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Orbital Decompression

Would like to know if anyone has had orbital decompression surgery in Seattle, Wash. and how did it go, both eyes at the
same time, or done separately, and what doctor did you have/or recommend.
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A related discussion, Recovering from Orbital Decompression was started.
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A related discussion, Lucy was started.
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Thank you for your encouraging response. Yes, I have Graves Eye Disease.(I am a 62 year old female). I had orbital decompression surgery Feb. 24. I was just wondering what other people have gone through with this type of surgery, and how they had it done. (And, if done in Seattle, who did it).
I had both eyes done, bilateral surgery, with ENT, and ocular
plastic surgeon. Still have some double vision, some numbness,
swelling much better. If the dbl vision doesn't clear up, I may have to have eye muscle surgery, 6 months after surgery. I had both eyes done at the same time! My eyes are set back, after surgery. The surgeon said that the double vision would go away in two or three weeks after surgery, if I didn't already have double vision pior to surgery. But, I did have some double vision
prior to surgery, so will wait and see if it settles down, and I am hoping and praying that it will.
It is wonderful to have this web site to talk to others that have been through this.
It was so encouraging to get your response, and to read that you have had this surgery with ENT surgeon, also. There are different
ways to have the surgery.
Hope you are doing well. JH
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Avatar universal
Hello blueiis,
You must have Graves eye disease? I am a 54 year old female who just had orbital decompression surgery on my rt. eye last month. It was done in Farmington Hills, Mi., so I can't be much help in referring you to anyone in your area. Sometimes the major teaching hospitals in your state are the best ones to check into for that type of surgery. Your eye doctor should refer you to someone he knows & trusts. You will see an ocular plastic surgeron to do the procedure. My surgery was a two wall procedure with an ENT plastic surgeron going through my sinuses to do the inner wall & an ocular plastic surgeron did the floor of the orbit. He did his incision inside of my lower lid toward the outside corner.  
Are you getting both eyes done at once or is just one affected like mine?
It depends on your surgeron which approach he will take & it also depends on how many walls they need to do.
I was also very apprehensive about the surgery, mostly because it's your vision they are dealing with & this disease is so unpredictable as my doctor put it. The surgery went well & like any other surgery you are uncomfortable for the first few days but I spent the night in the hospital & they were good about controlling my pain. They give you a script for pain meds @ home. They also limit your activity for the first two weeks at least. No lifting , no bending over, sneeze with your mouth open, & sleep with your head elevated(I slept in a recliner).  You'll have some bruising that will last for a week or two but it gradually subsides. The surgery itself wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be. It's been a month ago on the 21st & my eye seems to be doing allright. I have a little more double vision & still have some swelling in the upper & lower lid. There isn't much difference in my eye buldging, it measures the same as the pre-surgical state. My ocular pressure is still elevated too. I see my ocular plastic surgeron on Monday the 24th for my second post op visit.
Sorry this is so lengthy but if you have any other questions let me know. I know how devasting & scarey this disease can be. I found it reassuring to talk to others who had gone through this too.                   Best wishes, TJ











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hopefully someone will post for you...
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