to get in to see the doctor, the actual examination rarely lasted more than five minutes. However, for six years I wore extended wear lenses I received from America’s Best without any problems. In the Spring of 1992, my contact lenses began to irritate my eyes. I called America’s Best to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. I was then asked if I was a new patient or an existing patient. Once they realized I was an existing patient (that had already paid and was not going to bring in any new revenue), the earliest appointment available was several weeks away. At that appointment, the optometrist took a quick look at my eyes and told me I had GPC. He then instructed me to give my eyes three months rest from contact lenses and to then schedule another appointment. This appointment, where I was told I had a disease in my eyes may have lasted ten minutes, rather than the typical five minutes. After three months of not wearing contact lenses, I returned to America’s Best for a follow-up visit. At that appointment, I was told that my GPC condition had not improved and that I should forget about wearing contact lenses. At this point, a co-worker that had experienced similar problems recommended Dr Irwin Azman to me. After my initial visit, I followed Dr Azman’s recommendation of using eye drops and cold compresses for approximately two weeks. Since then, I have had very few problems wearing disposable lenses for the past three years. I am probably spending more for eye care each year with your practice than the total I spent over seven years at America’s Best. However, I believe Dr Irwin Azman took more time with me at each of my visits than the total time an optometrist spent with me during the seven years I went to America’s Best. In summary, two items distinguish Azman Eye Care and Dr Irwin Azman from America’s Best. First, you spend adequate time with each patient to accurately diagnose problems. I always feel like an individual at Azman Eye Care, rather than feeling like I am on an eye care assembly line. Second, Azman Eye Care appears to offer a wide variety of solutions to eye problems, rather than using a one size fits all approach to eye care. Dr Irwin Azman has taken a significant amount of time during each of my appointments, discussing various options I have and helping me determine what will work best for me. I appreciate the high quality eye care I have received for the past three years.
Tag: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Dr Irwin Azman did what three other doctors could not….
I’m writing to thank Dr Irwin Azman for doing what three other doctors couldn’t—make it possible for me to wear my lenses again.
My eyes have always been sensitive, but with the help of a sympathetic optometrist, I had managed to wear lenses until I turned 43, when my contacts became increasingly uncomfortable.
My ophthalmologist told me my eyes’ tear quality had deteriorated with the onset of middle age; he prescribed artificial tears. These gave me relief for a while, but a year later my eyes were more irritated than ever. This time, he simply said I had GPC and prescribed medication (which didn’t help). He was stumped.
I called my optometrist, who switched me to ProClear Compatibles, which provoked the condition more. I tried a second ophthalmologist; he said I could try switching from lens to lens, but suggested my contact-wearing days might be over. By this time, I was wearing glasses and feeling miserable (my high prescription is very noticeable). Finally, I did a Google search under “dry eye” and Dr Irwin Azman came up.
When I called Azman Eye Care, the receptionist said you’d phone me to discuss my problem. That impressed me, but not as much as when I received a call from you later that day from Florida, where you were on vacation! I was encouraged by your patience in listening, and your confidence that you could help.
On the first visit, I was thrilled to hear, “Well, here clearly is the problem.” You not only had more knowledge than the other doctors I’d seen, but you also had equipment useful for assessing my condition; for example, a machine that took a photo of my corneal cells and a video screen magnifier allowing you (and me) to see the problem in large view.
Following the visit, my eyes soon felt well enough to wear the lenses you prescribed. My eyes felt great for the first time in years. And your concern about my case, calling to see how I was doing (the first eye doctor in 33 years of wearing lenses to do that), and taking time to answer every question, was much appreciated, and a great contrast to the other doctors who simply said, “I don’t know.”
Because of you, I feel confident again about my appearance when I go to a business meeting. I appreciate your encouragement and proactive approach—but most of all, the expertise that put me back in my lenses again! I know two people who have dry eye problems, and I have recommended them to you and have told almost everyone I know about how you succeeded where others have failed. Many thanks!
