Help! Have appointment with eyelid specialist...need info.

[ddaybrat]

I saw an opthamologist, Dr. Max Linder, today for the first time since surgery.  My neurosurgeon did not refer me one in the beginning as he felt it was unecessary since my facial paralysis was temporary.  It's been 3 months and I wanted to make sure my eye was OK...that I have been caring for it properly.  Dr. Linder examined my eye ana d said that I was doing everything right.  He seemed concerned that I hadn't been referred to an eye specialist in the beginning.  My cornea is healthy, but is showing some 'wear and tear'. 

I've been referred to an 'eyelid specialist'...supposedly the best in this area. Dr. Linder wants him to follow me as closely as possible.  He warned me that if the slightest change in my cornea occurred, I needed to see the specialis ASAP so that my eye could be sewn shut.  Not doing so could result in permanent damage to my cornea and I would have to have a corneal transplant to repair it.

What should I expect as far as surgical options for my eye?  I know that sometimes a couple of stitches are taken to close the eye a bit.  Would the specialist actually sew my eye completely shut?  I probably should have asked Dr. Linder today, but I have a habit of thnking of questions after I leave the doctor's office.  Can someone tell me what types of surgical procedures are done on the eye and why?

Thanks, Pat

[moe]

Hi Pat,
I am seeing an oculoplastic surgeon regularly to monitor the cornea, which is doing "OK" but not great.

Immediately after my AN surgery, I had a tarssoraphy (sp?) which ended up stitching my eye half shut.
Had it for 4-5 months, then the gold weight in the eyelid. The degree of "stitching the eye shut" varies from doctor to doctor and how compromised your cornea is.
Probably a few stitches is all you need, and it won't be all that noticeable, if you need one.

Depends on your eye function.

How is your eye function now?
Are you able to close your eye on your own, and fully blink?
Did he recommend keeping your eyes lubricated with ointment or drops?
For me, being I had a facial nerve cut, I will be putting lubricant into my eye until I die, but that's OK, as long as I don't lose the cornea!
Anyway, keep it lubricated if you aren't' I would advise. REFRESH is the brand that most people use. There's thick drops, actual ointment, lots of options.
Let us know what the doc says,
Maureen

[saralynn143]

Many brands of lubricating gel have 15% mineral oil. Look for those that have 45% mineral oil, such as Lacrilube and Refresh PM. Walgreens has a store brand with the higher percentage as well. The gels with more mineral oil are more expensive, but last longer between applications.

Sara

[satman]

I had some bling bling put in amd my eyelid stitched in the corner a bit.
the stitch made my eyes look more even and cut down the amount of lube i had to use, it was a major help with the dry eye issue.

[ddaybrat]

I use Refresh Lacri-Lube in my eye at all times...probably 6 or 8 times per day.  I can't use artificial tears...my eye feels like it has sand in it when I do.  I have used Refresh PM, but really can't tell any difference between it and the Lacri-Lube.  Doctor gave me some Genteal Gel, but I'm not crazy about it...seems like I barely put some in my eye and I need to do it again.  The ointments work so much better.

I just needed to know what to expect when I see the eyelid specialist.  My cornea is in really good shape...has minor damage at this time.  Doctor said to keep using the ointment...keep it moist at all times.  The eye doesn't track as well as it should and my vision is really blurry.  I have trouble reading and using the computer because of it.  The assistant put a large 'E' on the wall for me to look at...it was pretty scary...I knew what it was, but when I closed my good eye, I couldn't even tell what I was looking at...all I saw was a bright white square with really rough edges and couldn't even tell there was something inside the square.

Right now, the biggest issue with my eye...at least for the moment is that I have tears running down my face several times an hour.  It's becoming rather a pain, but I can live with it.  Seems funny...I have all these excess tears and yet, I have to use ointment to keep my cornea moist...I know it's because the tears are simply running off my lower lid instead of lubricaing the eye, but it is sort of a pain.

[ddaybrat]

Saw the oculo-plastic surgeon Monday.  He's scheduled me for surgery on August 5th.  He's going to take a tuck in my lower lid and strengthen my upper lid.  Right now, my eye will not close.  He's hoping the minor surgery he's going to do will make it close well enough to help keep my eye lubricated better.  He says I will have to continue using the Lacri-Lube, but hopefully, not as much.  Since my facial nerve was not cut, it's expected to come back completely.  The minor surgery that he's doing will not have to be removed when it does.  He says it's not much different than what a lot of women have done to their eyes as they get older to make them look younger.  Maybe I should have him do both eyes....lol

Now, my good friends, tell me what to expect with the eye surgery.  Does it hurt much?  I can handle pain, but my eye area may be more sensitive.  What about swelling or bruising?  I'm told I'll probably have a black eye for a few weeks.

