8/27 August 2013 Update: Holding Pattern

I finally had LASIK enhancement surgery on July 23, 2013 on my left eye, the same eye that had the cataract surgery and retinal detachment.  I was looking forward to getting ALL the procedures planned for this eye DONE once and for all with the first year anniversary of my entire saga looming close.  The surgery was uneventful, although my vision is still stabilizing.  I seem to gave lost some visual acuity in my distance vision, while gaining limited but improved near vision.  At least i can read and see the computer with my left eye now.  As i was told to expect, it is good but not great.

So at my final post-op appointment with Dr. Regillo of Mid Atlantic Retinal Specialists on August 13, 2013, i was glad to get the "all clear" on both eyes with respect to the health of my retinas and readiness of the right eye for cataract surgery.  I was told that chances for retinal detachment are still at 1/100 for the right eye, and that a followup appointment with them post surgery would not be a bad idea to plan for.

At my August 14, 2013 post LASIK appointment with Dr. Siepser however, i was advised not to consider the cataract surgery until my right eye had deteriorated to the point that my left eye could see better than my right and further correction with lenses was not possible nor helpful.  The doctor did not want to do the procedure, stating that with all the cataract surgeries he has performed, retinal detachment was rare, but with my history he was virtually certain i WOULD have retinal detachment if we operated on my right eye, as the 1/100 odds given by Dr. Regillo are higher than his statistical record for retinal detachments.

So what does this mean?  I am years away from my next surgery.  I am waiting on the left eye to stabilize further and will look into getting new lenses for both eyes, glasses and a contact lens to replace the battered one my right eye sees fairly well out of.  We are not rushing into the next step for sure, although i had thought that was the best course to take.  All in due time.  I can see pretty good now, considering my long saga.  I feel very blessed and lucky indeed, and happy to wait before we go under the knife again.

I will be "seeing" you around....

5/23 Another Unexpected Setback...

So I was all excited about finally having the last procedure done on my left eye today before I can finally proceed to getting my right eye cataract surgery completed.  I even wrote poetry while waiting, which I posted on FaceBook...

They repeated a couple of tests before the procedures and had me complete all the disclosure/CYA forms.  Dr. Jordan even tested my eye sight and let me know that I was seeing better than when they last saw me in January after my YAG laser capsulotomy.  Dr. Siepser walked in with two crutches, saying his hip was not great, but that he was glad he could still "operate" otherwise. When Dr. Siepser started looking at my test results, he seemed concerned, and it started sounding like having the LASIK today was not a good idea.  Upon looking into my eye, he realized that the test results were not optimal coz I still had sutures in my left eye from when he performed my cataract surgery in September of last year.  Apparently the suture was tight and had caused some distortion in my cornea which showed up in my test results.  He then indicated that I will need to have the sutures removed today, let the eye heal for a couple of months then have a couple more tests done before the LASIK enhancement can be performed.  What a bummer, more delays. 

Interesting enough, while sitting in the same chair where I had my eye exam and the doc had looked into my eye with his scope of sorts, he added a couple of numbing drops in my eye, took a sterile needle out, and then while holding my eye lids open with one hand and looking into my eye with his scope, he proceeded to nip out the sutures in my eye with the needle.  Spur of the moment eye surgery: not for the faint of heart!  I was inwardly freaking out, willing my eye to be still and focus straight ahead.  He must have really steady hands for this type of work!  After popping a soft contact lens into my eye for a "bandage" and handing me eye drops to use four times a day, I was discharged to return tomorrow for the already scheduled post-operative check-up.

It has been six hours and my eye feels tired and scratchy, nothing a good nap can't fix.  I was told to not rub the eye vigorously for the next month or so, but to expect some improvement in my astigmatism as the eye heals.  So my revised timeline may now be LASIK for left eye sometime in August, then cataract surgery in September, and hopefully nothing more after that, apart from maybe the YAG and/or LASIK for the right eye.  No more retinal detachment drama, hopefully...  Still very thankful and hopeful coz just like Dr. Siepser said, I have had a lot done but can actually still see pretty well.  

So my journey dodging darkness continues, until the next episode....

5/19 Left-eye LASIK this week

Looking forward to the fourth and last needed procedure on my left eye this week. I have LASIK enhancement scheduled on Thursday, May 23.  Should be uneventful, especially since they told me i could drive myself to my 24-hour post-procedure appointment on Friday.

When Left Eye is all set, Right Eye is next.  Said i would get cataract surgery on it done this summer: can't believe how time has flown!  Need to get it on the schedule sooner rather than later.  As always, i am hopeful it will be uneventful, without the retinal detachment drama my left eye went through.

