Today I had my appointment at the Kearney Eye Clinic to get my measurements taken. I think I said earlier that the measurements were to determine what kind of lens I would need, but I found out today that was wrong. What they actually did was measure my cornea, and the length of my eye from front to back. Apparently, the eye length has a lot to do with whether you’re near-sighted or far-sighted.
To get the measurements, all I had to do was sit down in front of this machine, put my chin on the chin-rest and look straight ahead. The machine is automatic and computerized. When I say “automatic and computerized”, what I really mean is that it’s very touchy and temperamental. They got a pretty good reading on my right eye, the one that will be operated on, but it couldn’t get a reading on my left eye, which is the one they can’t do anything with. I should mention here that they measure both eyes, even though only one will be operated on, so they can make a comparison which better enables them to make sure the readings are good. In all fairness, that machine probably works perfectly well on normal eyes. My left eye is pretty messed up.
Anyway, after the first machine failed, they tried me out on a different one. I got the impression that it was an older machine and was less computerized. That one works by actually contacting the eye which meant they had to give me some numbing drops. The second machine didn’t work on my left eye either.
Believe it or not, they had a third machine handy that they tried me out on, but that one couldn’t read my left eye either. They finally decided to just go with the measurements they got on my right eye. The measurements on the left eye were only to be used as kind of an average anyway, and they seemed pretty confident with what they got on my right eye.
In all, it only took about thirty minutes to go through all three machines, so we weren’t there very long at all. After that, we stopped by the library, which is undergoing a lot of construction, to pick up a couple of audiobooks I had reserved, and we were home by 11:30.
My left eye felt a little sore and irritated the rest of the day after all that messing around, and in fact still does now at 8:00 pm. That’s not uncommon, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come home from the eye doctor with sore, irritated eyes. It should be back to normal by the time I get up tomorrow morning.
So, as far as I know, the next, and last, thing I need to do before surgery is to get a physical. I believe Elinore told me they would let me know when it was time to do that, but I think I’ll give her a call later this week and make sure they have everything they need now.
I’ve sort of been struggling a little on this, as far as what I should be praying for. I hate to be asking God to restore my sight because I don’t know if that’s His plan for me. I keep telling myself that if God doesn’t want this to happen, there’s about a million different ways He could have stopped it by now, but since May 9 everything has happened very quickly and smoothly. I guess all I can do, and all any of us can do really, is to ask that His will be done. I’ve also been praying a lot for patience, and God has really come through for me. I don’t really feel anxious about this at all. But I suppose that will all be out the window as soon as I get that phone call.
Psalms 67:1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us.
Psalms 62:5 For God alone, oh my soul, wait in silence; for my hope is from Him.
Showing posts with label parts of the eye. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parts of the eye. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Journal - Phone Call Follow-Ups
Okay, so it was last Wednesday when I got those phone calls from the Dr.’s office. There have been a couple of minor developments since then so here’s a quick update before I forget.
I had asked Elinore last week whether Dr. Feilmeier was planning to do both transplant and cataract surgeries at the same time. Elinore wasn’t sure and said she would check with the doctor. She called back the very next day and said that he is indeed planning to do both at the same time. That’s fine with me as long as there are no additional or increased risks involved. Getting both at the same time means, if everything goes well, I’ll be able to see much sooner, rather than having one surgery then having to wait a couple of months for the other. When I had my transplant back in 2004, I had excellent vision the very next day when the bandage came off, even though I had read that the vision would come in slowly as the new cornea healed. I’m not sure if cataract surgery requires a lot of recovery time or not, I’ll have to read up on that.
Then today I got a call from another lady at the doctor’s office, I think her name was Megan. Megan was calling to confirm, finally, that they did indeed get the ultrasound results from my visit to Dr. Halgren back in October. That’s good news because everything else was kind of on hold until that got resolved. Megan also told me that the next step will be to get some measurements taken of my eye. I’m not sure what this entails exactly, but the measurements are needed to determine the strength of the lens I will need. When I say lens, I’m talking about the actual lens of the eye, not the cornea or a contact or anything like that. The lens is inside the eye, and it’s where cataracts form. My lens will be removed and replaced with a new one. Unlike the cornea, the lens can be replaced with an artificial one. Megan said the measurements can be taken in Kearney and that someone should be calling me to schedule an appointment.
That’s all the news for now. Stay tuned.
Romans 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
Romans 5:3-5 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
I had asked Elinore last week whether Dr. Feilmeier was planning to do both transplant and cataract surgeries at the same time. Elinore wasn’t sure and said she would check with the doctor. She called back the very next day and said that he is indeed planning to do both at the same time. That’s fine with me as long as there are no additional or increased risks involved. Getting both at the same time means, if everything goes well, I’ll be able to see much sooner, rather than having one surgery then having to wait a couple of months for the other. When I had my transplant back in 2004, I had excellent vision the very next day when the bandage came off, even though I had read that the vision would come in slowly as the new cornea healed. I’m not sure if cataract surgery requires a lot of recovery time or not, I’ll have to read up on that.
