Slow degradation of my vision. Seeing a retina specialist

Posted by Bonita @bonitav, May 19, 2015

After a slow degradation of my vision, especially close as in computer usage, saw optician and after eye exam, received new lenses. Not much improvement, so I scheduled appointment with an ophthalmologist, who diagnosed very dry eyes, but with bleeding behind the retina in my left eye. Referred me to a retina specialist whom I see tomorrow. Any ideas what could be causing this other than retina detachment? About two years ago, had laser treatment for floaters. Wonder if this is related to that procedure. Can this also be related to a vascular problem? Thanks!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Eye Conditions Support Group.

Hi @ryman you may have noticed that I merged your post into this existing thread on degradation of vision so that you can read what about what others have experienced.

I wanted to tag fellow Connect members @gailb @rosemarya and @pedie as they have some experience with vision problems and may be able to provide support to you.

As for your vision, what types of things are you seeing? Could it be described as black spots or something similar?

REPLY
@ryman

I have been “seeing” some very weird things. My eye doctor says it is floaters. I have had floaters but nothing even close to tjis. I had cataract surgery and he says some debris has built up on the legt lens. He will laser it next Tuesday. Meantime, I am losing my mind with these “floaters”. Thanks for letting me get this out.

Jump to this post

@ryman hi I had cataract surgery on both eyes and Dr had to laser of the extra stuff that built up it was a piece of cake don't worry about it .Also after 9 yrs from catty I still see floaters not all the time it feels like I,m chasing them

REPLY

I have posted before about my eyes. The last few days I am having a weird and scary problem. I see nets, hair and swarming bugs that aren’t there. Today it looked like it was “snowing”in my living room. I don’t see my eye doctor for 3 weeks but she has not been very helpful the last two times I saw her. So I am thinking of changing doctors. Has anyone else experienced this? Thank you. I am so worried.

REPLY
@ryman

I have posted before about my eyes. The last few days I am having a weird and scary problem. I see nets, hair and swarming bugs that aren’t there. Today it looked like it was “snowing”in my living room. I don’t see my eye doctor for 3 weeks but she has not been very helpful the last two times I saw her. So I am thinking of changing doctors. Has anyone else experienced this? Thank you. I am so worried.

Jump to this post

Hi, Ryman. I have not had cataract surgery. I do occasionally experience floaters after I have my treatment for my retinal vein occlusion. My floaters are temporary and they do appear as dark spots, like bugs.

I found this information about eye floaters that you might like to read. You will see that the things that you describe are explained in the beginning of this article.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eye-floaters/symptoms-causes/syc-20372346

I am sorry that you opthamologist is not being very helpful to you. I would think that you could , at the very least, be able to find out if you need to be seen before the 3 week appointment.

Will you send me an update and let me know what you find out from the doctor?

REPLY
@ryman

I have posted before about my eyes. The last few days I am having a weird and scary problem. I see nets, hair and swarming bugs that aren’t there. Today it looked like it was “snowing”in my living room. I don’t see my eye doctor for 3 weeks but she has not been very helpful the last two times I saw her. So I am thinking of changing doctors. Has anyone else experienced this? Thank you. I am so worried.

Jump to this post

@ryman From your post I think Id call Dr to get in before that I think you,d have a better chance then to start with a new opthamalogist.But if you can't call another and tell of your eye problems.Good luck.Let me know how your doing.

REPLY

I have been thinking of all of you and wondering how youy are getting on with your vision issues. Does anyone have an update?

Yesterday I had my routine appointment with my retina spcialist for my Lucentis injection. (#3 of a possible series of 4 injections for this round of treatments) The current plan is to spread out my injections with the goal or reducing flair ups for my BRVO (Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion). So my next visit will be in 10 weeks and include a full eye exam and scans. The results will determine if I get to skip an injection.
I know this is a chronic condition and the goal stop any progression of vision loss. I do have a donut shaped blind spot on the cemter vision of my right eye, and my left eye is compensating so that I hardly notice it. I am getting tired of this routine and the anticipation/anxiety that I experience before each visit.

I would appreciate any hearing from anyone about similar experiences. How do you stay strong? How do you cope with the 'dreaded' injection each time?

REPLY
@rosemarya

I have been thinking of all of you and wondering how youy are getting on with your vision issues. Does anyone have an update?

Yesterday I had my routine appointment with my retina spcialist for my Lucentis injection. (#3 of a possible series of 4 injections for this round of treatments) The current plan is to spread out my injections with the goal or reducing flair ups for my BRVO (Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion). So my next visit will be in 10 weeks and include a full eye exam and scans. The results will determine if I get to skip an injection.
I know this is a chronic condition and the goal stop any progression of vision loss. I do have a donut shaped blind spot on the cemter vision of my right eye, and my left eye is compensating so that I hardly notice it. I am getting tired of this routine and the anticipation/anxiety that I experience before each visit.

I would appreciate any hearing from anyone about similar experiences. How do you stay strong? How do you cope with the 'dreaded' injection each time?

Jump to this post

I am sorry that I can only state that I am having the same problems and worse. The doctors do nothing I think because there is need for more studies so they will know what else can be done for us. Why is this happening? Why is this area of the medical field so lacking on a very serious issue? Blindness is a terrible way to live. Thinking of you, me and the rest of us. Peach

REPLY
@peach414144

I am sorry that I can only state that I am having the same problems and worse. The doctors do nothing I think because there is need for more studies so they will know what else can be done for us. Why is this happening? Why is this area of the medical field so lacking on a very serious issue? Blindness is a terrible way to live. Thinking of you, me and the rest of us. Peach

Jump to this post

@peach414144 One question you could ask is if there are any medications you may take have side effects that affect vision. Prescription drugs can affect both hearing and vision and you can look up your medicines online for information, but also ask your pharmacy to look at this for you. Sometimes doctors don't give you the detailed information.

REPLY
@jenniferhunter

@peach414144 One question you could ask is if there are any medications you may take have side effects that affect vision. Prescription drugs can affect both hearing and vision and you can look up your medicines online for information, but also ask your pharmacy to look at this for you. Sometimes doctors don't give you the detailed information.

Jump to this post

When doctor S. Hunt removed the cataract from my eye (or so he says) is when I lost my vision, As soon as the bandage was removed the vision was all of a sudden gone.and I feel as though there is something sharp moving around in my eye and now, only just after the procedure do I have glucoma. The other eye that he did not touch is fine, only that the eye is amblyoptic and legally blind since birth. But yes you are correct, medications have a large affect on the body including the eyes. The other opthamalagists here where I live will not address the issues with the problem eye. They only prescribe for the glucoma. Thank you for caring.

REPLY
@peach414144

When doctor S. Hunt removed the cataract from my eye (or so he says) is when I lost my vision, As soon as the bandage was removed the vision was all of a sudden gone.and I feel as though there is something sharp moving around in my eye and now, only just after the procedure do I have glucoma. The other eye that he did not touch is fine, only that the eye is amblyoptic and legally blind since birth. But yes you are correct, medications have a large affect on the body including the eyes. The other opthamalagists here where I live will not address the issues with the problem eye. They only prescribe for the glucoma. Thank you for caring.

Jump to this post

@peach414144 Hi Peach, the same thing happened to me when I got my cataract surgery. The sack got damaged, it is called PCO: Posterior capsule opacification. I was so excited, but then... it took another year and a half for doctors to do laser, they were afraid I was going to have another dettachment. Thank God it worked out, now my bad eye is my good eye. In regards to the injections, I take it one day at a time, I try not to think about it, I do carry a stress ball with me, to keep me calm. Hope this helps.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.