Corneal Ulcers

[Jeanlea]

Hi all,

Today I went to my eye doctor for my periodic check up.  My eye was a bit red and he is concerned that I may be getting a corneal ulcer.  He was saying that because my eye is not blinking, something from the nerve may not be getting to my eye.  I must say I am confused.  He is sending me to another eye doctor that deals with the cornea.  He put me on antiobiotics and a steroid just in case.  He also gave me some Optive drops to try. 
After that I went for my MRI.  What a day!

Jean

[nancyann]

Hi Jean:  I'm sorry to hear this is happening to you; I hope they can put a halt to this.
             Thinking about you girlfriend,   stay well... Nancy

[luv2teachsped]

Jeanlea:  All I can say is "ditto".  Been there, done that.  In matter of fact, I called my eye Dr. today to see if he would just call in another prescription of the steriod drops, but no, I had to come in and see him. Forget it!  I still have some left, and am using the yucky lubricant during the day at school. By the way, although I have no tears in my eye (AN side), my eye does shut and blink, butbecause it is so... dry, it has caused the keratisis( corneal ulcers).  I pulled up the Kellogg eye center at U of M website, and my Dr. has done everything they said to do.  I bought more gel tonight!  Think we should invest in stock!  luv2teach

[Jeanlea]

Luv2teach,

How long do you use the steroid drops for?  My doctor didn't say and I didn't think to ask until I was at the pharmacy and they didn't know.  I think the new drops he suggested I try made my eye even redder.  I'm just going to stick with the Liquigel.

Jean

[luv2teachsped]

Hi Jeanlea:
  My Dr. intially started me on the steriod drops for two week, 2x a day.I then went back to see him and he said two more weeks.  I had the same problem with the redness and burning.  He told me to put eye drops in first, as the steriod was burning because my eye was so dry.  I still have a small amnt and have been using it along with trying to remember my drops every hour, and my eyes are clearing up again! The lasck of tears in my AN eye has also dried out my good eye. But things are better.
p.s.Jeanlea- I have a small bumb on my head ;)luv2teach

[nancyann]

Hi Jean:  wondering how your eye is doing...any further news ?

Luv2teach:   I've noticed lately that my 'good' eye has been drier also - when I put lubricant in the AN eye, I also treat the 'good' eye to Systane eye drops -
                  weird huh?  Wonder if anyone else with eye issues is having the dryness ?  Could it be 'sympathy dryness' from my good side ?? lol

[Jeanlea]

Hi NancyAnn,  Thanks for asking about my eye.  I have discontinued the steroid drops and antibiotic drops. The steroid drops were making my eye very red.  I'm using an antibiotic ointment.  It's looking better now.  Just a little red.  I had tried the steroid drops again two days ago and it turned red again.  I'll see what the new doctor says on April 10th. 

I wonder if anyone has lost their sight in one eye after having an AN?  I'm a bit worried now. 

How is your eye doing now?  Still sore? 

Jean

[nancyann]

Hi Jean:  Hope the appt. goes well 4/10.    I'm worried about the sight thing too.   I remember with my 1st eye exam about 3 weeks post op, the optomologist said I had
            mild keratosis,  he had expected it to be worse.   I use lubricant like crazy, especially after you said you're developing a corneal ulcer.
            The pain on the right side of my eye is better than it was,  I'm getting the shooting pains less frequently.  the stitches come out tomorrow;
             I hope to be able to use the new goggles I bought for nighttime soon, my eye is having more trouble closing without the weight in, I can't wait to get the
            platinum replacement.
Stay well my friend,  Nancy

[nancyann]

Hi Jeanlea:  I was just wondering...  Did you have the tear duct plugs put in ?
                 I haven't, no docs mentioned them to me.  Carol told me she has them & she doesn't need to use drops anymore.
                 I'm really tired of the lubricants & drops, & my eye still burns regularly.
                 Think I'll ask my doc about them when I see him 4/29 for my post eye surg. follow up.
Just wondering.....     Nancy

[Jeanlea]

Hi NancyAnn,

My doctor had never mentioned using tear duct plugs either.  But I don't know if that would work since I don't produce any tears.  Except for when I run.  I will ask my new eye doctor about it when I see him on Tuesday. 

Jean

[nancyann]

Jean:  Let me know what your doc says,  I don't produce tears either, other than the croc one's that I have no control over;   
         but I was thinking that's the point of the plugs - for those of us who don't produce tears ??   Maybe not.......
Talk to you soon,  Nancy

[kimmy]

Hi!  I have dry spots on my cornea (18 months post-op) which have only just been found and am worried about ulcers too. I have drops to put in at night as the ophthalmologist thought I may be sleeping with that eye open! We discussed Botox for my tearing eye but decided against them because they could cause my lid to droop more than it does now. So, how do you prevent the ulcers? Is there anything we can do?  Be grateful for any advice.

[nancyann]

Hi Kimmy:   I use Refresh PM at night before bed & in the morning.   During the day I started using Celluvisc drops - they're very thick.   I think keeping the eye well
                lubricated is one way to hopefully keep damage from occuring.   As you can see Jeanlea was diagnosed with corneal ulcers.  Her doc put her on anitbiotic
                drops & steroid drops.
                My eye does not close at night - I bought a pair of goggles that have foam in them & they keep the lid closed.  The site is
                www.eyeeco.com    I bought 'The Basic' at $39.00,     before I had an eye weight put in I use to cut a piece of saran wrap to fit over the eye & tape the
                whole area to make a sort of 'greenhouse' effect - in the morning there would be moisture drops on the inside - it really helped but is a pain to do.
                The goggles don't provide moisture unless you soak the removable foam pads in warm water,  but just being able to use them to keep the lid closed is a
                a blessing.
                I don't think there's much else to do except keep that eye lubricated, & see your optomologist.  (I'm only 9+ months out with right facial paralysis.)
                Take care my friend,  Nancy

[Jeanlea]

Today was my visit to the corena eye specialist doctor.  He didn't say that I have corneal ulcers, but my eye is developing some problems from being dry.  The way he talked it sounds like most of my problems stem from not being able to feel in my eye.  Between that and my eye not blinking correctly it is causing problems.  For now he wants me to put in a steroid for at least a month.  If that doesn't work I may need to get more of my eyelid sewn shut to protect it.

Right now I'm not feeling very positive about the long-term prognosis.  I don't know if my eye will ever blink or have feeling again.  If it doesn't it seems like eventually it will break down and my eye will deteriorate until I can no longer see out of it. 

I did ask about the tear duct plugs.  He didn't seem to positive about them for me since I have no feeling.  I think they would be good if you have feeling in your eye. 

The doctor seems very concerned that I have no feeling in my eye, but there is nothing that can be done about it.  I'm finding myself covering my bad eye, imagining what it would be like with only one eye.  Not like I can ever see clearly out of it now.

I'm so frustrated by the whole situation right now.

Jean

[nancyann]

Hi Jean:  sorry about the doc visit.   Do you have an upper eyelid weight ? (I can't remember)
             One thing I try to do (when I can remember it), is squeeze my eyes shut - if I squeeze real hard my eye almost closes,
             so I do it routinely (I geuss at least 20x per day, probably more), so my eye gets as much closure as possible. (looks funny to others when I do that,
             but who cares?).

             Hmmmm, I wonder why the ducts wouldn't help regardless of 'feeling' or not ?   I don't see my eye doc till 4/29, (or 4/26 ?), but I'll ask
             ask about it when I go.

             How much would they 'sew your eye' up? (if this gets done in the future).
             Well back to the steroids, I know you didn't like it, but as they say, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Thinking good thoughts for you girlfriend,   Nancy