A representative image of equipment used in eye check-ups
Credit: iStockPhoto
A Bengaluru-based man who had gone to an eye-doctor for a regular check-up along with his wife took to social media to narrate his experience when the appointment took a turn for the peculiar.
The man and his wife had gone for a consultation at Apollo in Indiranagar. In his post, the man mentioned how the couple was scheduled for a full-body health check-up, and the eye doctor had a BSc in Ophthalmic Tech.
The consultation started by the doctor asking the man where he was from. "The eye 'doctor' started by asking me where I’m from — same with my wife. Not sure what that had to do with anything," he wrote.
The man, while getting his eye check-ups done, the doctor had commented on his cylindrical power, which was around -2.5, and went on to 'warn' the man to reduce his screen time, or he would be in serious trouble.
"I’m in the IT industry — I spend around 10 hours a day on screens. He told me I couldn’t continue in this profession, made it sound like my life would be in danger, which felt like baseless fear-mongering," the post added.
As the check-up continued, the eye doctor began to ask personal questions and provide unsolicited advice to the couple, "During my wife’s examination, he asked if I was her husband — then called me back in just to say something along the lines of: 'Didn’t you consult anyone before deciding to marry? Two people with myopia shouldn’t get married. Your kids will suffer at an early age. Think and take consultation before conceiving.'"
"No doctor should make people feel guilty about getting married or having kids — especially over something as common and manageable as myopia or astigmatism," he stated.
This incident has sparked outrage on internet, supporting the man's claims of the doctor being unprofessional and unscientific. A user commented, "I also visited Apollo Indiranagar for my company-sponsored health checkup. The same eye doctor recommended that I switch careers due to the screen time involved and suggested walking barefoot on grass, claiming this would eliminate my need for glasses," mentioning that the doctor may have 'advice' to previous patients.
Many of the comments pointed out how an optometrist is different from an ophthalmologist, and the eye 'doctor' did not seem qualified to treat eyesight, rather optometrists check the health of your vision and may prescribe wearing glasses based on the eyes' power.
In an update of the post, he mentioned that the hospital called, before he was going to file a complaint, and apologised for the situation. They requested the man to remove his post, but he felt they would not take any action against the doctor.