Then today I got a call from another lady at the doctor’s office, I think her name was Megan. Megan was calling to confirm, finally, that they did indeed get the ultrasound results from my visit to Dr. Halgren back in October. That’s good news because everything else was kind of on hold until that got resolved. Megan also told me that the next step will be to get some measurements taken of my eye. I’m not sure what this entails exactly, but the measurements are needed to determine the strength of the lens I will need. When I say lens, I’m talking about the actual lens of the eye, not the cornea or a contact or anything like that. The lens is inside the eye, and it’s where cataracts form. My lens will be removed and replaced with a new one. Unlike the cornea, the lens can be replaced with an artificial one. Megan said the measurements can be taken in Kearney and that someone should be calling me to schedule an appointment.
That’s all the news for now. Stay tuned.
Romans 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
Romans 5:3-5 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Journal - Another Doctor Visit
On Monday, I had an appointment with Dr. Feilmeier (pronounced file-myer) at the Kearney Eye Institute. Dr. Feilmeier’s office is actually in Omaha, but he comes to Kearney once a month since there aren’t a lot of cornea specialists around here. Joni and I arrived in time for the 10:30am appointment.
At about noon, we finally got to see the doctor. He took a quick look at my eyes through the microscope, check the pressure, and did all the basic things that happen during any visit to the eye doctor. Then we talked about surgery for a few minutes, and some of the risks involved. He told me that any surgery I get would be done in Omaha, and probably the first couple of follow-ups, but anything after that could probably be handled in Kearney. I already knew that, but he did tell me a couple of things I didn’t know.
First, he said they would probably do cataract surgery first, then the cornea transplant at another time, rather than doing both at the same time like I thought. I assumed that since they have to go through the cornea to get to the cataract, they would just go ahead and do the transplant at the same time. Instead, he told me that the cataract is handled through a small incision on the outer edge of the cornea, rather than removing the cornea completely.
Secondly, I learned that one of Dr. Feilmeier’s associates also visits this area once a month, at an office in Grand Island. The two doctors come on a rotating schedule so that one of them is here every two weeks. That made me feel a little better because I was worried about only having a doctor here once a month in case there are problems after surgery.
All in all, it was a good visit. A positive visit as you might say. I was only with Dr. Feilmeier for about 15 minutes, but already I liked him better than Dr. Halgren in Omaha. He was just better at explaining things and letting me know how everything would be handled. He said he would go ahead and put me on the transplant list since there is about a two month wait. In the meantime, he will be gathering my records from Dallas and Omaha. If he decides that any further tests need to be done, they’ll contact me for an appointment, otherwise the next time I hear from them will be when they’re ready to schedule surgery.
Oh, there was one other thing he mentioned. When we were talking about surgery, I asked if I could have a bionic eye, knowing full well there is no such thing. What he mentioned was a type of prosthetic cornea that they sometimes use now in patients that have had multiple rejections. He didn’t go into great detail, but it has something to do with a natural cornea being layered with a plastic lens. I’ll have to look into that and see if I can learn more.
Anyway, I’m scheduled to see Dr. Feilmeier again on August 11, but I may very well hear from his office sometime before that if he decides we can go ahead with surgery. Keep me in your prayers!
2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ESV
At about noon, we finally got to see the doctor. He took a quick look at my eyes through the microscope, check the pressure, and did all the basic things that happen during any visit to the eye doctor. Then we talked about surgery for a few minutes, and some of the risks involved. He told me that any surgery I get would be done in Omaha, and probably the first couple of follow-ups, but anything after that could probably be handled in Kearney. I already knew that, but he did tell me a couple of things I didn’t know.
First, he said they would probably do cataract surgery first, then the cornea transplant at another time, rather than doing both at the same time like I thought. I assumed that since they have to go through the cornea to get to the cataract, they would just go ahead and do the transplant at the same time. Instead, he told me that the cataract is handled through a small incision on the outer edge of the cornea, rather than removing the cornea completely.
Secondly, I learned that one of Dr. Feilmeier’s associates also visits this area once a month, at an office in Grand Island. The two doctors come on a rotating schedule so that one of them is here every two weeks. That made me feel a little better because I was worried about only having a doctor here once a month in case there are problems after surgery.
All in all, it was a good visit. A positive visit as you might say. I was only with Dr. Feilmeier for about 15 minutes, but already I liked him better than Dr. Halgren in Omaha. He was just better at explaining things and letting me know how everything would be handled. He said he would go ahead and put me on the transplant list since there is about a two month wait. In the meantime, he will be gathering my records from Dallas and Omaha. If he decides that any further tests need to be done, they’ll contact me for an appointment, otherwise the next time I hear from them will be when they’re ready to schedule surgery.