[Kaybo]

Sorry I have been out of touch & did not see your initial post.  I did have my eye sewn completely shut about 3 months out but don't think they do that very often now (I only know of 1 other person on here and hers was only partial).  My damage was due to my eye coming open under gauze patching (which is what they told me to do) every night - when it started scratching it, they had me patch it all the time thus resulting in even worse damage!!  needless to say, they don't do that anymore and if anyone tries to tell you to patch with gauze - RUN!!  Anyway, I don't think you really have to worry about that kind of damage - sounds like you are lubricating it well.  Also, I have ZERO feeling in that eye so when it would get scratched, I didn't know.  Again, sounds like that is not the case with you.

To the surgeries, I have had MANY surgeries over the years to either put in or take out weights.  I had it stitched a time or two also.  It is NO BIG DEAL at all!!  After one, I went to my daughter's soccer game (bag of frozen peas in hand!! ) and stayed the whole time.  I always bruised really badly EXCEPT the one time it was right around Halloween and I WANTED to bruise...go figure!!    I'm a bad bruiser anyway!!

Please let me know if that did NOT answer your questions or if you have more!

K 

[lori67]

Sounds like you'll be having something similar to what I had done.  I had a few stitches put in the outer corner of my eye to kindof bring the lower lid up.  It helped make my eyes look more symmetrical and helped to hold the tears I did make in my eye instead of all over my face!  I also had my tear ducts cauterized on that side.

It was same day surgery and wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I usually don't like anyone or anything touching my eyes, so you're probably not as big a chicken as I am to begin with.     I had some swelling and discoloration ( I wouldn't even call it bruising because it was so slight) for a few days.  I just took tylenol and put ice on it when it got sore.  The pain from the surgery was much less than the pain I was having from the damage to my cornea all the time.  I was out and about the next day and people were surprised that I didn't look like Rocky!

Good luck with your surgery!
Lori

[ddaybrat]

Thanks...you've both made me feelso much better about my upcoming surgery.  It has taken me by surprise to some extent because my neuro-surgeon didn't think it would be necessary.  He fully expects my facial nerve to come back.  The tears have realy started running down my face and I've been having some intermittant pain in my eye.  I'm almost 4 months out from surgery.  I went to an opthalmologist simply to reassure myself that my eye was doing OK.  Well, it wasn't doing as well as I thought so now, I'm facing more surgery.  I don't like anyone messing with my eyes so it is rather scary to me.

Thanks again...your reassurrances are greatly appreciated.

[Kaybo]

Also, remember that anything that they do is VERY EASILY reversed so when you get movement back, that will not be a problem!   

K   

[satman]

they knocked me out for the stitch and gold weight, no pain at all during recovery.

[nancyann]

Hi there Pat:  my last surgery (one of many) was a Jones tube to help decrease the tears that kept building in my eye,  I also had a final Canthal sling that kept my lower lid from drooping.   Went to an oculoplastic surgeon for these procedures.
Every night I wear the Niteye Dry Eye Comforter to keep my eye moist & protect the cornear from abrasions.
I'm surprised you haven't had an upper eyelid weight put in while you're waiting for movement to come back.
I have no chance of movement, so I have an upper eyelid platinum weight in, & use Refresh PM lubricant exclusively to keep my cornea from drying out.
Like K said,  it's all reversible....
Movement will likely come to you as your surgeon has said, but in the meantime,  you need to keep your cornea protected.
Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[Kaybo]

Hey Nancy~
Can you believe that I am going on 2 YEARS with NO WEIGHT!?  Wonder what the Dr's here will want to do.  Obviously, we had let my lid "rest & recover"!! I still just do Refresh PM at night and in the mornings but even though I can feel it, it is starting to seem different!

K   

[ddaybrat]

The oculo-plastic surgeon said he wanted to wait a while before putting a weight in my upper eyelid.  It isn't paralyzed for some reason, while my bottom lid is.  Strange! 

[ddaybrat]

Had surgery this week.  Dr. Frederick Masolf, Lincoln, NE performed a paralytic ectopic repair on my lower lid and a transverse ligament adjustment on my upper lid.  My eyes open and close pretty much the same now.  Surgery wasn't the most pleasant thing I've endured considering I was wide awake and it was done with a local anesthetic.  Doctor kept sitting me up to compare the look of my eyes to each other...more or less getting opinions from nurses.  It worked though.  Eye is somewhat discolored and swollen, but not much pain.  Stitches come out next Friday.