I AM at higher risk of having detachment with the right eye now too, but i will take care not to take the same risks i took after the last surgery: no dancing, no bowling, just rest and recovery.  I will behave, I promise!  

Hoping for the best....  Take care, y'all!

1/30 Post-YAG, Pre-Lasik: Laserific!

I am doing pretty well after my YAG laser procedure on my poor left eye on January 11.  In my follow-up on January 25, I was told that the procedure was successful, no capsule left, but that I am now a candidate for LASIK enhancement, which they will bring me in for after another month, to allow my eye to completely heal. 

So I have a follow up (my last one!) with my retinal specialist on February 12, and my LASIK evaluation on March 1.  I am between two laser zapping procedures, how surreal!  But my vision IS improving.  My left eye actually sees pretty clear, but lazily still defers to the right eye when I have my contact lens on.  Without the contacts, the left eye is dominant especially for distance.  But it is blurred for reading, where the right eye still works best. 

Not much to report, but I am extremely glad to be able to say that progress is slow and steady.  Till next, everybody take care and enjoy the scenery!

1/12 YAG laser poetry + update

Had my YAG laser capsulotomy with Dr Siepser at Vision One at Exton yesterday morning. The poem below was written during the almost two hour wait time between checkin, eye dilation and when the very short procedure was done.

The laser apparatus that was used looked like one of those machines at the eye doctor office, where you sit, rest your chin and forehead, and the fun ensues. Very anticlimactic, my eye was zapped (while i stared at a green light trying not to blink) for about a minute, then i was done.

Thank goodness it was a rainy day coz my eyes stayed dilated till the evening, and even today my vision is brighter (hallelujah!) but still a little blurry. Interesting that now i can see how much more "yellow hued" the uncorrected vision is on my right eye with the cataract, compared to my left eye with the Crystallens after YAG laser. My right eye has been the one tired in the past two days, probably from doing all the work! But things are looking good. I am doing three more days of fluorometholone (FML) eye drops then i just wait till my postops and my LASIK appointment.

So here is the waiting room poetry, enjoy!

I am sitting here waiting
Left eye dilating
Sipping a cup of joe

Got okey to go bowling
With a little cajoling
So tonight i am ready to go (somewhat)

Holding back makes me anxious
But I need to be cautious
After everything that i've been through

I try to do what i'm told
AND not put life on hold
But it's sometimes not easy to do

So i'll see how things go
I WILL take it slow
Got to give this eye time to heal

My plans can wait
Can't tempt fate
The chips will fall where they will

It's one more step in this mission
To better my vision
Uneventful may this one step be

I slowly draw near
To vision more clear
Surgery after surgery

1/9/2013 Almost in the clear in the new year

Happy New Year, everybody!

So I welcomed the new year with a visit to Dr. Siepser on January 2, on the recommendation of Dr Regillo, my retinal specialist.  Dr Regillo had indicated that I was healing really well but may require a laser procedure to address the obscured vision out of my brand new Crystallens in my left eye, which was cased by my vitrectomy procedure to correct the retinal detachment. 

Dr. Siepser agreed that I need the laser procedure but also indicated that he may perform additional LASIK if needed, to give me the best vision possible out of my left eye.  I am scheduled to have Dr. Siepser perform the YAG Laser Capsulotomy procedure this coming Friday, January 11, at the Exton Vision One facility.   It is an outpatient procedure that will result in my eye being dilated, but they did indicate that I can drive to and from the facility for the procedure, and since the facility is less than a mile from my house, I am doing just that.  We will see how it goes!

My post op with Dr. Siepserfor the YAG procedure is on January 25.  After that, I have what may be my last post-op appointment with Dr. Regillo on February 12, where I expect to get an all-clear on my left eye.  Something to look forward to!

I am on the fence about when to schedule the cataract lens replacement surgery for the right eye, after all the drama I had with the left eye.  I will at least wait until the summer or early fall, IF I will get it done this year.  The end result with my left eye is really not bad, I can actually already see pretty well, not perfect but will only get better with the additional procedures planned with Dr. Siepser.

I am still having to deal with a little bit of "cross-eyed"-ness, as the vision out of both eyes are not aligned.  Dr. Siepser urged me to exercise the eye muscles by looking at peripheral extremes, like a visual ping-pong game, and also to focus on my finger or any object as I bring it closer to my face.  I also noticed that I need to exercise focusing on objects that are far then near, and vice versa, so the muscles of the eye get used to the action and focus faster.  Talk about a weird workout!  At least my eyes can play ping-pong...not sure if I can still blame my eyes for my cross-eyed bowling sickness (can't seem to hit my target).  More work needed, like many things, it can only get better!

I am truly looking forward to even better vision and hopefully no more eye drama in 2013.  Wishing y'all the best in this new year as well!