New doc fitting PROSE sclerals - Baltimore, MD

[mgshutterbug]

My new ophthalmologist at Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Hessen, did training at BFS for 3 months. She now does evaluation for and fitting of PROSE sclerals. I find her to be very knowledgeable, and experienced in dry eye disease. She also has nice "bedside manner", and is quite compassionate. Dr. Akpek, who had been seeing more of dry eye Pts is referring more and more of her Pts to Dr. Hessen for consultation and treatment.

I have now seen Dr. Hessen 5 times, or is it 6? Anyhow, I saw Dr. Hessen for the first time when my L eye had erosions and abrasions that were quite severe. She did a thorough evaluation, and fitted me with bandage contact lens (BCL) that she said I'd need to wear for 6-8 weeks (getting them changed frequently). Anyhow, in 2 weeks, I may not need another new BCL. Here's praying. You may PM me if you want more information. I'd be willing to help out anyone who might be coming here to see her.

[mgshutterbug]

Be aware, however, that Dr. Hessen is an OD, not an ophthalmologist. I did not know that at the time I wrote this post. I will be making an appt with an ophthalmologist who is a corneal specialist asap since I now also have microcysts across the cornea, most likely due to wearing BCL 24/7 x 5 wks. The microcysts cause non-stop corneal erosions, and now I may need PTK as well in that eye. That's not what I bargained for when I put myself under her care. I was not told that was a possible risk. I found this out because the BCL popped out on Saturday, I woke up w/erosion Sunday and had to go for emergency appt with a corneal specialist yesterday, Sunday. He told me she was an OD, and told me of his findings of microcysts on the cornea. A literature survey revealed that wearing soft contact lens or BCL 24/7 for min. of 2 wks can cause microcyst formation due to hypoxia. Literature also revealed that on otherwise healthy eyes, the microcysts usually go away on their own in about 4 wks. But because the whole point is that I was already having RCEs, how smart was it to wear them beyond a week at the most?