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Anda's story post LASIK

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  • Anda's story post LASIK

    Hi,

    I am 37 years old woman from Baltic states and had LASIK on 18.08.2014.

    Where I am now, 1,5 years after LASIK: the biggest issue is that my left eye each day is burning, painful, itches, feels like sand is there etc. It is not tolerable. It started one year after LASIK. My right eye is ok. I have large starbursts and halos at night. I do not feel safe driving with car in night. So I can no drive my kids to sports, dance on the evening. In dim light/semi darkness all things has "auras". Another thing is that I have focusing problems - if I red a book then look far, it takes some minutes to see clearly. I think, that I don't have photo-phobia, but my eyes are sensitive to the light. I can work with computer, see TV, reed books. Another thing is that some days ago my left cheek, nose become numb, tingle. I have light foresight and astigmatism and I use glasses now.

    Before LASIK my right eye had foresight -6,25, astigmatism -1, pahimetry 519mikrom, pupil size in dark 7,37 mm; left eye foresight -6,25, astigmatism -1, pahimetry 509 mikrom, pupil size in dark 7 mm. Operation ring 6,5 mm. I do not have autoimmune diseases, rosacea, hormonal problems. I used soft contact lenses without problems for 12-14 hours a day before LASIK.

    I have master degree in economics, good career, three kids and home with garden.

    I choose the best LASIK surgeon in our country. Before LASIK I had lot of discussion about side effects. No one from three people that were involved in my situation said that I have large pupils that exceeds operation zone at night and I will have starburst at night. After LASIK I had discussion with surgeon and he admitted that they made mistake and didn't inform me. He offered me enhancement. I have written this discussion in my recorder. Maybe I should make legal action to them. Then my left eye started itching... Before LASIK I read lot of information. I visited lasikcoplication.com page, but thought that there are lot of bad surgeons and I will not have such problems. There are new, better Technics in this area. All my friends had good experience with LASIK.

    For 9 months I went to psychotherapist to discuss my feelings. In some point I have suicidal thoughts and she said to call her anytime if I feel very, very bad and said that I should think about antidepressants. I have ended this therapy, because I had lot of other things to care like kids and I wanted more to fix on work with eye doctors. I do not have suicidal though now and accepted this situation, but time to time I am crying, so neurologist prescribed me antidepressant Adaptol. Now I can talk with doctors without crying and accept doctors attitude to me (some of them are smiling at me thinking, like you are stupid, that you had LASIK and now you have problems).

    After my left eye started itching I found one ophthalmologist in other clinik, than where I made LASIK. My osmalirity was 342/354 and Schirmer 5/35; 5/32. His diagnosis was dry eye. I was prescribed to use artificial tears like Cationorm, Systane balance, Vita pos etc. After 2,5 months nothing improved. He made analyses about eye culture and discovered Staphilococcus koagulazo negativus. Diagnosis Chronic bacterial conjunctivitis. Then two months I used antibiotics like Oftan Akvakol, Uniflox, Tobradex to get rid of them. I thought that this would be the cause of may itching, painful eye, but it was not. Last diagnosis eye discomfort, because osmalirity is in norm 260/270. But I can not tolerate my painful, itching left eye!!! He suggested to make Folla diagnostic.

    Besides this I was to my old doctor, who prescribed me glasses and soft contact lenses. I wanted to find something that would help for my starbursts. Different kind of soft contact lenses didn't help me, so we have ordered 18 mm scleral lenses from Bausch and Lomb for one eye. Price was approximately 200 EUR. This lens does not improve situation in dark, because creates starburst to one side near and far. She said that no other options is available in our country. So I red Dry Eye Talk and contacted Dr. G./ laserfitlens.com. He said that he can most likely help me with starburst.

    One year post LASIK I went to one of two biggest eye clinics, where student make practice as well, to ask chief of eye doctor department, if I should make enhancement. They made lot of eye tests (nerve injuries, glaucoma etc.) and all was good. She said that she will go to eye doctor conference and he will talk about this, and then give me answer. After that my eye started itching and I read lot of information about enhancements. Now I can say now I WILL NOT DO ANY ENHANCEMENTS.

    This week I went to second biggest eye clinic to eye doctor (chief of department). She is eye cornea specialist that I didn't know. She was the first person which thoughts was similar to mine. She suggested confocal microscope. (We have only two in our country). Confocal microscope raveled that nerves are ok, I do not have cornea neuralgia but there are inflammation that are by dry eyes. She suggested me scleral lenses, because my complains are likely different than for dry eyes. Now the best would be Systane Gel drops as well. She said that numbness of my left cheek is not connected to my itchy, painful left eye. I do not have ectasia signs.

    I have made acupuncture for 4 months twice a week as well. I went to homeopath, used lot of B vitamins, fish oil, other vitamins.

    In the middle of this week my lefte cheek begen to be numb. After three days I went to neurologist. She made head X-ray. I do not have stroke but trigamental nerve neuropathy suspects. She prescribed me Neurontin 300mg 1-2 per day. My eyes feels more better using Neurontin for 3 days.

    On Monday I will go back to my LASIK clink for yearly check-up. They said that all patients have been fixed 2-3 years post LASIK.

