Diplopia After Sinus Surgery "Help"

[Boeing767]

I had sinus surgery last November at the University Of Pennsylvania with a world renowned ENT surgeon. During the surgery I had a haematoma develop behind my left eye. The pressure behind my eye was so great that a pediatric opthamologist was called in to make a small incision to the corner of my eye to releave the pressure.. I was told the next day that I came very close to damaging the optical nerve. At 4 months I have good vision in my normal gaze but have binocular diplopia when looking srtaight down and up and to the right. They believe the problem is with the Trochlear nerve. I have not had much improvment over the last 8 weeks. They keep telling me I must give it 6 month? My biggest problem is with the vertigo & dizziness associated with the Diplopia.  Glasses with a prizm do not seem to work.

Doctors talked about operating on my good eye to equal the discrepancy in my bad eye.

What are my options?

I have an appointment with a neuro opthamologist at Wills Eye Hospital next month.

45 year old male.

Thanks,

CC

[Boeing767]

Thanks very much for the information. I will never have Strabismus surgery. I was told by my Ophthalmologist that any surgery could leave me with Diplopia in my primary gaze .Its bad enough having double vision in my up and down gaze. It must be a real HELL having it in your primary.

I had been a Private Pilot for 22 years. My favorite hobby is out the window.

CC

[davtpt]

Read my profile      I'm 46 and patching 8 years after surgery to fix lazy eye

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

Probably to gin up litigation

JCH MD

[Boeing767]

Dr, Hagen,

Then why do they call it a RARE complications?

A top law firm and two other medical specialist think otherwise.

Thanks for your time.

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

1. I can't help you on either questions. These operations are all unique. You will need to discuss that with the original surgeon and the NO at Wills. You should know this is not an unusual complication and I suspect if you read the consent form you signed prior to surgery it discusses damage to vision and double vision and droopy eyelid.


JCH MD

[Boeing767]

Dear Dr. Hagan,

My NO at Wills agrees with you that any Strabismus procedure would most likely leave me with diplopia in my primary-gaze. That's not an option.

The complication during my procedure consisted of a left sided orbital hematoma, left medial orbital wall decompression and left lateral canthotomy.

My Oculoplastics specialist believes after reading my MRI that my Superior Oblique had been cut or injured by a surgical instrument during the procedure.

I have two questions.

1) Was my orbit breached during the following procedures?
2) Can you better explain the Orbital Decompression. Was most likely to relieve the 60 mmhg.

Thanks in advance.

Clark  

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

I suspect the NO at Wills will say the same thing.  These things happen and many types of sinus surgery involve risk to vision or eye muscles. In almost all instances waiting 6 months is the best thing to do. Improvement often occurs to the point of normal or better to the point that surgery (which does not make everything perfect again) is no longer indicated.

JCH MD