Since I’ve been writing since 2012 and many readers have been around since then I owe you an update.
I had surgery last week for a detached retina that was diagnosed at a yearly eye exam. I was seeing some flashing lights and darkness at the top of my vision.
Nobody explained how serious this condition is and my surgeon didn’t explain how long recovery is before surgery. I saw him yesterday and I’ve got another 6 weeks of not being able to see clearly in that eye. It wouldn’t be as bad if the other eye was good. It isn’t.
Luckily Santa loaned me an elf or two to help read since documents are really tough. Expect fewer stories and possible grammar errors because proof reading is hard.
If you don’t get your eyes checked every year you are playing with fire. A good ophthalmologist can detect lots of different problems.
A detached retina could have resulted in total vision loss. I will get through 6 weeks. I won’t know for weeks what vision I will have then but it will be better than it is now.
Whatever happens always ends with good. This will too.
My thoughts and prayers are with you! I agree on the yearly eye exam. Mine found glaucoma in the early, early stages. Your eyes are the window to the soul! Give them a much-deserved rest. With all this online work, they get so tired with the constant blue. You do such fine work for all of us. Thanks, again.
Continued prayers for a full recovery and patience. You do a good work for the community. Thank you and Merry Christmas!!!
Prayers for your vision!
Praying for your recovery!
My prayers are with you Diane.
So very sorry to hear this. I have had so many friends that have had to deal with this. It’s a very serious issue. Prayers for a full recovery.
Prayers for your recovery Diane.
Diane, I will keep you in my prayers. Thankful God is loaning you some elves! Thank you for all you do to keep BN informed.
I’m sorry for your issues. Especially this time of year. I’ve had that surgery and 6 weeks is about right
I will say a prayer for you. A detached retina is very serious. I hope you heal quickly and prayers you are returned to perfect vision.
Sorry to hear about your eyesight problems. My sister also had a detached retina discovered by accident. I took her to Peoria for surgery and she was lucky to have saved her eyesight. Extremely important since she was totally deaf. Glad you have it corrected. Looking forward to your future posts.
I had to go to Peoria too
I have diabetic retinopathy in left eye. My vision is pretty much gone in that eye and can only read and write with the right eye and that’s blurry. The only way I can see is with high powered magnifying lights . I understand fully what you are going through. And tell anyone that yearly eye exams are just as important as mammograms and other types of preventative medicine. You and I along with millions stand together in one voice saying SEE YOUR EYE DOCTOR REGULARLY this world still has a lot to see!
So sorry Diane. Praying for your recovery over the next 6 weeks. So very thankful for you and all you do.
Thanks for all the news you have reported. We appreciate your efforts.
I value your insight. Will pray for your health!
Good advice and wishing you well.
I have CRVO (central retinia vein occulsion) and there is no good treatment for that other than medication to reduce retina swelling. The blood flow is blocked in the return vein. Maybe in 100 years from now they will be able to successfully treat it. There is no way to predict this from happening. My first retina doctor near Milwaukee where I was working said he had patients with different ages. Yeah good thing I was sitting down when I was told they would do an eye injection. Not as bad as it sounds since they numb the eye and you don’t see the injection being done.
I go to the University of Iowa eye clinic for treatments. One of the best for eye care. Now they have a 3 month pellet implant they can do rather than monthly injections. That requires a double numbing.
When they first started doing that you would hear a pow like gun going off but that has since changed. Your head and eye is fixed so it can’t move. The draw back to injections is that it causes cateracts. I know I have cateracts but I can’t risk losing eyesight in my good eye to have them removed.
I was told by my first retina specialist that I could use Avastin, FDA approved for off label treatment for CRVO. Also used for macular degeneration. At the time it was $1000 a dose. Avastin is a colon cancer treatment drug. A researcher at John Hopkins saw in side effects patients eye sight improved. The same drug company came out with a specific drug I believe called Eyelea and the dose cost was over $2000. My specialist said they saw no test differences. The only difference was less money in your wallet. I read one year a retina doctor in FL earned the most from Medicare. My guess he was whacking Medicare for the expensive drug instead of using Avastin. Medicare pays for it so why use the least cost drug.
My aunt had a detached retina. A local doctor messed her eye up and the doctors at U of Iowa helped her to get some vision returned to her eye. She should have sued the local eye doctor. She might have and I never asked.
I am sorry to read about your eye issues. Wishing you a full and quick recovery.
How long did you have the flashing lights and darkness ? Also, do you have to keep your head down 23 hours a day ? My gf had treatment for the same a few years ago and had to sit with her head down to keep the “bubble”in place ! What a journey. Thank you for this PSA
About 2 weeks and I was supposed to. I’m not good at doing nothing!