I first came across Dr Prendiville when I was looking for a doctor to examine my eyes and give me a prescription for contacts and glasses.
I have always gone to a doctor because One, my insurance pays for it and Two,they can look and see if there's anything wrong with my eyes as well as issue prescriptions for contacts and glasses.
So I called him a for an appointment and explained what I was looking for to the receptionist and she said great and booked the first available appointment in three weeks.
When I showed up, I filled out the documentation for a new patient and waited my turn. My name was called 15 minutes later and I went back and met the doctor and he proceeded with the exam. He had to dilate my eyes. I thought that he was just being more through as he was an eye surgeon. I asked about it and he stated it was common practice in SHAFF eye center to get a very detailed look into the back of each eye. It was a long exam and by the time I was finished, I asked him to write a prescription for contacts and glasses.
He said to me that it is the policy of SHAAF EYE CENTER to not give out prescriptions to patients. The vast majority of patients who come there are looking for an eye surgeon! He does cataract surgery, presbyopia, and just about any other type of surgery that can happen with peoples eyes as they get older. He is an independent contractor who happens to work at SHAAF EYE CENTER and has hospital privileges in the Coachella Valley.
He proceeded to tell me that I had a little wrinkled cornea in my right eye and gave me all this paperwork to read about it. He also said I need to go to an optometrist and get an exam to get my glasses and contacts lens.
He also informed me my astigmatism had returned in my left eye after my LASIK surgery years ago.
I asked the receptionist at the front desk why they don't say on their Internet site or on the phone when you make an appointment yet they do not give out prescriptions for contacts or glasses. They try to tell all the people who call for appointment for glasses or contacts that they do not do this as common practice as they do not have a in house optometrist.
I Finally realized that this is no different than any other Doctor Who has chosen to specialize in a certain field of medicine. Gone are the days when we have lots of general practitioners to take care of our every need. Now we have a specialist for everything! Cardiologist, radiologist, pulmonologist, orthopedics, wrist only, hand only, fingers only, shoulder only, knee only, podiatrists for our feet, gastrointestinal doctors for our stomach and digestive tract, pain specialists,spinal doctors for certain sections of the spine. Lumbar, Thoracic, Cervical and a host of different kinds of doctors to treat every from pain to a slipped disc to CNS issues,
Spinal surgeons, etc.
Why should the field of Eye Doctors be any different? Yes, the days of going to one eye doctor for all your needs has been slowly replaced by higher priced specialist for a host of issues that can go wrong with your eyes. I have always gone to an eye Dr. every year to have mine checked and this will be the first year that I will now go to an optometrist to get a prescription for my new glasses as well! I will return to Dr. Prendiville to get my eye health checked next year and then head to a local provider to get my glasses and contacts filled.
One of my favorite Mantras that I think and practice daily is that the only factors that are truly constant that we have no control over is CHANGE,
TAXES AND FINALLY DEATH.
Just Flow with it and All will be Well! Have a Beautiful Life, Everyone‼
Daniel Olsen read more