Dry Eye Center of Maryland: Dry Eye Treatment
Dry Eye Center of Maryland: Dry Eye Treatment
The best thing that has ever happened to me was the referral to your office
I wanted to take the time to express to you how truly happy I am with Dr Thomas Azman and his office. The individual care and attention that is given to you makes the whole experience enjoyable. I have been one to have a fear of touching or anyone touching near my eyes. Since your care with my dry eye syndrome, my whole attitude has changed. The tear duct implants have made an incredible difference in my sight. Prior to this my eyes always seemed itchy and tired, not any more! I wish my previous eye care professional had taken the time to diagnose and correct. The best thing that has ever happened to me was the referral to your office. I have and I will continue to refer you to as many people as I can. Thank you for all of your support and genuine care. I look forward to my next appointment!
You’ll never be able to ever wear contact lenses…..
I have always been told by every eye doctor/office that I was seen at: You will never be able to ever wear contacts because of your vision and/or because you have trouble even placing eye drops in your eyes and/or you have trouble sitting through the glaucoma air test, how do you think you will be able to put contacts in your eyes’?
When I called Azman Eye Care and was waiting to be helped, they have a recording about dry eyes, contacts, computer vision, etc. Their statement about contacts was that they could teach “anyone” to put contacts in. Well, I thought we will just have to see about that. I made an appointment so that I could get new glasses as I was hesitant to ask about contacts because of always being told “NO”. My hesitation was immediately swept away by the friendly, courteous staff that I met when I entered the office and lasted through my meeting the doctors. The response to my stating that I had been repeatedly told “NO” was met with “we can (and will) teach anyone to put contacts in”. My dry eyes were the first thing to be taken care of and corrected. This alone was more than I could have asked for, as I had never heard of the term “dry eyes” but knew that I suffered with itchy, scratchy, mucous heavy, dry eyes for many years. I had no idea that I could get medical help for a situation that had bothered me for many years, not one of my previous eye doctor’s had even acknowledged this condition. With my dry eye problem now an issue from the past, it was now time for contacts. I received reassurance from all and the staff member, who helped me to learn how to put the contacts in and take them out, was most patient and understanding. I must admit, I was scared, but immediately I was put at ease by the kind words of assurance, along with the expert eye exam and fittings for contact lens. There was hope and it made me feel great. When contacted that the contacts were in, I again went back to feeling hesitation and scared. This was erased immediately when I sat down at the table with the staff member. She put me at ease by letting me know that there was no rush and I could have as many nights of trying as needed. She explained that she would work with me for a short time only because the eyes become tired and irritated by the process to learn (and I found out how correct she was about this). This information allowed me to know that I was not expected to sit down and in 10 minutes become an expert or that I would be dismissed, contacts in hand, before learning the skill. Since accomplishing the task of putting my contacts in and taking them out, I have had excellent care by the doctors and staff. My first contacts where handled by Dr. Tom. It amazed me that when I would come back for my checkups and explain to him issues that I was having, he was reassuring and was never surprised/shocked by what I was telling him. When it was realized that the contact lenses that he was fitting me with would not work for me, I then switched over to see Dr. Irwin Azman who expertly worked with me. I was reassured that even though the first type of contacts did not work that I must not give up and that the contacts Dr. Irwin Azman was going to prescribe would be an excellent solution (and they have been) Dr. Irwin Azman fitted me for a different type of contact lens and as we go for the exact fitting, I have found freedom. I am now able to wear contacts and my new found freedoms are to name just a few – freedom to be in the family pool and allowing the boys to splash all they want, freedom to sit in front of the computer and not get headaches from eye strain, and so much more.
I am so glad that I changed health insurances which lead me to find a new eye doctor. Instead of just finding one new eye doctor, I have found two excellent eye doctors. I have recommended the doctors to my co-workers; one which is now a patient and the other passed the information to her sister who is also now a patient.
THANK YOU!