Nancygrace

[AnnaE]

I had my fifth eye surgery last Thursday. Before the surgery, I told the (brand new--I switched) doctor that my eye had been shrinking.  I can't believe what he said next. He said that my eyelid was just droopy. How does he think that my eyelid got droopy? The only set of "droopy" eyelids is the one that does not have enough eyeball to support the lids, and that's how it became droopy. I opened my lids to show him that one eye was smaller, and I am not sure that what he said next had anything to do with my demonstration. He said that he could do the surgery the next day, ofI had my fifth eye surgery last Thursday. Before the surgery, I told the (brand new--I switched) doctor that my eye had been shrinking.  I can't believe what he said next. He said that my eyelid was just droopy. How does he think that my eyelid got droopy? The only set of "droopy" eyelids is the one that does not have enough eyeball to support the lids, and that's how it became droopy. I opened my lids to show him that one eye was smaller, and I am not sure that what he said next had anything to do with my demonstration. He said that he could do the surgery the next day. Of course, I can also feel with my fingers that oeye is smaller, and als vey soft.. course, I can also feel with my fingers that one eye is smaller, and also very soft..

We did this fifth surgery because of hypotony, scar tissue and traction. I am alarmed that my eye is still smaller, and possibly smaller than before the surgery.

I just spoke to one of the techs--they all give right and wrong answers--she said the the doctor could later determine if it would"remain" this way, and that there was no cause for immediate concern. I told her that it could not remain this way.

If it is still getting small, and in fact sinking, isn't this a cause for concern?

I am really scared.

Before the surgery, I used ibopamine (Trasyl, from an MD in Italy) and for a few months, my eye would come back from the smaller state with these drops. However, in the week before the surgery, it would remain smaller, even with the drops. My eyes stopped responding to the Trasyl when I tried to decrease them, because my old doctor said I should try to go off them, because the drops were expensive and difficult to obtain (??).

I am sorry if that does not seem relevant, but when my eye got really small for the first time; I had used Trasyl for only a few days in October. I stopped using them because I was very sick and I could not even drink water,. I had no strength. I know that my eye should not disappear from using Trasyl. It makes more sense that my eye is  losing pressure. I probably became dehydrated when I was sick. Before the surgery, they did not measure at all. 24 hours after surgery #5, the pressure measured 5. My eyes are also extremely soft.

I am on the 4th day post-op.

[nomdepluume1]

I had surgery on my left eye 4 days ago on Friday. I have the usual scratchiness, redness, and vision like looking through a thick piece of visquine plastic. I met with another doc in their group on Saturday for a post-operative check, and the tech who dialated my eye declared my eye "soft." The entire eye appears to have shrunken since the surgery, and my eyelid and brow area are wrinkled to compensate for this.  I'm 55, and no beauty queen, but I'm concerned that this is a permanent side effect that was not disclosed.  I understand the risks of the surgery - cataract development, infection, and even blindness, but I never would have thought to ask whether my appearance could be affected.  I'd appreciate anyone else who has experienced this to tell their story and whether the eye will gradually refill on its own. I did not have a gas bubble & am allowed to go about my day fairly normally, so they may have used silicon oil (I wasn't advised.) I think they installed a sceral buckle. When I called the doctor's office about my shrunken eye and whether it might be leaking yesterday, they scoffed at me and said I should be concerned whether I could see. OBVIOUSLY that is my primary concern, but I don't want my appearance to go from average to freakish either.  I'd like to hear about your post-vitrectomy outcome, and I'm not finding similar stories on the internet  

[AnnaE]

I forgot to tell you thanks for advising me to wear eye protection. I guess you mean when I am ever near pointed ojects, hot or dangerous liquids, etc, like in the kitchen?  I have some goggles that I bought for home repair.  They are plastic. Do I need a better kind?

Thanks again

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I think if nothing else because of your anxiety that you should see the retina surgeon tomorrow if possible.

JCH III MD

[AnnaE]

My retina is attached. Please look at my first message again. Should I not see the retinologist right away? My other eye is 360 lazered, at my suggestion. I have to be on guard for new lattice. I have severe myopia, lattice and an apparent heredity factor. I feel that I should see a retinologist every two months, to watch to "good eye." My daughter is fine, but she had two simultaneous detached retinas.

My eye seems more shrunken than before the surgery. Should I not see the doctor right away?

If my eye is the size of a prune, can it still have vision. I guess not. They can also frepalce the posterior eye with plastic or something, right? I could retain the sclera, anterior eye, and muscles, right?

Should I see the retinologist right away, if it is still shrinking?

I thank you so much for your replies. I looked for a listserv like this for 6 months. No one could help me. I found it by chance.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

From what you've posted the prognosis for you eye is very guarded. And if the eye still has a retinal detachment and hypotony it is very, very very guarded.  Sometimes when the eye gets hypotony it shrines to the size of a prune and that is called ptysis bulbi.

If all the efforts to save your eye are for naught and the eye "dies" and shrinks a good ocularist can usually fit a cosmetic shell over the shrunken eye to match the good eye. One of the best in the country is Iowa Eye Prosthetics.

The most important thing for you is trying to save the GOOD eye. Wear eye protection and have it checked every 6-12 months by an ophthalmologist.

The sad fact is that even in the best of hands and with multiple surgeries perhaps 3-4% of retinas cannot be re-attached.

JCH III MD

[AnnaE]

I had a vitrectomy, silicone oil-replacement, and membrane stripping. I have proliferative retinal vitreopathy, hypotony, aphakia. The first four surgeries follow:

1)retinal attachment
   laser
   vitrectomy
   cryoplexy (sp?)

  
  3)retinal attachment
   laser
   vitrectomy

  4)retinal attachment
   laser
   vitrectomy
   silicone oil placement

  4) silicone oil removal
   retinal attachment
   laser
   vitrectomy

Or something like that. I can look up the surgical reports to be more accurate. I switched doctors because my first doctor had personality problems, and it was hurtful to me. I was very fond of him, and switching was a painful decision. I now see his associate, who is hearing doc #1's side of the story. Maybe this will work out. I will seek other opinions in my city, and elsewhere.

No hope for much vision in the affected eye. #1 said 40% chance I will lose it; #2 said 5%. I do not know why they differ so much yet. I AM wondering why I seem to be having the worst of possible outcomes in this eye. It could be because my ophthalmologists did not listen to me and help me; by the time of the first surgery, the pvr was probably quite advanced. I hope I said that correctly.

I want my eye to look as it did. I have though of a shell over it, if it does not return to normal size.  I want to save my eye and any vision I can. Can I hope to save my eye?

Thank you.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

What type of surgery did you have?

What were the previous 4 surgeries for?

JCH III MD