Eye surgery......today

StanFoster

StanFoster

Wayne- Hey, thanks for any help. I have a nest of epitheral sp? cells growing where my cornea flap was cut for my lasik operation. The concern with my doctor is that he has never lifted a flap more than 2 years after it was cut, mine has been 6.5 years and there is uncertainty if it can be lfted with a scalpel. These cells MUST be removed. The other option is to recut my flap with 1.8 million laser ablated dots all on a circular pattern and on a convex shape. This flap will then be removed by tearing the corndea dot to dot. The cells will then be simply sponged out. The 2nd opinion is my call because its my eye! I am of course aprehensive about this but have total faith in my doctors God given talents he will use on me. Stan
 
Hi Stan, what a bummer! I feel with you!

From what little I glean from your post it seems that you have epithelial cell ingrowth in your LASIK treated eye. That happens when the cells constituting the outermost layer of your cornea get underneath the flap lifted during LASIK surgery and start proliferating there. Usually this happems much sooner after LASIK surgery, though. If, indeed, that's what you have, then the standard treatment is to lift the flap again, wash out the unwanted cells and reseal the flap.

There is, however, an alternative way to treat this using a YAG-laser. This method was developed by a Spanish ophalmologist, has been published and tried over several years and shows very promising results. It does not require lifting of the flap, so there is less risk involved. It can't be used in all cases, though. Best to ask your ophtalmologist about it.

I keep my fingers crossed that all goes well, -- Chris.
 
Blind skydiver

Blind skydiver

OK, Stan, it's not curb feelers on the R22, but ...

You heard about the blind skydiver? He'd been a skydiver for years before he went blind, but continued jumping. One day a local paper heard about him, and had to do a story, so sent a reporter out to interview him:

Reporter: So, isn't is scary to jump out of an airplane when you can't see?

Blind: Yes, but it's scary to jump out of an airplane even when you *can* see!

Reporter: How do you know when to open your chute?

Blind: Same as always - I count to 15 real slow, then pull the cord.

Reporter: Wow! How do you know when you're getting near the ground?

Blind: You pay attention to subtle cues - the sound of the wind in the trees, the sound of a stream, the smell of the meadows - if you pay attention, you can tell.

Reporter: Amazing! But don't you have to flare for the landing when you're like 5 feet off the ground? How do you know when it's time flare???

Blind: Oh, that's easy. The leash goes slack.


:drum:

Sorry! You asked for bad jokes!


Best of luck. Eye surgery is scary!


Neil
 
Stan,
Wishing you the best. We'll be praying you find the right doctor who can fix you up.
 
Stan, ever heard of a guy named Ed Anderson? He has written many articles about Mazda Rotary engine conversions.... Anyway, he flys out of my little podunk airport and he can only see out of one eye. Somehow he is still able to fly, drive, and everything else. I know it would suck to loose a eye, but life will go on. I do hope you get better news next week
 
Tim: Thanks. I more than likely will go with my same doctor...the big question I need answered is which way to go ...either trying a relift on my 6.5 year healed flap...or a total new laser burn and recut it.

It will come out ok...just not as need and handy as having it done this morning.....like I thought I was.


Stan
 
What complicates this is that my right eye is dominant...and I have had significant problems sighting my work in the stairshop.

Yeah... we didn't want to tell you, Stan, but it's been years since one of your staircases came out straight.

Good luck and speedy recovery.

cheers

-=K=-
 
Don't they make "Ground Proximity Radar" that will tell you how close you are to the ground?

Yep, a radar altimeter is standard in transport aircraft and necessary for doing Cat II and III instrument approaches. Both the plane and the pilot need to be certified for it. The smallest plane I've personally seen one in was a B55 Baron but there are probably some in single-engine machines.

It is very very bad if you think you are in the enroute phase and your radalt goes to zero. Happened to a C130 out of Jackson Hole in the 1990s, the pilot flying's puzzled comment was the last thing on the tape before the bang.

