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← Return to Retinal Vein Occlusion
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Hi Carol - Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I'm glad your husband's situation is stable. Did the doctor provide any reason for the retinal vein occlusion? Is it branch or central vein occlusion? My CRVO is due to a combination of glaucoma and HPB. My cardiologist thinks it's more the glaucoma since my BP is under control. However, I have had serious heart issues in the past, so who knows. It is what it is. My Retinal specialist was quite optimistic about me regaining sight in the affected eye. He said it would take time, but I expect most of the vision to return. Interesting, each case is so different. I have dry eyes and the doc said it was fine to use drops, gels, and a warm mast for my meibomian glands.
How is your husband dealing with the loss of vision? How does it affect his balance, his ability to read, use the computer, walk with confidence, etc? I have prism corrective lenses for reading and computer for the diplopia I developed after tube shunt surgery; however, I cannot wear those for walking around. The disorientation plus the loss of vision is a challenge.......
I am so grateful that I found this Mayo Clinic Connect site and have the opportunity to share experiences and information with others who are dealing with challenges. It was quite by accident..... I was walking into Mayo Jacksonville and noticed a monitor board mentioned this service. I believe that when we're open, the universe sends messages......
Sue
Replies to "Hi Carol - Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I'm glad your husband's situation is stable...."
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@ashby1947, Sue, I am so glad to hear from you. I must admit that I was hurried when I answered you previously and was not as clear as I should have been. "Haste makes waste." as they say.
My husband has BRVO. The doctor believes the reason the stroke occurred is a result of heart problems. He has battled high blood pressure and eventually high cholesterol since he was a teen; he is 78 years old now. He had a heart attack and a replacement aorta in 2011 and has to see his cardiologist and heart surgeon once a year. He has hospital check tests twice a year, and his meds are adjusted accordingly if need be. He is not blind in his stroke eye; we were lucky to catch it in time and has 20/40 in his stroke eye and 20/30 in his right eye, so his vision is good for a 78 year old man. He reads, emails, and pays bills on his computer, and drives----does anything he wants, and the eye is not a problem. At first the doctor used Avastin, which worked for about six months, but it produced less and less progress so the doctor changed to Eylea ($2000.00 a procedure!) The insurance would not cover that but it is the med that is getting the job done. He had an appointment two weeks ago and his eye is doing well. The blood pool is basically dry and the swelling and veins are as normal as can be for this condition. He will have to have the injections for the rest of his life. But we have to do what it takes.
I am glad you found Mayo Connect also. It is a wonderful place to get information and share experiences with people who understand and sympathize with the medical problems we all have. I found Mayo Connect when I was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago. I knew nothing about the disease, but with the information and cyber friends on Connect, I have learned a wealth of knowledge about my disease. I changed the foods my husband and I eat since heart and diabetes diets are similar. We do what we can as seniors to stay as well as we can and we basically are in good health for people our age.
If you have other questions or information from your experience, please feel free to ask and share; we are all open to learning everything we can about staying well.
Carol, @retiredteacher