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Eyes and Neuropathy

Posted by Rachel, Volunteer Mentor @rwinney, Jun 17, 2020

I would love to hear from folks who have peripheral neuropathy and eyes problems such as worsening dry eye and photophobia (light sensitivity). Has anyone been to a neuro opthamologist for this and been advised of the correlation? What did you learn?

My eyes have mitigating circumstances.... beginning with Fuchs Dystrophy (cornea disease) requiring cataract and cornea transplants, intractable migraine and Small Fiber Polyneuropathy...all of which play off each other. Photophobia, for me, has been constant since prior to eye surgeries and increasingly worse after. Migraines create photophobia and vice versa. SFN is nerve damage/dysfunction which for me has created hyperalgesia (overactive and hyper sensitivity). The cornea contains the highest number of small fibers in your entire body. My ongoing dry eye is developing along with intense flares of light sensitivity. I feel like a vampire...it puts me down, to bed, in hiding. As I explore how to tackle worsening dry eye, I came across this link that opened my mind further and thought maybe it might help some of you who have dry eye and neuropathy.

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

avmcbellar | @avmcbellar | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @johnbishop "@rwinney have you ever seen those ads on TV with people virtually trying on glasses? Pretty..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@rwinney have you ever seen those ads on TV with people virtually trying on glasses? Pretty cool but would still want to see before buying 🙂 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/warby-parker/id1107693363

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I felt the same way before about trying on glasses in person. With my virtual experience in my video, I could actually see myself better with the glasses on because I am viewing my self at different angles as my head turns plus I am at a distance compared to looking at a mirror. It is pretty cool!

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Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @rwinney "@johnbishop Haha yes, I have! It's not so much about the visual as it is the..." + (show)
@rwinney

@johnbishop Haha yes, I have! It's not so much about the visual as it is the feel for me. I'm a picky girl. 😊 I have actually ordered from Warby Parker...they send you 5 you pick pairs to try on for free. It was fun!

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Yipee I need sunglasses with lots of darkness in the lenses because the sun is way too much for dry eyes. However I don’t have to have any corrections because of cataract surgery with the $$$$$$ lenses. What do you think of the round glasses?
May you see brightly.
Chris

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1 reply
avmcbellar | @avmcbellar | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @rwinney "@johnbishop Haha yes, I have! It's not so much about the visual as it is the..." + (show)
@rwinney

@johnbishop Haha yes, I have! It's not so much about the visual as it is the feel for me. I'm a picky girl. 😊 I have actually ordered from Warby Parker...they send you 5 you pick pairs to try on for free. It was fun!

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Rachel, I understand about the feel. Look at online stores policies. Many allow for returns. Stick with the same online store for a quality you like and you can pretty much avoid surprises. I believe this will be the new norm in the future for ordering glasses. My neuro ophthalmologist is a young doctor in his early 30s who also orders his glasses online and recommended the online store to me.

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Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @artscaping "Yipee I need sunglasses with lots of darkness in the lenses because the sun is way..." + (show)
@artscaping

Yipee I need sunglasses with lots of darkness in the lenses because the sun is way too much for dry eyes. However I don’t have to have any corrections because of cataract surgery with the $$$$$$ lenses. What do you think of the round glasses?
May you see brightly.
Chris

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Yes! Make sure the rounds are big enough for full coverage though. You must look like Joan Collins from Dynasty verses John Lennon! 😁

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Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @johnbishop "Rachel @rwinney that is terrific news!! I look forward to hearing about your appointment at Mayo..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Rachel @rwinney that is terrific news!! I look forward to hearing about your appointment at Mayo Jacksonville and seeing a Mayo opthamologist.

I was on a 4 month waiting list to see a Mayo opthamologist and being a little frustrated about the wait list and not being able to make an appointment with them in 2017 and 2019 (having to see a local regular eye doctor for glasses), I decided to see if I could get an appointment online. I requested one and then missed their call. Called them back late in the day last Friday and asked them what's the deal with the waiting list and does it change often. The lady told me it does change and I asked do you call people on the list when an opening occurs...then explained again I had an exam in 2015 where the doctor said I had the start of cataracts but only needed new glasses. Also told her I tried to see them in 2019 due to vision problems and was unable to make an appointment. The local eye doctor said she would rate my cataracts a 2 on a scale of 1 to 4 with 4 being bad. She said let me take a look at the schedule. Then she said how about July 15th at 7:30 am? Needless to say I said YES!