Oh, there was one other thing he mentioned. When we were talking about surgery, I asked if I could have a bionic eye, knowing full well there is no such thing. What he mentioned was a type of prosthetic cornea that they sometimes use now in patients that have had multiple rejections. He didn’t go into great detail, but it has something to do with a natural cornea being layered with a plastic lens. I’ll have to look into that and see if I can learn more.
Anyway, I’m scheduled to see Dr. Feilmeier again on August 11, but I may very well hear from his office sometime before that if he decides we can go ahead with surgery. Keep me in your prayers!
2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ESV
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Journal - What Do Doctors Know Anyway?
Hi gang. I’ve already written to some of you, and if I have, this will largely be a recap of what you already know.
On Monday, Joni, Adam, and I traveled to Omaha for my visit to the doctor. I saw Doctor Halgren who is a cornea specialist associated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. We left home at 10 o’clock, and arrived just in time for my 2 o’clock appointment, allowing for a lunch stop in York. I’m sorry to say that the news I got was not so great.
In my left eye, the eye I had a cornea transplant on back in 2003, the prospects do not look good at all. I was not surprised to hear him say that the transplanted cornea is breaking down. That thing has been through the wringer. Also, I already knew there was a significant cataract in that eye, so that was no surprise either. The bad news started with the retina. The doctor said there are signs that the retina has become detached. Since the retina is behind the cataract, he won’t know for sure until I get an ultrasound, but he thinks it could be bad. He said if the detachment is severe enough, he would probably not be inclined to do any work on that eye at all because it just wouldn’t be worth it. Also, the pressure in the left eye is extremely low. As you may know, our eyes are filled with fluid. There is an organ in there that is constantly producing new fluid, and also a drainage system to let the old fluid out. For the eye to remain healthy, there has to be a certain degree of balance between fluid in, and fluid out. Normal eye pressure is between 10 and 20, I don’t know what the unit of measurement is called. My pressure today was 5. Doc says that could mean that the eye is simply shutting down. At the time, I didn’t think to ask what happens when an eye shuts down, but I guess it can’t be anything good. Anyway, Halgren said that all of these complications since my transplant are not out of the ordinary for someone with eczema and allergies. I’m a little surprised that Doctor Hargrave back in Dallas never mentioned that.
In my right eye he said I need a transplant, of course I already knew that. He also said there is a significant cataract in that eye which I didn’t know, but didn’t surprise me that much. Pressure on that eye was 9, which is low, but not alarmingly so. He said that if I get a transplant in the right eye, I may very well experience the same complications I had with the left, and he said the odds of any success there are about 50/50.
So that’s where it stands. I’m scheduled to go back next Wednesday for the ultrasound, but about halfway home I realized that I have a dentist appointment that day. I think I’ll keep the dentist appointment. Maybe I’ll reschedule the ultrasound, and maybe I won’t. I honestly don’t know right now. Well, that’s not entirely true. I will most likely go ahead with it, but it probably won’t be right away. I still need to find out what the Lions are going to do anyway.
I suppose I should be depressed about all this, but I really don’t feel too bad. When it’s all said and done, I don’t think this really changes anything. It was in God’s hands before, and it is still in His hands now. Is a bad prognosis from a doctor going to influence the will of God? Of course not. Doctors are smart people, but they are just that, people, and I think doctors tend to be a bit near-sighted anyway, if you know what I mean. There is still hope. As long as I live and breathe, there will be hope.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. NIV
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
When you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
--Victor Hugo
On Monday, Joni, Adam, and I traveled to Omaha for my visit to the doctor. I saw Doctor Halgren who is a cornea specialist associated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. We left home at 10 o’clock, and arrived just in time for my 2 o’clock appointment, allowing for a lunch stop in York. I’m sorry to say that the news I got was not so great.
In my left eye, the eye I had a cornea transplant on back in 2003, the prospects do not look good at all. I was not surprised to hear him say that the transplanted cornea is breaking down. That thing has been through the wringer. Also, I already knew there was a significant cataract in that eye, so that was no surprise either. The bad news started with the retina. The doctor said there are signs that the retina has become detached. Since the retina is behind the cataract, he won’t know for sure until I get an ultrasound, but he thinks it could be bad. He said if the detachment is severe enough, he would probably not be inclined to do any work on that eye at all because it just wouldn’t be worth it. Also, the pressure in the left eye is extremely low. As you may know, our eyes are filled with fluid. There is an organ in there that is constantly producing new fluid, and also a drainage system to let the old fluid out. For the eye to remain healthy, there has to be a certain degree of balance between fluid in, and fluid out. Normal eye pressure is between 10 and 20, I don’t know what the unit of measurement is called. My pressure today was 5. Doc says that could mean that the eye is simply shutting down. At the time, I didn’t think to ask what happens when an eye shuts down, but I guess it can’t be anything good. Anyway, Halgren said that all of these complications since my transplant are not out of the ordinary for someone with eczema and allergies. I’m a little surprised that Doctor Hargrave back in Dallas never mentioned that.
