I Hope they Don't Have To Cut me!

I saw a neuro-ophthalmologist today at our local Big University Hospital.  I prefer teaching hospitals since the residents are actually interested in you.  Not bored. Willing to share information.

There were three doctors altogether.  The Family Practice young woman just listened in and the resident, I can't remember his name, would occasionally explain things to her and I was happy to listen in then.  Then the Great Master who spoke so fast I was happy to have the resident around just because he seemed more normal.

I'm toying with the idea of doing all my ophthalmology there since they showed a degree of life that I rather liked.

They worked quickly but were patient with me.  I had my list of symptoms that I had observed and they listened to me for the COMPLETE LIST.

I am well disposed to this treatment.

But my double vision can best be described as:

• Both eyes are screwy, but more the left then the right.
• Probably not diabetes but it could be a contributing influence
• Probably not Gabapentin although I am on such high doses of the stuff (800 mg Tabs X 4/day,  which I have reduced to 3/day).  Reducing to 3 has not helped my symptoms.  But my doctor was talking off the top of his head when he said NOT RELATED so I'm not sure that I trust that.
• Neither eye shows any sign of diabetes and I've been one for 18 years.
• Could be Thyroid Disease (which I have). 
• Could be diabetes related although with the control I have of that disease not likely.  Diabetes could be a contributing factor.
• The muscles on the sides of my eyes may be too large thus hampering movement.
• Could be some combination of the above. 
• Ultrasound is planned for next week.
• May need surgery to resolve the issue. 

I'm so happy that I worked extra earlier in the week so I could be OFF today.  My eyes feel crappy and don't focus so well after all the stuff they poured into my eyes.

Not What it Seemed at First

Just remember this the next time you talk to your doctor.  If the evidence doesn't quite support the theory, throw out the evidence.

Initially my vision problem seemed to be a diabetes problem, although my HbA1C was 6.1 and had been in the sixes for a while.

So maybe it's an age problem.

Then I explained where the prism in my computer glasses worked and where it didn't work, and I moved my gaze to the left.   If this had been diabetic neuropathy I should not have been able to do that.

My ophthalmologist was alert enough to recognize that he wasn't dealing with a normal diabetic or age related neuropathy.

And I am on my way to see a neurological ophthalmologist which I expect to be great fun.

If I had diabetic neuropathy I could expect this to disappear in about three months.  Now I don't know what to expect.

  

Ophtalmalogy, Peoplse Say...

I'm getting tired of seeing my ophthalmologist.

I'm wearing the F.... prisms on the left lens of both my computer glasses and my distance/multifocal glasses. 

My left eye is my dominant eye, which I discovered the week after the prescription was made.  I'm asking myself, "Aren't they supposed to go on the other lens?".

Well, it's nice to see things, and not see two things.  At the same time.

I haven't attempted driving - this is only day two.  Which is much better than day one when attempting to type would have been a vain attempt.  

So I see better, and I see the little vertical lines which might be easier to ignore if they were on my right eye.

There is reflection, and sometimes I'm aware of the prisms.  It's anoying.

If this gets me though the next few months to the point where my eyesight comes back then I'll be happy with them. 

Eventually, I can retire, and take a break when my eyes bother me.

Colors of the Rainbow

Just to let you know, nothing to discuss about the MRI. All clear.



I visited my ophthalmologist on Monday, and I will be visiting him again on Monday.  Nothing is quite so disconcerting as seeing two technicians who look identical asking you questions, so I walked up to the receptionist with my patch over my right eyeball and signed in.

I had wondered how Diplopia Mania was dealt with as a practical manner, aside from my simple technique of closing one eye or wearing a black eye patch.  They both have drawbacks.  If I try to keep my eye closed, my eyelid gets tired. 

The patch can make a sore spot just over my eye.

My eye likes to see light. Strange. And if I put the patch over one eye, and then take it off, I have two images in my head, one rather dim and one very bright. 

Monday on my next visit I find out the details and it appears that my difficulty (double vision) will be resolved via the use of a Fresnel Prism.   My ophthalmologist said that my problem is from diabetes and my eyesight should return to normal in about three months.  The prism will be a temporary fix to move the image from one eye over so it matches the image from the other eye.

I don't really know how they're going to get that to match up perfectly.  And prisms break down light into its constituent colors, so I will be able to see things clearly but with a psychedelic halo of some sort.

To think people used to take drugs to see colors.  I will for free, and I can take it with me legally.