One of the challenges of moving a great distance, and especially when it’s onto a sparsely-populated island outpost, is finding new medical specialists. I have had a detached retina and a retinal tear, which necessitated one failed laser retina repair, two vitrectomies, two lens replacements, and two YAG laser capsulotomies. The result was better vision than I’ve had since third grade, but I do need to be followed by an ophthalmologist. Today, I had my first visit with a retinologist since moving, and he actually lives on the island!
It was also his last day: he retired at the end of business today. Which is kind of sad, because I felt he did a great job of communicating to me that he understood what was going on with my eyes and what I needed going forward. Of course, it’s possible that — being his last day — he was a lot less stressed and rushed than usual and communicated that with a relaxed style. But I suspect he would have made me feel cared for even on his busiest day.
Fortunately, if all goes well, I will only need to see a retinologist once a year. In the future, they expect to have a traveling physician show up from a neighboring island periodically, so I won’t have to travel (beyond the 90-minute drive from my home to the Big City). Should I need eye surgery in future, however, it will almost certainly involve a plane ride.
I also have an endocrinologist appointment in March to follow up from surgery last August — such is the state of specialty care around here. There are no endocrinologist on this island, and precious few nearby. Fortunately, unlike an eye doctor, the retinologist will be able to do remote appointments.
—2p