My sister who is 6 years younger than me just had cataract surgery on both of her eyes and had lenses implanted. She said it's strange waking up and reaching for her glasses that she no longer needs. That gives me lots of hope

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@johnbishop Get ready for surprises. First of all I noticed abstract paintings evolving from my brain through my eyes beautifully. We even got the solemn anesthetist laughing about the LSD trip. Cataract surgery is not discomforting at all. Just make sure you have the eye cover on so you don’t touch your eye. You may have them put in one week apart. After that your views may stop you in your tracks.

After some time, what you lose is contrast. I use my cell phone light to enhance the contrast so I can read the menu in a dimly lit romantic restaurant. I also got a pair of cheaters for similar situations. And you do have to use the gel tears that have been in the frig so nothing stings.

Now if you need additional help, I will be your substitute and create some wild and crazy ideas. Don’t trust me. Ha ha ha.

May you see clearly now.
Chris

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1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @rwinney "Thanks! Will do." + (show)
@rwinney

Thanks! Will do.

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@rwinney I just want to wish you good luck at Mayo. Since I have eye problems unlike yours the eye group here talked with my and gave me not only darker glasses for my eyes as I,m also sun sensitive but have macular degenration she gave me a smoke colored glasses for inside as the sunlight still bothers me inside . I love them and any eye shield from outside not help keep the virus from entering through the eyes . Good luck at Mayo and let me know how your are . take care Linda

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Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@rwinney I just want to wish you good luck at Mayo. Since I have eye problems..." + (show)
@lioness

@rwinney I just want to wish you good luck at Mayo. Since I have eye problems unlike yours the eye group here talked with my and gave me not only darker glasses for my eyes as I,m also sun sensitive but have macular degenration she gave me a smoke colored glasses for inside as the sunlight still bothers me inside . I love them and any eye shield from outside not help keep the virus from entering through the eyes . Good luck at Mayo and let me know how your are . take care Linda

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Thank you for your well wishes Linda. I will keep you posted.

Rachel

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lioness | @lioness | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @artscaping "@johnbishop Get ready for surprises. First of all I noticed abstract paintings evolving from my brain..." + (show)
@artscaping

@johnbishop Get ready for surprises. First of all I noticed abstract paintings evolving from my brain through my eyes beautifully. We even got the solemn anesthetist laughing about the LSD trip. Cataract surgery is not discomforting at all. Just make sure you have the eye cover on so you don’t touch your eye. You may have them put in one week apart. After that your views may stop you in your tracks.

After some time, what you lose is contrast. I use my cell phone light to enhance the contrast so I can read the menu in a dimly lit romantic restaurant. I also got a pair of cheaters for similar situations. And you do have to use the gel tears that have been in the frig so nothing stings.

Now if you need additional help, I will be your substitute and create some wild and crazy ideas. Don’t trust me. Ha ha ha.

May you see clearly now.
Chris

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@johnbishop Hi John you will be great with new lenses the operation is a breeze . I will relate a story . A friend of mine here has been blind in one eye for ten years from a cataract. Her Dr then told here there wasn't anything that could be done . Fast forward to now . New eye Dr . he told her he could take her cataract of . It was very thick but she might be able to see some when he took it off . I went with her the other day . Operation went well. This is day 5 now and she called me and said she could see her whole apartment now with both eyes. She was so overjoyed and so was I that this Dr did help her . She called her old Dr and told him she could see out of that eye that he said she couldn't . So never give up keep pushing to find the right Dr.

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 8, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@johnbishop Hi John you will be great with new lenses the operation is a breeze ...." + (show)
@lioness

@johnbishop Hi John you will be great with new lenses the operation is a breeze . I will relate a story . A friend of mine here has been blind in one eye for ten years from a cataract. Her Dr then told here there wasn't anything that could be done . Fast forward to now . New eye Dr . he told her he could take her cataract of . It was very thick but she might be able to see some when he took it off . I went with her the other day . Operation went well. This is day 5 now and she called me and said she could see her whole apartment now with both eyes. She was so overjoyed and so was I that this Dr did help her . She called her old Dr and told him she could see out of that eye that he said she couldn't . So never give up keep pushing to find the right Dr.

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@lioness Hi, I'm not sure my cataracts are bad enough for surgery yet but hope to find out next week. I'm hoping that is the answer to why I've been having vision problems the past few years and it seems to be getting worse with focus, sensitivity to light night driving and reading. Good to hear your friend has her vision back! It does make a difference to be your own advocate, keep asking questions and learn as much as you can.

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avmcbellar | @avmcbellar | Jul 8, 2020

Good luck John with your visit next week! Let’s hope cataracts are to blame for your vision problems. Keep us in the loop of what you find out. Wish you well.

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