In my right eye he said I need a transplant, of course I already knew that. He also said there is a significant cataract in that eye which I didn’t know, but didn’t surprise me that much. Pressure on that eye was 9, which is low, but not alarmingly so. He said that if I get a transplant in the right eye, I may very well experience the same complications I had with the left, and he said the odds of any success there are about 50/50.
So that’s where it stands. I’m scheduled to go back next Wednesday for the ultrasound, but about halfway home I realized that I have a dentist appointment that day. I think I’ll keep the dentist appointment. Maybe I’ll reschedule the ultrasound, and maybe I won’t. I honestly don’t know right now. Well, that’s not entirely true. I will most likely go ahead with it, but it probably won’t be right away. I still need to find out what the Lions are going to do anyway.
I suppose I should be depressed about all this, but I really don’t feel too bad. When it’s all said and done, I don’t think this really changes anything. It was in God’s hands before, and it is still in His hands now. Is a bad prognosis from a doctor going to influence the will of God? Of course not. Doctors are smart people, but they are just that, people, and I think doctors tend to be a bit near-sighted anyway, if you know what I mean. There is still hope. As long as I live and breathe, there will be hope.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. NIV
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
When you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
--Victor Hugo
Saturday, September 18, 2010
News - Hope for Keratoconus Patients
For the last 10 years, researchers have been studying a relatively new procedure for the treatment and possible prevention of keratoconus. Collagen Cross-Linking, or CXL, can strengthen weakened corneas, and prevent further deterioration which can lead to keratoconus.
Our corneas, the clear, outer lens of the eye which is responsible for focusing light into the eye, are made up of multiple layers of a protein called collagen. In between the layers of collagen are cross links which add strength to the cornea, like the support beams of a building. For largely unknown reasons, these cross links sometimes begin to break down, causing the cornea to become thinner and weaker. When this happens, the cornea may begin to bulge outward, causing a deterioration in vision. This condition is called keratoconus.
In the early stages of keratoconus, simple corrective lenses can often correct vision, but as the condition progresses, special contac lenses may be required, and in severe cases a cornea transplant may be necessary. In a 10 year study of CXL, researchers found that the procedure stopped further deterioration of the cornea in 95% of cases, and actually improved visionn 60-80% of the time.
The CXL procedure is very simple. The patient receives an eye drop containing the vitamin B2, or Riboflavin, and then simply lays back and looks into an ultraviolet light for about 30 minutes. The UV light is a very mild dose, less than you might get on an afternoon walk, and is what activates the riboflavin, which in turn adds new cross links to the cornea, making it stronger and preventing further vision loss. This is all done in the doctor’s office on an out-patient basis.
CXL is not a cure for keratoconus, but when applied in the early stages it can stop the progression of the condition before it reaches a critical stage. CXL can be performed on virtually anyone over the age of twelve, and can even be performed on patients who have already had transplants, if the transplanted cornea begins to develop keratoconus. In rare cases where the CXL is not effective, a cornea transplant can still be performed. The CXL procedure can be repeated if necessary, but research indicates that a single treatment may have permanent results, unlike transplants wich typically last 10 to 20 years.
This is exciting news for the future of keratoconus patients. Modern medical science is doing some pretty amazing things, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Special thanks to Joni for bringing this to my attention.
Our corneas, the clear, outer lens of the eye which is responsible for focusing light into the eye, are made up of multiple layers of a protein called collagen. In between the layers of collagen are cross links which add strength to the cornea, like the support beams of a building. For largely unknown reasons, these cross links sometimes begin to break down, causing the cornea to become thinner and weaker. When this happens, the cornea may begin to bulge outward, causing a deterioration in vision. This condition is called keratoconus.
In the early stages of keratoconus, simple corrective lenses can often correct vision, but as the condition progresses, special contac lenses may be required, and in severe cases a cornea transplant may be necessary. In a 10 year study of CXL, researchers found that the procedure stopped further deterioration of the cornea in 95% of cases, and actually improved visionn 60-80% of the time.
The CXL procedure is very simple. The patient receives an eye drop containing the vitamin B2, or Riboflavin, and then simply lays back and looks into an ultraviolet light for about 30 minutes. The UV light is a very mild dose, less than you might get on an afternoon walk, and is what activates the riboflavin, which in turn adds new cross links to the cornea, making it stronger and preventing further vision loss. This is all done in the doctor’s office on an out-patient basis.
