Second opinion in Ophthalmology

There are several reasons for seeking second opinion in the diagnosis of eyes disorder. The information spread, increasing health awareness, new research, vibrant and demanding medical ecosystem, and general education, pulling and pushing patients and doctors towards informed decisions. Many of us are listening, reading and feeling different manifestations of similar diseases including some of the typical disorders linked to Ophthalmology.

 Category of Second Opinion Seekers

Before venturing into studying the reasons for second opinion in Ophthalmology, we had invested good time talking to several second opinion seekers with Eye, Brain or Spine issues at TeleradiologyHub. Interestingly, we did find out categories of pull factors for patients while seeking second opinion. They are as:

Category 1. Self-Confirmation
 Here patients want to self-confirm the doubt hence they do for second opinion requests.

Category 2. Detailed Opinion
Patients feel that they are not in possession of the best data on the disease as primary consultant could not give the detailed report or time for consultation. Among Several reasons, most ophthalmologist are busy given the patient flow. Hence second opinion is needed to get the detailed view on disease.

Category 3. Confirmation Bias
When it leads to confirmatory urge, patients go for second opinion. For example, Patients in farfetched areas not necessarily get access to best ophthalmologist hence they may like to get more comfort in taking second opinion from ophthalmologists from Urban areas.

Category 4. Look Smart
The patients are becoming more smarter with available community throwing them lots of ideas and plans. The patients want to remain emotionally unchallenged or smart by just getting more opinion. 

 Doctors Point of View for Second Opinion

Now let's look at the push factors where patient is required to take the second opinion. Here patient is directed by the local doctors for second opinion. The doctor's point of view falls into any of the categories

Category 1. Avoid judgmental error
As ophthalmology is not an isolated discipline, it relies heavily on exchanges from other part of medical sciences. Hence senior second opinion is mostly sought.

Category 2. Avoiding Gross Action
It is in everybody's interest to avoid unwarranted, expensive, and life changing surgical procedures. With proper second opinion it is possible to change the course of action. This push for second opinion could be a conservative approach 

Category 3. Triaging
It is fair assumption that more opinion helps in confirmation of the path -Leading to even better opinion in addressing the issue those are not addressed earlier.

Category 4. Educational
The educational exchange or appetite for new learnings for the newly recruited ophthalmologist leads to find way to get senior view from old expert. This could be push for a second opinion.

Scenario After Second Opinion

Second opinion experience should not go waste. When someone life is at stake, it is important to evaluate options before and after second opinion. It is also important to keep in mind that good time could be lost in taking opinions. The disease may progress to next level. Hence timing is quite important. Two scenarios after seeking second option. They are:
Scenerio1: Experts views are matching from both the specialists, then no issues.
Scenerio2: No matching opinions. If these opinions are diagonally clashing with each other, then there is big problem. Here second opinion process itself then needs alteration. How? A senior doctor says,"TeleradiologyHub has carefully designed Expert Panel Second Opinion to address all scenarios. Then there is also mix-panel second opinion panel, where patients can get a report from experts not just in ophthalmology but in other subspecialities like Neurology, Radiology, Diabetology, Cardiology, etc. Teleradiologyhub aims to facilitate not just Experts Second Opinion Panels or Mixed Expert Second Opinion Panels but wants to have Geographically Inclusive Mixed Second Opinion panel where experts from different regions join the forces."

We are living in a highly connected world where opinions can be transacted easily. In Ophthalmology, time is as precious as action, therefore this decade is going to see rising demand for second opinion further.