blinking?

[amaguarda]

ok, i havent been able to blink for almost a year. can anyone share any experiances they have with that. has anyone recovered from this, if so how long did it take you?

[nancyann]

Hi there Amaguarda - how are you??   I still don't blink (14 months post op), & this past March the doc had to remove my gold eyelid weight - the specialist I saw 2 weeks ago says it WAS an allergy.   (You should look into a weight to assist with blinking if you don't already have one - I don't remember, sorry).   I also started using an eye patch at night called NITEYE the Dry Eye Comforter - it's a plastic bubble that fits over your eye & has adhesive all around it.  Costs $21. +s/h for 14 of them.   1 lasts me 2-3 nights (they say don't reuse).  That has helped me at night but is a bit uncomfortable at 1st, you get use to it.  Other than that I use lubricant every 2-4 hours while awake.      Your getting the blink back will depend on that part of your facial nerve coming back.   Unfortunately that's usually the last to come back if it does.     Always good thoughts,    Nancy

[amaguarda]

hey nancy, here in germany, its a normal thing to give those eye patch bandage things. i been wearing one every night since my surgery. thank god, my insurance covers them. they are 3 euros each patch. but thanks for the info.you seem to help me out with your experience ,  more than my doctors, and i have about 5 of them...

[pattibobatti]

Hi there,

Do you have an eye weight?  They are helpful if you don't.  And there is an RX called restasis that is supposed to help with dry eyes.  It takes 3-6 months to start working, though.  I have used the drops for about 2 months, so I can't tell you if it helps yet.

I have read that people can start to blink better after a year.  It just takes so long . 

Pattibobatti

[TP]

I insisted two months after my AN was removed that I needed to be able to blink and requested a weight to be placed in my eye lid. I have a gold weight implanted in my eye lid and it helps tremendously. I don't have to use any patches or bubbles to cover my eyes at night. I was hoping to have it removed totally or at least a lighter weight one put in but my newer eye Dr does not want me to replace just yet. I had another eye surgery to correct my double vision and it seems my eye is on the dry side so she wants to make sure I continue to blink well before we go to a lighter gold weight.

[amaguarda]

does the gold weight help you to blink? i was told that it could have a bad effect and open while your sleeping if you are in the wrong position. so i got a little scared by the gold weight. how is it working for you?

[nancyann]

Hi Amaguarda:  YES - the gold weight allows your eye to blink.  I've been without mine since March, & boy do I miss it.  I cannot blink at all without squeezing my eyes shut.
Somehow, with the weight, when you go to blink, even with the paralysis, your eye will blink.  The doctor will check preop which weight size is best for you.  If you sleep with your head on just a little bit of an incline, your eye should close while sleeping.  I didn't need to use the NitEye bubble patch at all when I had the weight in.  Unfortunately I had a reaction to the gold (very unusual for this to happen), so I'll be having a platinum weight put in.   Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[1wareagle]

 Hi Nancy,

     I was reading your previous post and you said that you could blink your eye when you had the weight. I have tried to blink and all I can do is maybe half way close it and that's straining to do that. But at night it will slowly close completely when I go to sleep. When I wash my hair I still have to hold my head a certain way to keep it out my eye.  The weight helps at night alots and it has helped in making my eyes the same size. The only time one eyes is larger than the other is when I smile. The good eye gets smaller.

Ellis

     

[nancyann]

Hey Ellis:  I geuss I'm using the term 'blink' loosely - the lid comes down, not all the way, but enough to cover the cornea.  Nancy

[1wareagle]

Nancy,

      Thanks for clearing that up. I was ready to get a gold weight instead of the one I have!

Ellis