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About 9 years ago, I was in basic training for the Army. At the very end of my basic training I started getting symptoms of SJS. I was diagnosed with TENS and admitted and flown to a burn unit two days later. I went from Ft. Jackson, SC down to Fort Sam Houston (BAMC), TX. I was in ICU for 30 days and a burn ward for 30 days recovering. It was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. 65% of my body was affected. My skin was stained black from the silver nitrate. My skin was left with scars showing where it fell off. My eyes obviously left me with a lot of issues. Dry eye, severe redness, pain, scratchiness, double vision, headaches, infections, photophobia and no social life. All this on a daily basis. I have had two surgeries since 2003. I had to have grafting done on each set of eye lids because my eye lashes were pointing towards my eyes scratching them very badly causing a lot of pain. After trying almost every type of treatment out there to help with the dry eyes i.e. fish oil, restasis, eye drops, hot compresses, surgeries…I have finally found relief.
Two months ago, I went and visited with Dr. Greg Gemoules in Coppell, TX. He specializes in making custom made scleral lenses for patients with all sorts of eye issues. During our initial appointment, we discussed my goals, expectations and what exactly these lenses would do to help my situation. I explained to him all the problems I was having on a daily basis and that I was desperate for help. At this point, I was nervous because this was my last resort. If this wasn't going to work, I didn’t know what I was going to do. After 9 years of pain, vision loss, and severe dry eyes, I needed a miracle.
We decided to move forward with the lens fitting process. Initially, he took scans of the surface of my eyes, checked my vision and ordered my first pair of lenses. Dr. Gemoules has a patented method for the fitting process that doesn’t require the use of trial lenses. From the very beginning, his lenses were custom made to fit my eye. My eyes are so sensitive that it would have been extremely painful if he had done trial lenses over and over again. Dr. Gemoules is passionate about his work. He loves what he does and he genuinely cares about the patients he treats. He worked diligently and took the time to make sure the lenses I wore fit perfectly.
Now that I am wearing these lenses every day, my vision for my left eye went from 20/40 to 20/15, and the vision in my right eye (with double vision) went from 20/70 down to 20/20 with NO double vision. My eyes went from being red all the time due to dry eyes and my eye lids scratching my corneas to being white with no discomfort at all. The lenses are extremely comfortable and can wear them all day, only having to change the fluid out once or twice.
I am extremely grateful for everything Dr. Gemoules did for me and I am thankful I met him. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and can feel my life has been given back to me. I feel more confident when I meet people and can feel my career will be much brighter. If you decide to get sclerals, I wouldn't go anywhere else than with Dr. Gemoules. His lenses aren't a trial lens but a perfectly made custom lens for your eyes. He can see scans with them on to make sure they fit perfectly and that there is plenty of vaulting. If there are any problems with the lens he made, he will work and work until they are perfect. You won’t leave his office without a perfectly made lens. His staff is extremely nice and helpful and I am glad to have met them and will be forever grateful.
From the moment I put the lenses in, I feel relief. It is amazing what these can do to help patients that survived SJS/TENS and can help with others who suffer from dry eyes. It took 9 years for relief. I got TENS when I was 18 years old. I was barely out of high school. For the first time in 9 years, I can see clearly with no pain, discomfort and can finally wear normal sunglasses. It is very exciting for me that this is available to us who have suffered so much and I hope everyone who deals with dry eyes knows that there is hope and to not give up.
Joseph
Two months ago, I went and visited with Dr. Greg Gemoules in Coppell, TX. He specializes in making custom made scleral lenses for patients with all sorts of eye issues. During our initial appointment, we discussed my goals, expectations and what exactly these lenses would do to help my situation. I explained to him all the problems I was having on a daily basis and that I was desperate for help. At this point, I was nervous because this was my last resort. If this wasn't going to work, I didn’t know what I was going to do. After 9 years of pain, vision loss, and severe dry eyes, I needed a miracle.
We decided to move forward with the lens fitting process. Initially, he took scans of the surface of my eyes, checked my vision and ordered my first pair of lenses. Dr. Gemoules has a patented method for the fitting process that doesn’t require the use of trial lenses. From the very beginning, his lenses were custom made to fit my eye. My eyes are so sensitive that it would have been extremely painful if he had done trial lenses over and over again. Dr. Gemoules is passionate about his work. He loves what he does and he genuinely cares about the patients he treats. He worked diligently and took the time to make sure the lenses I wore fit perfectly.
Now that I am wearing these lenses every day, my vision for my left eye went from 20/40 to 20/15, and the vision in my right eye (with double vision) went from 20/70 down to 20/20 with NO double vision. My eyes went from being red all the time due to dry eyes and my eye lids scratching my corneas to being white with no discomfort at all. The lenses are extremely comfortable and can wear them all day, only having to change the fluid out once or twice.
I am extremely grateful for everything Dr. Gemoules did for me and I am thankful I met him. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and can feel my life has been given back to me. I feel more confident when I meet people and can feel my career will be much brighter. If you decide to get sclerals, I wouldn't go anywhere else than with Dr. Gemoules. His lenses aren't a trial lens but a perfectly made custom lens for your eyes. He can see scans with them on to make sure they fit perfectly and that there is plenty of vaulting. If there are any problems with the lens he made, he will work and work until they are perfect. You won’t leave his office without a perfectly made lens. His staff is extremely nice and helpful and I am glad to have met them and will be forever grateful.
From the moment I put the lenses in, I feel relief. It is amazing what these can do to help patients that survived SJS/TENS and can help with others who suffer from dry eyes. It took 9 years for relief. I got TENS when I was 18 years old. I was barely out of high school. For the first time in 9 years, I can see clearly with no pain, discomfort and can finally wear normal sunglasses. It is very exciting for me that this is available to us who have suffered so much and I hope everyone who deals with dry eyes knows that there is hope and to not give up.
Joseph
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