Treatment

I suffered from a mild case of conjunctivitis. Dass, on the right, took me to an eye doctor, Dr. B ------ (it's written in Tamil on his card) MBBS, MSDO, 2-D-1, PSR. We left our shoes at the door, walked past the optician and to the counter in the back where we signed in. Five minutes later we were ushered into the consulting rooms.












We passed the doctor with patients in the first room. In the second room the nurses interviewed me and then one asked me to read the eye chart. I looked at the Tamil chart and laughed, Oh, no! You're going to think I'm blind. She directed my attention to the E chart and after allowing my glasses said I had perfect vision - 6/6.












The doctor looked at my eyes through a scope and agreed I had conjunctivitis. One week to heal. He prescribed 2 types of pills, an ointment and some drops. The prescriptions were filled at the counter. The total bill for the meds and consultation was Rs 220/$5.

What I had was easier than why I had it. Dass thought perhaps the sun caused the problem. I don't oil my hair like the Indians do. When you oil your hair, the oil reflects the sun. But on second thought he decided my gray hair probably reflects the sun better than their dark hair. Viji said conjunctivitis is called Madras eye and people in Chennai (formerly Madras) get very bad cases after the monsoons. I landed in Chennai but long after the monsoons were over and was there for only 6 hours. I myself am attempting to keep my hands away from my eyes, especially after shaking hands with people on the street.

After 3 days I was ready for cosmetic surgery, or at least to stop the meds. My eyelids were inflamed and my face puffy. But, I went back to the doctor as he had requested....maybe it was their gentle manner. He assured me I wasn't allergic to the meds. The irritation was the infection, and it would be healed in 2 weeks. Hmm? I was to add another pill and another drop to my meds regime. Rs 70/$1.75. I took pictures. He told me he had just been to visit his son who lives in America.

A week later my left eye was healed but my right one was still irritated. So, I returned for the second follow-up exam. This time after the doctor studied my eyes through the scope, they cleared a bench of waiting patients and had me lay down. This next inspection included a quick assortment of drops and ointments and made my eye hurt and weepy for a short while. The doctor prescribed more drops, more ointment and a different pill. I was told to return only if needed - there has been no need. Rs 125/$3.

This picture of the doctor doesn't show how he multitasks. Each time I visited him there were at least 3 other patients at his desk: one in the front, one to his right and one to his left at the scope. He'd ask a general question of the patient at the front of the desk, consult with the patient to his right and then turn to the one at the scope. After he examined my eyes through the scope, he'd wash his hands and then write notes on my case and the prescription. As I left he would be turned to another patient.









I never needed an appointment...no one does. I never waited long...no one does. The doctor and nurses had a gentle touch. The prescriptions were filled at the counter. Three visits and all those meds totalled Rs 415/$10. I put on my shoes still outside the door when I left.