swollen retina, floaters,..help!

[hypezgirl84]

I am 20 years old and my eyes are a complete mess. It all began at the age of 15 I awoke and I had my first significant floater I went to the doctors immediately and we have ruled out all serious complications like tumors and nervous system issues. Then I was referred to about a million eye doctors and they couldn’t find anything wrong other then being told I have papaladema (sp?) which I was told was swollen blood vessels any way with out any real answers I was forced to live with these blinding floaters, I made I finished high school and was on my way to what could have been normalcy until my floaters had become worse and I was only have peripheral vision and the colors of red and green began to diminish, and I started to increase my fonts to supper large just to see them on my computer and I couldn’t read books, I then was on my search again, search for a diagnosis, search for a treatment, search for anything. I saw a manual for molecular degeneration and it seemed all my symptoms where there, so I went to a retina specialist in my area and he looked he said that I didn’t have molecular degeneration, but my retinas were extremely swollen and he said he could try to give me a steroid injection in my eye. I received this injection about 6 months ago. And although it had improved its all back again…I can’t drive I cant read a book, I fake recognitions to everyone because I cant see faces. If anyone has any advice, or similar experiences id just love to hear from anyone, I’m at my ends rope, I want to drive and be 20 years old and I want to know I can see my unborn children grow up.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

You need a better understanding of what your problem is. Its a complicated problem but you out to know some specific diagnosis like chronic uveitis, or chorio-retinitis, or macula edema.  You need a sit-down with your Eye MD to help your understanding. I can't make heads/tails from what you've written.

Also consider going to a near-by referral center example Wills Eye Hospital, Wilmer Institute, John Hopkins, Mayo Clinic,  there are world class referral eye centers all over the US.

JCH II IMD

[hypezgirl84]

You know, I tried this is all the information and this is what they've said, the problem isnt juust the problem. They dont know why this happens... they(the doctors) are just as clueless as we are, my one doctor tried something to treat the symptom, but has yet to find why these symptoms occur. I really truely would love for you to give it a try i am running out of resorces i just want to see my kids grow up. so i need help.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

I've re-read your posting and my advise still stands. Head for a world class eye center near you, generally they are no longer than a 3-5 hr drive (we have a lot of them in the USA).

JCH MD

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Your profile says you live in Oklahoma the Dean McGee Eye Center is excellent:

http://www.dmei.org/index.php?pID=212

So is Washington U in St. Louis, Emory U in Atlanta

JCH MD