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!

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@bonitav

@hopeful33250 Thanks Teresa. Will be thinking of you too and will check in later. Take care.

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@bonitav, @hopeful33250, I want to update as I promised! Retina Doc is thrilled that the treatment for my leakage and edema were successful. He again said that I respond well to the Lucentis injections. Now, I'll hope for another year or longer to be treatment free. I do have an appointment for check-up every 3 months to stay on top of it.
Today I went to my ophthalmologist. He checked if my prescription was filled correctly, which it was. And then did some more vision checks and has written a new prescription for right eye. And the good part for me is he is not charging me for it 🙂
Rosemary.

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@rosemarya Oh, Rosemary - how wonderful, I'm so happy for you! It sounds like you have excellent doctors working on your behalf and their suggested treatments are working. Teresa

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@rosemarya

@bonitav, I want to inquire about your visit to the retina specialist. Were you able to find out about the bleeding behind your retina? Is there any treatment for it? I was diagnosed with a blood seepage in my right eye, but I think it is in front of retina. My condition is branch retinal vein occlusion. I receive treatment and regular checkups for it. Rosemary

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my endochronologist told me that my stage 3 kidney disease is creating my anemia as well as bleeding behind my dry eyes. i am slowly losing my eyesight. perhaps this information will help someone.

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@bonitav

@hopeful33250 Thanks Teresa. Will be thinking of you too and will check in later. Take care.

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Thanks Teresa and Rosemary @hopeful33250, @rosemarya, and all who provided support during my brother's illness. He passed away soon after I last responded here. I had been able to visit him before the stroke but didn't get there in time after the stroke to see him alive.
After returning home, developed another large floater in my left eye. Off to the retina specialist who said there were more occlusions in the same visual blood vessel. Laser treatment cleared the occlusions. Didn't ask too many questions this visit as my regular dr wasn't available and have appt with my regular dr in August. Was glad the floater went away. Also have cataract in that eye and need to schedule surgery.

The MRI for the pancreatic cyst showed no indication of a cyst at all. GI scheduling an MRE.. no idea how that differs.

Re Crohns... has been difficult to assess the effectiveness of Stelara. Have begun to have nausea after eating very much. Also, had a followup visit with the vascular dr to discuss the results of the CT scan with contrast. He is amazed at the amount of collateral blood flow I have throughout my abdominal area. No procedures or surgeries necessary. So relieved! The abdominal aorta bypass I had in 1998 is totally occluded but am saved by the collaterals. I have Peripheral Vascular Disease so, as my daughters say, I'm a walking bionic woman.. 🙂 Seriously, after the episode at the Mayo here in Jax, in 2011 and survived an 8-hour surgery after a stent placement ruined my left brachial artery and had to have a graft from my thigh, the surgeon told my daughters they needed to "study" me because they thought I wouldn't breath on my own again... glad that's behind me.

Apologies for all the details and that I haven't kept in touch, but since I haven't replied in a while, though it better to cover all the bases.
Hope you all are continuing to do well and are happy with your treatment(s). Wishing you the best and hoping you have a great day! Bonnie.

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@bonitav

@hopeful33250 Thanks Teresa. Will be thinking of you too and will check in later. Take care.

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Hi Bonnie, @bonitav

Thank you for the great follow-up note. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. Were you close in age to him? Losing a sibling is very difficult.

Regarding your vision - I'm glad to hear that the floater is gone now - they can be both annoying and concerning but I'm glad to hear that there was a treatment available and you are doing better now.

I am sorry to hear that eating is not going well for you. Could it be a result of the new med?

You were wondering about the MRE, I found an explanation on Mayo's website regarding this, http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/magnetic-resonance-elastography/basics/definition/prc-20013647. Hope this helps you understand how it differs from a MRI.

You have certainly been through a great deal over these past few months and that is difficult both physically and emotionally. Take care of yourself and keep in touch with us.

Teresa

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@bonitav

@hopeful33250 Thanks Teresa. Will be thinking of you too and will check in later. Take care.

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@bonitav, Bonnie, I am sorry to hear about your brother's death. When my big brother died from a stroke, I was not able to be there either. He was 20 months older than me.

I have been fortunate that my eye occlusion is responding well to the injection treatments. I needed another treatment last week since the inflammation and swelling is slowly returning. Next visit and scan in 8 weeks. They decided that for now, that I would not benefit from the laser treatment. I hope that you will get your questions all answered when you see your regular doctor.

No need for any apology, ever. We are here to listen and to learn together. And to lend listening ears to each other:-)
Best wishes as you continue with all of your health investigations.

Hugs,
Rosemary

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@rosemarya

@bonitav, I want to inquire about your visit to the retina specialist. Were you able to find out about the bleeding behind your retina? Is there any treatment for it? I was diagnosed with a blood seepage in my right eye, but I think it is in front of retina. My condition is branch retinal vein occlusion. I receive treatment and regular checkups for it. Rosemary

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@peach414144, Thank you for sharing. I was aware that kidney disease can lead to many other health issues, like the anemia, I was unfamiliar with its effect on the eye bleeding that you mention. There are many people in my retina doctors office who get treatment for vision issues related to diabetes.
Is there any treatment to slow down the progress of your declining of vision? And have you been provided with any assistance by a low vision specialist?
Rosemary

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@rosemarya

@bonitav, I want to inquire about your visit to the retina specialist. Were you able to find out about the bleeding behind your retina? Is there any treatment for it? I was diagnosed with a blood seepage in my right eye, but I think it is in front of retina. My condition is branch retinal vein occlusion. I receive treatment and regular checkups for it. Rosemary

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thank you for caring rosemary. if there is any treatment to slow down the loss of vision the doctors down here in florida have not presented it to me. also, if there are any low vision specialists here they are invisible. i am upset with this but not depressed (yet). i am sure that if i would move back to new york there would be help there. but, being 80 years of age (but still dancing) i would need much, much help to make it there. waiting for the "guardian angels" to appear. thanks again. barbara ohhh! am seeing a new opthamologist tomorrow.

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@rosemarya

@bonitav, I want to inquire about your visit to the retina specialist. Were you able to find out about the bleeding behind your retina? Is there any treatment for it? I was diagnosed with a blood seepage in my right eye, but I think it is in front of retina. My condition is branch retinal vein occlusion. I receive treatment and regular checkups for it. Rosemary

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@peach414144, My ophthalmologist referred me to a Retina Specialist for diagnosis and treatment. My retina specialist has also has a department that provides the low vision aids ( lighting, magnification, voice newspaper etc ) Unfortunately, all conditions are not treatable, that is a hard reality that we all have to realize.

I admire your attitude. And, yes, I do care. When I experienced declining health, liver failure and kidney failure, and then a life saving transplant, I experienced the inner strength and peace of someone 'caring' about me. And I absolutely love the image of 'dancing' !

Keep on dancing!
Rosemary

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@rosemarya

@bonitav, I want to inquire about your visit to the retina specialist. Were you able to find out about the bleeding behind your retina? Is there any treatment for it? I was diagnosed with a blood seepage in my right eye, but I think it is in front of retina. My condition is branch retinal vein occlusion. I receive treatment and regular checkups for it. Rosemary

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Hello Barbara @peach414144

I too love the image of dancing! Makes me want to kick up my feet - slowly of course 🙂

Teresa

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