CXL is not a cure for keratoconus, but when applied in the early stages it can stop the progression of the condition before it reaches a critical stage. CXL can be performed on virtually anyone over the age of twelve, and can even be performed on patients who have already had transplants, if the transplanted cornea begins to develop keratoconus. In rare cases where the CXL is not effective, a cornea transplant can still be performed. The CXL procedure can be repeated if necessary, but research indicates that a single treatment may have permanent results, unlike transplants wich typically last 10 to 20 years.
This is exciting news for the future of keratoconus patients. Modern medical science is doing some pretty amazing things, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Special thanks to Joni for bringing this to my attention.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
News - Success With Synthetic Corneas
For the first time, doctors in Canada and Sweden have used artificial corneas to restore vision to the blind. In an initial study in Sweden, ten patients were given artificial cornea implants in one eye. After two years, doctors found that the synthetic cornea implants worked at least as well as natural transplants from human donors.
This is significant for a couple of reasons. In the United States, there are more than 42,000 cornea transplants performed every year. While there is little problem getting corneas here in the US, that is not the case in other countries around the world where there are fewer donors. The United States actually exports around 10,000 corneas every year.
In addition, artificial corneas may even prove to be better than natural donated tissue in the long run. Our corneas are made up of multiple layers of collagen. Collagen is a protein that occurs naturally in our bodies, and is often referred to as the glue that holds our bodies together. Collagen is what holds our bones, tendons, muscle, and ligaments together. These new artificial corneas are made from a synthetic collagen which very closely matches the protein in our bodies. In the ten test subjects, doctors found that the cells and nerves of the eye began to grow into the cornea implants, until they very closely resembled a natural, healthy cornea, eventually becoming sensitive to touch, and allowing natural tears to form. For this reason, the risk of infection or rejection is greatly reduced, and no anti-rejection drugs are required.
With the success of this first test, the doctors involved in the study are planning a second test phase involving 25 patients. It may be some time yet before this new technology is available to everyone, but this is exciting news for patients with corneal scarring or keratoconus. No more waiting for a donated cornea, and no more worries of the transplant being rejected. I have experienced both of these worries first-hand, and I can tell you that this is a huge leap forward.
Special thanks to Uncle Butch for alerting me to this story.
This is significant for a couple of reasons. In the United States, there are more than 42,000 cornea transplants performed every year. While there is little problem getting corneas here in the US, that is not the case in other countries around the world where there are fewer donors. The United States actually exports around 10,000 corneas every year.
In addition, artificial corneas may even prove to be better than natural donated tissue in the long run. Our corneas are made up of multiple layers of collagen. Collagen is a protein that occurs naturally in our bodies, and is often referred to as the glue that holds our bodies together. Collagen is what holds our bones, tendons, muscle, and ligaments together. These new artificial corneas are made from a synthetic collagen which very closely matches the protein in our bodies. In the ten test subjects, doctors found that the cells and nerves of the eye began to grow into the cornea implants, until they very closely resembled a natural, healthy cornea, eventually becoming sensitive to touch, and allowing natural tears to form. For this reason, the risk of infection or rejection is greatly reduced, and no anti-rejection drugs are required.
With the success of this first test, the doctors involved in the study are planning a second test phase involving 25 patients. It may be some time yet before this new technology is available to everyone, but this is exciting news for patients with corneal scarring or keratoconus. No more waiting for a donated cornea, and no more worries of the transplant being rejected. I have experienced both of these worries first-hand, and I can tell you that this is a huge leap forward.
Special thanks to Uncle Butch for alerting me to this story.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Going Blind pt 3
Okay, let’s see if I can wrap this up. If you’ve been following along, you’ll remember that last time I had finally gotten my cornea transplant and could see out of both eyes again after two years with only one eye.
So yeah, I was pretty happy about that. My vision was good in both eyes for the next year but after that it was all down hill.
I started getting infections again in my left eye. We would get one infection cleared up and I’d be okay for one or two or six months, but then another one would pop up. In the meantime, my right eye began to deteriorate. The keratoconus gradually progressed to the point where my hard contact lens didn’t really help any more. I couldn’t get surgery though because of the constant infections in my left eye.
My doctor had always said that she wouldn’t do surgery in either eye until both had been healthy for a whole year. After a couple of years she said maybe she would settle for six months. But it never happened, the infections just kept coming.
Over the next four years or so I gradually lost the vision in my right eye. The transplant in my left eye was holding up pretty good even with all the problems but then I started to develop a cataract in that eye.
Sometime during the early months of 2008 it got bad enough that I couldn’t read books anymore. Through it all I think this has been the hardest thing for me. I’ve always been an avid reader. I have since grown to love audio books and I thank God for them all the time, but I still miss reading.
