Depression help at the Eye Doctor?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2004
Depression help at the Eye Doctor?
5
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 2:20pm
I've been struggling with depression for a long time. Recently my mom stopped me from killing myself. She discovered how little help there is for people who are so depressed they don't want to live. She was told to take me to the ER but they couldn't help me there. She was also told to call the Crisis Hotline which she has done in the past and they were absolutely no help. I couldn't/ can't go back to work because I can't handle it. I cry and I fight with everyone. My dad said I could stay with them and he would pay for me until I get better. That's not right. I've been working since I was 12! I worked the whole time I had mono! I feel like such a failure. That is exactly why I don't want to live.

Anyway, to get to my point. I went to the eye doctor cause I ran out of contacts. While running the usual vision tests he noticed something so he asked me questions. I told him how I've been having problems with depression. He ran one more test on me that I hadn't taken before. There was a black sheet of paper with a white X in the middle. The lady giving the test had these long sticks with tiny circles on the ends. The tiny circles were each a different color. There was white, red, blue and green. I had to look through a hole with one eye at a time and watch the X. She would drag the sticks one at a time from the edge of the paper inward from all directions (sides of the paper). While looking at the X I had to tell her when I first saw the tiny colored circle. She also tested my blind spot which was really crazy cause I never knew we had one! At the end she showed me what an average persons chart looks like and compared it to mine. I failed miserably! An average person can see the color as soon as it is introduced to the paper. I couldn't see color till it was almost in the center of the paper. The eye doctor said people with this problem either had serious head trauma or are seriously stressed. Ding, ding...we have a winner!

He told me about this therapy...phototherapy that uses ultraviolet lights in different colors. He told me about how different color lights affect your nervous system. He said the therapy costs $500. and isn't covered by my insurance! Then he went on to say that if I tried this therapy he wouldn't charge me unless there was an improvement in my mood and my sleeping pattern. Woo hoo! He is really hoping that by introducing these colored lights into my vision my mood will change for the better. Have you ever heard anything like this before? I've gone to three sessions so far and really don't have any reactions from it. But if it starts to have an affect I will definetely let you know!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 2:53pm

I have heard of light therapy, but not the kind your eye doctor has.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 07-31-2004 - 11:37am
Yes, I agree with Trac...I've never heard of that specific therapy before either, but I would definitely be willing to try it if it shows promise. I hope it does help you... and let us know how it goes!

Rose

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2004
Fri, 12-10-2004 - 8:37am
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone else has found some info on that phototherapy?My husband has depression and has been that way most of his life.But his problem is that he doesnt like taking pills to make him feel good.So I'm trying to find alternative ways that could help him.He has been taking his pills for about 6 months now but when he starts feeling better he stops.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2004
Fri, 12-10-2004 - 6:55pm
Being in a medical field, never heard of it. Was this an Ohthalmalogist or an Optomatrist? I HAVE heard of optomatrists who treat kids and adults with learning disabilties, most often dyslexia, with a specific therapy that is supposed to strengthen the eye muscles and is also not covered by insurance and has no studies that really show that it works - I wonder if this is something similar? Hey, if he REALLY is not going to charge you unless you show improvement, I agree, go for it. And let us know! But continue to make sure there are no hidden costs that they will hit you up with later!

peace and love,


just_a_big_kid


Sue

peace and love,

just_a_big_kid

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2004
Sat, 12-11-2004 - 9:27am

Hi,

Maybe you could get a second opinion with another eye doctor. Ask him/her if they know of this therapy. Sounds crazy to me. But it could very well be valid.

I bought one of those light therapy boxes and have recently started to use it on a consistent basis. This cost me $200.

Good luck,
Idealsummerluv