Gradually losing focus

[sgillela]

Hi, I am new to this forum, hope i will get some help from you. I need some medical suggestions regarding my mother who gradually losing her Eye sight.

My mother 52 years old currently living in Hyderabad, INDIA. Her problem is gross reduction of vision in the right eye from 2004. She is taking treatment with well know doctors and here is what, one of doctor reports says:

***Fundus examination of the right eye showed large sub-macular scar and surrounding exudates and hemorrhages. The left eye had one chorio retinal atrophy patch temporal to fovea. There were multiple areas of lattice degeneration in both eyes without any retinal break. Fluorescein angiography confirmed classic choroidal neovascular membrane in right eye and pigment epithelial detachment in left eye.
Based on the clinical picture it seems very unlikely that the right eye will improve significantly.***

Doctors said, the nerves are not functioning (they are week) and they said, they don't have treatment to improve my mother eye sight. Is this True??

NOTE: Now, doctor said this problem started in Left Eye also. I am scare now, if both eyes get problem, life is miserable.
I need your help, is there any way to improve my mother vision? If my mom get better treatment in USA, she will come to USA also.

Thanks.

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

You're welcome and good luck.
JCH III MD

[sgillela]

Thanks Doctor, I appreciate for your suggestions. I will ask my mom to contact vitreo-retinal specialist as soon as possible. Thank You.

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

Hello sgillela, You mother has some very, very serious problems and rapid action is needed. The passage you quoted from the ophthalmologists report indicate that you mother most likely has wet ARMD (age related macular degeneration).  This often occurs in both eyes and can cause legal blindness (loss of ability to read, drive or recognize faces and poor straight ahead vision). It normally doesn't cause total blindness or damage peripheral vision.

There are some very new and very exciting treatments for wet ARMD (wet ARMD = 'classic choroidal neovascular membrane').

One modern treatment is the use of photodynamic therapy using intravenous Visudyne dye therapy. Another even more modern involves the injection of VEGF inhibitors or steroids directly into the eye. The USA brand names for these VEGF inhibitors are: Lucentis, Avastin and Macugen. Almost all patients need repeat injections and repeat testing, so good access to the retina ophthalmologist is a must.

The longer treatment is delayed the worse the prognosis. India has many fine ophthalmologists. You need a vitreo-retinal specialist that does this type of work. You will probably have to rely on your present ophthalmologists for a referral if they do not do this type of work. Often this type of treatment is available at medical schools in the Department of Ophthalmology.

While these treatments are not a cure in about 75% of the cases it is possible to keep the eye from getting worse once treatment is begun. Neovascular membranes are notorious for sudden bleeding that is why I'm so concerned that you get your mother to someone near enough (and quickly enough) for you to do the many back and fourth trips that are necessary.

JCH III MD Eye Physician & Surgeon

It would not be practicle to fly to the USA for this type of treatment.