In May of that year I had to give up driving. That was a big chunk of independence lost and was pretty hard to take. In September I lost my job. I couldn’t have done it much longer anyway though, I was really struggling with it. In October I was declared legally blind.
In April 2009 Joni, Adam and I moved up here to Nebraska. We couldn’t afford to live in Dallas on my social security. I had very little vision left by then but God left me just enough to familiarize myself with my new surroundings. In June I finally lost the last little bit remaining.
And now I am just waiting. Waiting for something to happen. Waiting to see what God has planned for me.
I need cataract surgery in my left eye and a cornea transplant in the right. I can’t get either because I have no medical coverage. I’ve been denied again and again. I can’t get Medicaid because I make too much money and I can’t get medicare until I’ve been disabled for two years. Private insurance plans are too expensive and also I have a lot of pre-existing medical problems, not just my eye problems, but also asthma.
But that’s okay because I have God in my life now. He promised to take care of us and I believe Him. That makes the waiting much easier to bear. When God is ready for me to see again, then I will see again. And what a glorious day that will be! I know I still have some things to figure out before that happens though, and I am doing my best to learn them.
I think that’s what this blog is all about. God wanted me to document what’s happening so that lots of people can bear witness. So the sooner you get all your friends to read my blog, the sooner I’ll get my sight back! Ha ha! Just kidding, but that’s what it’s really all about; giving the glory to God. Putting your faith in HIM, not in doctors or surgeries or insurance policies.
So that’s how I became blind. The End…NOT! No, I still have lots of things to share with you so I hope you’ll keep coming back each week. Until next time…
Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the lord than to put confidence in man.
Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works.
So yeah, I was pretty happy about that. My vision was good in both eyes for the next year but after that it was all down hill.
I started getting infections again in my left eye. We would get one infection cleared up and I’d be okay for one or two or six months, but then another one would pop up. In the meantime, my right eye began to deteriorate. The keratoconus gradually progressed to the point where my hard contact lens didn’t really help any more. I couldn’t get surgery though because of the constant infections in my left eye.
My doctor had always said that she wouldn’t do surgery in either eye until both had been healthy for a whole year. After a couple of years she said maybe she would settle for six months. But it never happened, the infections just kept coming.
Over the next four years or so I gradually lost the vision in my right eye. The transplant in my left eye was holding up pretty good even with all the problems but then I started to develop a cataract in that eye.
Sometime during the early months of 2008 it got bad enough that I couldn’t read books anymore. Through it all I think this has been the hardest thing for me. I’ve always been an avid reader. I have since grown to love audio books and I thank God for them all the time, but I still miss reading.
In May of that year I had to give up driving. That was a big chunk of independence lost and was pretty hard to take. In September I lost my job. I couldn’t have done it much longer anyway though, I was really struggling with it. In October I was declared legally blind.
In April 2009 Joni, Adam and I moved up here to Nebraska. We couldn’t afford to live in Dallas on my social security. I had very little vision left by then but God left me just enough to familiarize myself with my new surroundings. In June I finally lost the last little bit remaining.
And now I am just waiting. Waiting for something to happen. Waiting to see what God has planned for me.
I need cataract surgery in my left eye and a cornea transplant in the right. I can’t get either because I have no medical coverage. I’ve been denied again and again. I can’t get Medicaid because I make too much money and I can’t get medicare until I’ve been disabled for two years. Private insurance plans are too expensive and also I have a lot of pre-existing medical problems, not just my eye problems, but also asthma.
But that’s okay because I have God in my life now. He promised to take care of us and I believe Him. That makes the waiting much easier to bear. When God is ready for me to see again, then I will see again. And what a glorious day that will be! I know I still have some things to figure out before that happens though, and I am doing my best to learn them.
I think that’s what this blog is all about. God wanted me to document what’s happening so that lots of people can bear witness. So the sooner you get all your friends to read my blog, the sooner I’ll get my sight back! Ha ha! Just kidding, but that’s what it’s really all about; giving the glory to God. Putting your faith in HIM, not in doctors or surgeries or insurance policies.
So that’s how I became blind. The End…NOT! No, I still have lots of things to share with you so I hope you’ll keep coming back each week. Until next time…
Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the lord than to put confidence in man.
Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Going Blind- Part 2
Let’s see now, where was I? Oh yes I remember; blind in my left eye but still with good vision in the right.
I was divorced by this time and had met Joni although she was still living in Baltimore. The thing that really helped me was knowing that the damage to my eye was not permanent. My cornea was ruined, but corneas can be transplanted. It was a lot of waiting though. My doctor had to make sure the infection was totally healed and would not come back before she would do any surgery.