Don't think it's a good substitute for vision either. It's nice to have if you're gonna be taking off at hundreds of thousands of pounds, but a bit of overkill for a gyro....

cheers

-=K=-
 
Good luck Stan, my hopes and prayers are with you.
 
Hi Stan,

Chris described it perfectly. I couldn't have said it better myself. It is true that Dr. Jorge L. Alio, and his colleagues in Spain have been using the Nd:YAG laser to effectively and safely treat epithelial ingrowth without lifting the LASIK flap.

Quite honestly, I haven't heard of any cases 6.5 years post LASIK. I'm at work tonight. I can call over to Jules Stein in the morning and ask. I can also ask my wife tonight on the phone if she and her Ophthalmalogist have treated any late cases such as your own.

Don't worry, things will work out for the best and you'll be good as new.

Wayne
 
Stan , you are one of those folks who most of us never have to worry about , we always look forward to your latest up-date on your latest project. You tend to make your way thru life in a manner most of us admire and sometimes envy. To see you having to face this problem leaves us men at a loss for words and sometimes the best we can do is say we are praying for you Stan.

And we are.
 
Gosh: What can I say....I love reading these posts.

Let me not get my eye problem overrated....its serious sure...but my worst outcome is to have to wear one contac lenses if they cant get in and remove those cells which are distorting my cornea. My distortion or astigmatism can be corrected out as we already tried that in the doctors office.

I have worn contac lenses in both eyes for over 30 years, so I would be blessed if God offered me a contract to sign with him right now that guranteed me over 30 more years on this great planet if I had to wear one contac lenses.

This is just a nuisance problem, but of course I want my eye fixed.

Stan
 
Wayne: I had my lasik done in Feb of 2002. I have been nothing but pleased with the results...and this same testimony comes from hundreds of my doctors patients.

He told me in his office yesterday that he has lifted flaps to remove these unwanted cells in cases up to 2 years after lasik. At 6.5 years....this is scratching his head with uncertainty. Not wanting to be a test guinea, I wanted a 2nd opinion. So this next meeting will be with a specialist in this area and he will detemine should we try to lift the flap...or laser cut a new one.

My biggest nuisance with this is that this is my dominant eye...and I am always looking down a board sighting it with my right eye. Now I look down with my left eye and have to shut my right eye. I still have fair vision in the right eye....and its right at FAA standards for flying without correction. I have no problem with depth perception even though I was joking about putting curb feelers on the R22.

I have the R22 booked on Labor day and plan on getting at least 2 hours of solo time in, and much of this will be approach and landings.

Stan
 
Arnie: Cant tell you what your post meant to me....thanks.


This is like one big family here and I appreciate it. We all have our little problems...our triumphs...and its fun to share both.





Stan
 
Stan, you are a person who does not see a problem but an opportunity to find a solution. Your positive outlook and personality will get you thru this.
 
Stan:

I've been out of town and this is the first time I've logged on to the forum in a while. I just read about your eye problem. You're a great guy and I truly wish you the very best. You're very wise to obtain a second opinion. I'd never mess with my vision. Good luck my friend.

Bob
 
I drove 5 hours today roundtrip to Indianapolis to see my eye specialist. It was determined that I have one option to correct my eye...and that is to relift the cornea flap with a scalpel to get to the offending build up of cells inside my cornea.

The laser cut flap method is not recommended and would not be done by this specialist. It would more than likely cause other problems that would be irreversible.

The doctor me a 50/50 chance of it working and then wanted to know my thoughts. I said... "You just made it simple....its a 100% chance it wont work if we do nothing....I like these improved odds"

With that the doctor just laughed and applauded my confidence. He said he never had someone look at it that way.

Anyway...a date is being set asap for this procedure. I told my doctor I was giving it better than 50/50 anyway.

Stan
 
Stan - when I had surgery a few years ago, I learned how the stress is lessened a bit every time you share the situation with others.

We're here for you fella. Keep sharing.
Tom
 
Top