Phthisis bulbi and IOP less than 2

[sm129]

I have a question about the probable decline of my eye.  I am looking for statistics of what possibly occur, i.e. “There is an 80% chance that …”

I know that without seeing the eye that it is difficult, but if you could generalize that would be fine.  The doctor I see will not venture into that discussion.    
  
A brief background:  I am presently 50.  At the age of 5, I developed iritis in my right eye.  I also had Juvenile Rhematoid Arthritis.  At the age of 14 I had a cataract removed from the rt eye and at 15 I had eye muscle surgery to correct double vision.  It did not correct.  At 19 I developed secondary glaucoma.  I was treated for the glaucoma with Timoptic for years and with other medicines, but the pressure was never alleviated (it would be in the low to mid 40’s).  Since I did not experience pain and I eventually became blind in the eye, the glaucoma meds were stopped. Over the years I have had numerous recurrences of iritis.  For a long period of time I did not have any significant problems, until 4 years ago when I had a flare up of the iritis and went to a new doctor, since the one I had seen for years retired.  I was told I had phthisis bulbi, band keratopathy (BK), iridocyclitis, rubeosis and IOP rt eye of 2.  The eye pressure had been holding at 2 for the last two years. I was just at the doctor last week and he said the pressure was “less than 2”.  I asked how my eye was compared to last year and he said "it was deteriorating”.  I asked about the BK, because I had noticed more white in the iris. He said that the BK was "progressing but that the “white” was from scar tissue".  He also said the "pupil was fixed". At that point I stopped trying to get more info, because it was not coming.  He said that if I develop pain, it can be treated with atropine.  I have never had much pain in the eye so far.

In individuals with an eye condition like this, what are the chances I will lose the eye in 1, 5 or 10 years?  Also what is the scar tissue coming from?

Thanks

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

Resident doctors in ophthalmology programs are supervised by experienced staff surgeons.

JCH MD

[buye]

Thank you, Dr.

it mean a lot to hear from some one with a lot of expiriance. my other Q. is since i don't have insurance and or money, plus my Dr. is only a residence. does it make any diffrence? what kind of treatment you ge t. also sho couldn't tell me why i see a big bright white light, even my eye closed. it comes up more often now. round cristal clear bright light. it's white so bright. and it gose away after about 3-4 sec. and whn i go out side and see the snow it's like some one flashing flash light on my eye. it's confusing, isn't hope having i bit vision? like responding to a light? even small light? even to my cell phone light? yes i am about to go for second opinion. i am waiting for health assistance.

Thank you very match.

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

By all means get a second opinion but the outlook is bleak. Sorry. Remember to do everything you can to protect your good eye from disease and injury.
JCH MD

[buye]

hello, my Q. is that, i also learned a bad news from my eye Doctor. after a big accident witch cut my eye in half, the doctors put the eye together with a little hope could ever see agian. one month went by the eye didn't responed to a light. then my doctor said that if it gives pain they will considering taking the eye out. between not it been two months went by, sudenlly the eye start responding to light. in fact i start seeing more and more every day. but only light. nothing else. it was after this great news the doctor told me even thought i can see light the eye doesn't have a chance, she gave me a word to look up on the internet. the word was phthisis bulbi. i still see a light, don't have any pain. i wonder if there are other doctors may be have a cure, or idea.....hope......
can u please advice me what to do, or should i do second oppinion?

thank you,  DR.

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

Chances are more than 50% that the eye will shrink like a raisin into a tiny discolored mass that's what Ptisis bulbi is. The eye is usually not painful and often a cosmetic shell is fitted over it to give the eye a normal appearance. Concentrate on saving the other eye.

JCH MD