Now, I want to explain how these transplants work. Once a cornea has been removed from the donor it can only be stored for five days. So the surgery is scheduled a month in advance without really knowing if there will be a cornea available or not. The day before the surgery they call you to let you know if they got one. Unfortunately I didn’t know that. My doctor never explained it and it never even occurred to me to ask.
I was so excited as the day of my surgery approached. I was living in Dallas at this time and Mom was driving all the way down from Nebraska to be there with me. The day before the surgery, they called me and said they did not have a cornea for me. I was flabbergasted to say the least. I had to call Mom and give her the news (she was more than halfway to Texas by then). She decided to turn around and go back so she could save her vacation time for when the surgery really happened. Years later she told me she felt bad about turning back but I totally agreed with her decision.
Anyway that was in January 2003, I think. They went ahead and re-scheduled the surgery for February. I began getting my hopes up all over again even though I tried not to.
The day before my surgery arrived again and this time I was prepared. I wasn’t going to let them surprise me again so I called that morning and asked if they had a cornea for me. They did! I was so excited! Mom was on the road again and I called her right away so she wouldn’t have to worry.
That afternoon the doctor’s office called me back. The cornea didn’t pass all the tests. Tests?? Yep, the cornea has to be tested for HIV and other things. That makes perfect sense but I didn’t know about that at the time. I was beyond crushed. I knew Mom was only a couple of hours away by then and I didn’t have the heart to call her so I just let her drive the rest of the way. The doctor wanted to re-schedule again but I said no. I just couldn’t go through it again.
In May of that year, Joni and Adam came to Dallas to live with me and Joni started talking me into re-scheduling the surgery. I finally relented in October and they scheduled me for November.
This time everything worked out. I got my new cornea on November 7. The doctor said I could take the bandage off the next morning, and when I did I could see! I had almost perfect vision in both eyes again after waiting for two years. Maybe God was just waiting until Joni was with me so I wouldn’t be alone for this. Certainly He was trying to teach me patience.
Well, obviously this is STILL not the end of the story but I will have to leave it here for this week. I warned you that this might take awhile. I hope you’ll come back to hear the rest!
Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
I was divorced by this time and had met Joni although she was still living in Baltimore. The thing that really helped me was knowing that the damage to my eye was not permanent. My cornea was ruined, but corneas can be transplanted. It was a lot of waiting though. My doctor had to make sure the infection was totally healed and would not come back before she would do any surgery.
Now, I want to explain how these transplants work. Once a cornea has been removed from the donor it can only be stored for five days. So the surgery is scheduled a month in advance without really knowing if there will be a cornea available or not. The day before the surgery they call you to let you know if they got one. Unfortunately I didn’t know that. My doctor never explained it and it never even occurred to me to ask.
I was so excited as the day of my surgery approached. I was living in Dallas at this time and Mom was driving all the way down from Nebraska to be there with me. The day before the surgery, they called me and said they did not have a cornea for me. I was flabbergasted to say the least. I had to call Mom and give her the news (she was more than halfway to Texas by then). She decided to turn around and go back so she could save her vacation time for when the surgery really happened. Years later she told me she felt bad about turning back but I totally agreed with her decision.
Anyway that was in January 2003, I think. They went ahead and re-scheduled the surgery for February. I began getting my hopes up all over again even though I tried not to.
The day before my surgery arrived again and this time I was prepared. I wasn’t going to let them surprise me again so I called that morning and asked if they had a cornea for me. They did! I was so excited! Mom was on the road again and I called her right away so she wouldn’t have to worry.
That afternoon the doctor’s office called me back. The cornea didn’t pass all the tests. Tests?? Yep, the cornea has to be tested for HIV and other things. That makes perfect sense but I didn’t know about that at the time. I was beyond crushed. I knew Mom was only a couple of hours away by then and I didn’t have the heart to call her so I just let her drive the rest of the way. The doctor wanted to re-schedule again but I said no. I just couldn’t go through it again.
In May of that year, Joni and Adam came to Dallas to live with me and Joni started talking me into re-scheduling the surgery. I finally relented in October and they scheduled me for November.
This time everything worked out. I got my new cornea on November 7. The doctor said I could take the bandage off the next morning, and when I did I could see! I had almost perfect vision in both eyes again after waiting for two years. Maybe God was just waiting until Joni was with me so I wouldn’t be alone for this. Certainly He was trying to teach me patience.
Well, obviously this is STILL not the end of the story but I will have to leave it here for this week. I warned you that this might take awhile. I hope you’ll come back to hear the rest!
Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Going Blind
Well, I guess it’s about time I talked about my blindness a little bit. I’m almost 39 years old now and the story begins when I was 24, way back in 1995 that was, so this will take a few minutes.
