Retina

Late August, during my mum's appointment with the eye specialist, she was diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion i.e. blocked vein that then causes swelling. Sometimes it'll go away on its on and so the doctor scheduled another examination in a month's time. Coincidentally, at her annual check up later at Penaga public health clinic, the doctor there also spotted the same symptom and wanted to refer her to a pubic hospital for follow-up.

Unfortunately, it worsened in a month's time: the swelling was larger. The treatment involved injection of a drug directly into the eye, done at least 5 times, and usually more, on a monthly basis (with a 2-month break after the 5th injection). It's expensive: RM 1,700 per injection.

We were afraid that mum's health insurance may not cover this ("Why was hospitalisation required? Could the patient have been treated as an outpatient?") and so, as a backup, mum got a referral letter from the Penaga clinic to see eye specialist at Bukit Mertajam public hospital. We prefer either the public hospital at Kepala Batas (much nearer) or Penang General Hospital (more parking space) but to our surprise, the clinic could refer her only to Bukit Mertajam Hospital. Interesting.

After more than seven hours spent at Bukit Mertajam, the diagnosis given was retinal hemorrhage, most likely due to hypertension in my mum's case. That then caused swelling and bleeding. Same symptoms but different diagnosis. The specialist recommended trying an eye-drop for 3 months, before considering injection (which will costs RM 1,200 per injection!).

Let's hope the diagnosis is correct and that the eye-drop works.