LASIK Aug 15 - Steroid Induced High IOP & Uveitis

[alwaleed]

Things have improved somewhat during the last 4 weeks

Vision in my right (non dominant) eye have improved enough that now I can see some letters in the 20/20 line. My left eye is a little better than before but still can barely make the 20/25 line

This has raised my spirit & kept my hope alive that my eyes will still regress to plano in the 40 days I have left until I reach my 6 month mark

My dry eyes have also improved. Still dry but less than before. I don't know whether its because I'm producing my own tears or it's the combination of the punctal plugs & better environmental conditions? But yesterday the doctor told me that my eyes shows less signs of dryness than before

The doctor says we are heading in the right direction & I still have some healing left. All what I need to do now is to keep my eyes moist

This lasik experience is really tough. Glenn is right when he said it's a six month process rather than the 20 minute miracle everybody is talking about. I think the doctors should tell all their patients prior to the procedure that it would take 6 months for their sight to be fully restored. This way the patients will be prepared for that & wont be taken by surprise. But I think they are afraid that the patients will change their minds when they know this & wont do the procedure :)

[LasikExpert]

Glad to hear you are on the mend.

Although it is easy to say all docs should tell patients it's a six month healing process, the reality is that the vast majority of patients have not ill effects and are back to normal within a few days. What is important is that all patients know that Lasik can require a long healing period and other problems can delay that healing. Be prepared for the worst and expect the best.

[alwaleed]

Exactly 6 months today & just came from the doctor

He is seeing some regression in both my eyes since my last visit. According to the numbers from the Autorefractor, my right eye is at +0.25 & my left is +0.5 this is down from +0.5 & +0.75

The doctor is still hoping for further regression. According to him my eyes still did not stabilize & we have to wait & see. My next appointment is after 2 months

I guess the 6 month deadline I have set for my self has just been extended :)

There is nothing I can do now but to wait. Time hopefully will be on my side not against me. If enhancement is needed then the more I wait the better it is. I can somewhat manage my poor vision & the halos & starpurst I'm seeing at night. +1 reading glasses are helping with my reading & computer use. My major concern is my dry eyes, the weather is getting warmer in here & have to use the A/C during the day. When complaining to the doctor he said that I should just keep lubricating my eyes as much as needed & to stop the Alphagan as it might be causing the dryness

He also recommended I use HYLO-CARE which is a preservative free lubricating drops that contain vitamins. It comes in a 10ml bottle not the individual vials other lubricants use. Will try it out & see how it works

I will report again when there is something to report :)

[alwaleed]

Well, It`s over 8 months now so I guess it`s time to give an update :)

The good news is that there was some regression & now I only have fractions of over correction left. My vision is not as clear as I would want it but I`m not concerned about it for now as I have other issues that has to be solved first before I know where do I stand with regards to refractive error.

My concern now is my dry eyes that has not improved . The doctor seems to be baffled about it & has no answers or treatment. In a last ditch effort, he placed temporary Punctal Plugs in my upper tear ducts to see if it will help. Well, it didn't :)

I think I should see a dry eye specialist but cant seem to find one where I live. So I`m lost on what to do next

I`m using Refresh Liquigel almost explosively through out the day. I`m averaging once every 2 hours & at night I`m using Liposic Gel. I`m also wearing eye mask at night to somewhat reduce the dryness.

The other concern I have is Halos & Star bursts. They have been there from the beginning & did not change till now. The doctor says it`s caused by my pupils becoming large after the operation, but the Alphagan I was using before did not help at all. He tried a new drop on me last time that was supposed to make my pupil very small. That did not help at all & the only difference it made was to change the shape of the star bursts :)

I asked him if the star bursts were due to the residual refractive error I still have & he clearly said no. I think it is caused by the combination of refractive error & dryness. The only way to know for sure is for my dry eyes to heal & wear glasses or contacts to fully correct my vision

So, back to the Wait & See game :)

It seems to be the only thing I can do for now

[LasikExpert]

A second opinion would be in order. You have reached the limits of your current doctor's ability to diagnose and treat. A second opinion will either provide you alternatives, or will affirm that you are on the right track.

[alwaleed]

I think you are right Glenn

A second opinion would be a good thing

Should it be another Lasik doctor or any other doctor will do?

[LasikExpert]

Someone who has experience in dry eye and Lasik, which would likely be a corneal specialist. I recommend you request a referral from your Lasik surgeon. S/he is probably just as interested in the second opinion as you, and cooperation and exchange of information between the doctors will be to your advantage. Otherwise, check with the ophthalmology department of your nearest university affiliated teaching hospital.