Just a few months before my dad died, I was diagnosed with keratoconus. That’s a condition where the cornea of your eye becomes kind of cone-shaped instead of nice and round like it’s supposed to be. In case you don’t know, the cornea is the clear outer lens of the eye. The concave shape focuses light to the interior of the eye. At the time, I was told that no one really knew what caused keratoconus.
The common fix for keratoconus is hard contact lenses and that’s what they did for me. The hard lens gives the mis-shapen cornea something smooth and round to shape itself onto. The lenses work really well. As soon as they put the lenses in my eyes I had almost perfect vision again, just like that. It was amazing!
My amazement was short-lived though. Pretty soon I started getting infections in my eyes. These were painful but usually healed up quickly with the eye-drops my doctor gave me. The problem was, I just kept getting them.
After a couple of years of this, I finally got an infection so bad that it took almost a whole year to heal. I had just started a new job and so I had no insurance. That meant I had to go to the county hospital in Dallas (where I was living at the time) for treatment. At the county hospital it’s first come first serve which means you have to get there bright and early along with everyone else who’s vying for a spot.
So let me set the scene for you. This was a very bad infection. The eye-drops they gave me were extremely painful, each drop felt like a steel spike going through my eye and right out the back of my head (I may be exaggerating, but not very much I promise). At first, the drops had to be used every half hour day and night. Even with the strong pain medication they gave me, the sharp, shooting pain would take about 15 or 20 minutes to back off a little, then I would have 10 minutes with only a little pain before it was time for another drop.
Since I was new at my job I also had no vacation time so I had to keep working during this period. Half the time I was in serious pain and the other half I was fighting to stay awake because of the lack of sleep and the pain pills which made me drowsy. It wasn’t a fun time. If only I had God in my life during that time! I’m not saying God would have prevented all this from happening, but at least I would have had some hope.
Anyway, after a few days they backed off my eye-drops to every hour during the day and two hours during the night. Then after a couple of weeks I was able to sleep through the night again. After that first month my insurance kicked in and I was able to go to a regular doctor’s office and here’s where God stepped in on my behalf. He led me to a really fantastic doctor who took good care of me for the next seven years.
Well, like I said that infection took almost a year to heal completely and by then the cornea of my left eye was all scarred over so that I couldn’t see through it.
So there I was, blind in one eye. Obviously that’s not the end of the story but I think this post is long enough. I think I’ll pick it up here next time and leave you with this:
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4: 8-9
Just a few months before my dad died, I was diagnosed with keratoconus. That’s a condition where the cornea of your eye becomes kind of cone-shaped instead of nice and round like it’s supposed to be. In case you don’t know, the cornea is the clear outer lens of the eye. The concave shape focuses light to the interior of the eye. At the time, I was told that no one really knew what caused keratoconus.
The common fix for keratoconus is hard contact lenses and that’s what they did for me. The hard lens gives the mis-shapen cornea something smooth and round to shape itself onto. The lenses work really well. As soon as they put the lenses in my eyes I had almost perfect vision again, just like that. It was amazing!
My amazement was short-lived though. Pretty soon I started getting infections in my eyes. These were painful but usually healed up quickly with the eye-drops my doctor gave me. The problem was, I just kept getting them.
After a couple of years of this, I finally got an infection so bad that it took almost a whole year to heal. I had just started a new job and so I had no insurance. That meant I had to go to the county hospital in Dallas (where I was living at the time) for treatment. At the county hospital it’s first come first serve which means you have to get there bright and early along with everyone else who’s vying for a spot.
So let me set the scene for you. This was a very bad infection. The eye-drops they gave me were extremely painful, each drop felt like a steel spike going through my eye and right out the back of my head (I may be exaggerating, but not very much I promise). At first, the drops had to be used every half hour day and night. Even with the strong pain medication they gave me, the sharp, shooting pain would take about 15 or 20 minutes to back off a little, then I would have 10 minutes with only a little pain before it was time for another drop.
Since I was new at my job I also had no vacation time so I had to keep working during this period. Half the time I was in serious pain and the other half I was fighting to stay awake because of the lack of sleep and the pain pills which made me drowsy. It wasn’t a fun time. If only I had God in my life during that time! I’m not saying God would have prevented all this from happening, but at least I would have had some hope.
Anyway, after a few days they backed off my eye-drops to every hour during the day and two hours during the night. Then after a couple of weeks I was able to sleep through the night again. After that first month my insurance kicked in and I was able to go to a regular doctor’s office and here’s where God stepped in on my behalf. He led me to a really fantastic doctor who took good care of me for the next seven years.
Well, like I said that infection took almost a year to heal completely and by then the cornea of my left eye was all scarred over so that I couldn’t see through it.
So there I was, blind in one eye. Obviously that’s not the end of the story but I think this post is long enough. I think I’ll pick it up here next time and leave you with this:
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4: 8-9
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)