    One day at the time. Lets see how my story will end. LASIK has affect all my life. I don't have strength to be good mother for my kids. I am worried about my left cheek numbness. In next two weeks I will make additional examinations, like magnetic resonance. Monry, money... I have not tried cold or warm compresses, night goggles yet. These are my next steps. I am thinking about blood serum drops. One eye doctor smiled, when I discussed it. Time goes and I am worried that some things should be done asap, because if I will do it later, it will not help me anymore.

  • #2
    Hi Anda,
    When I read your story it's like I'm reading MY story. Every word about your LASIK experience is also my word. Everyday fight , depressions, feeling guilty, don't have strength to be a good mother , frustration,money spending, and doctor's visits, etc... Everything the same. Except I had LASIK one month earlier than your, and my right eye is more painful. I also have some problems with nerves on the same side of my face. Doctors convince me that this is dry eye, but it's not.I tried almost everything INCLUDING serum drops,and actually I'm still using them. But I can't say they help me. The fact Neurontin helps you proves that you most likely have corneal neuropathy as I most likely do have as well. Nobody can say it for sure, but there are some issues with trigeminal nerve. My russian doctor explains me that this is an innervation which comes from cornea nerves along to trigeminal nerve.I didn't tried meds yet because I'm working with the homeopath, but I'm thinking about neurontin. Could you please share your experience with it? How do you feel overall being on neurontin? How much better are your eye feels? Any side effects? Thanks.

    Comment


    • #3
      Is neurontin some sort of pill? What does it do, heal or just mask the pain? Sorry to hear you're suffering, I pray we all make it out the other side soon.

      Comment


      • #4
        Nori2015, yes, pills-gabapentin.Read about it.

        Comment


        • #5
          Irina
          I use Neurontin 300 mg 2 times a day. My eyes feel better after that. Corneal neuralgia. I am thinking about it all the time. My next step is serum drops. This week I am going to neuro opthamologist. Then I plan a trip to DrG to get sclerl lenses. I use homeopathy as well. Do You know good eye specialist for corneal neuralgia? I have visited almost all eye doctors and clinics in Latvia. What are Your next steps? I am so desperated so I am ready to fly to doctor Hamrah or Boston eye center. What do You think, will we get relief?

          Comment


          • #6
            Hi Anda,
            Serum drops are mostly for dry eyes. It's better to use platelet rich plasma drops, and this is what I'm thinking about as my next step.I don't think neuro ophthalmologist can help us because his concern is optic nerve. I'm desperate too, and also very tired of the pain and the fight with it .Dr. Hamrah and Dr. Rosenthal will do next procedures: sclerals, serum, scramble therapy,some eye drops,and then oral medication. They will give you the medication list , and you will try one by one until you find the one that helps. Have you heard about LDN? I'd like to try it. Do you work with the homeopath? I've tried a lot of homeopathic remedies with two different very skilled homeopaths, but I still don't have relief. Some days are pretty good, but some days are unbearable. I so want to find homeopatic remedy which helps because life on meds is not good. But if I won't find it let's say until July, I will try neurontin too. How you pain started? Just suddenly like everything was good, and then BOOM, or you had dry eye before? Will we get relief? I don't know, honestly. Sometimes I believe that we will, and sometimes I think that only medication helps us.I know several people with similar pain after LASIK who live on meds for years, and that fact makes me very sad. How helpful is neurontin for your? What pain level you were before you started taking it, and what is the pain level now? Scleral lens you tried was with the liquid inside it?

            Comment


            • #7
              Anda I am so sorry to hear your story. I had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me. The doctors gave me MRI's ENT examination and I took tegretol for facial pain. Nothing worked. My life crumbled away. I started to develop pain in my left eye quite soon after LASIK. About 2 months after I had a scratchy feeling which later turned to pain in my eye and face.

              However I am now 3 years post lasik. And I am 3 months after my treatment with Prof. Alio (please read my other posts for this). and I can honestly say I am symptom free from pain. There is a little bit of dryness however my left eye is less dry now than before the operation. I think because I had the flap lifted and used plasma straight after it helped to innervate the nerves correctly into the cornea. Some people are scared to have this done, but I was in soo much pain, my only other option was to kill my self.

              Before the flap lift I did use plasma for 2 months, although I still had pain. Therefore Prof. Alio lifted the flap and I have been using plasma for 3 months after and now I am better and have a normal life.

              It's strange - because my left eye is now pain free I am more aware of the pain in my right eye, which used to be my 'good' eye. It is likely that I will have the same thing done to my right eye very soon.

              Everyone has different hypothesis as to why pain occurs. Some feel that pain occurs because the nerves have not grown or do not have good density. I do think that may be right for some especially when pain occurs years after lasik. In my case the pain occurred because the nerves had not grown correctly outwards. Prof. Alio recognised my symptoms instantly and offered me the treatment.

              I am really grateful for life. Everyday is a gift because I live without pain. I used to spend all day in bed with my eyes closed just to lessen the pain. All that feels far away now.

              I really want to post about this because I want other people to get better too.



              Living a Lasik nightmare - Wake me up!!

              Comment


              • #8
                Also just to add - if you didn't have facial pain before lasik then it's likely that the lasik caused the facial pain.

                Prof. Alio said that my facial pain was referred pain from my eye. But i'm happy to say my face is absolutely pain free now.
                Living a Lasik nightmare - Wake me up!!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Angela, you are very brave and lucky. The procedure is the lottery again.
                  I know someone who had the flap lifting and still has the same pain as before. I'm thinking about to lift the flap, but I am very scared to make the pain worse, or have other complications. I'm not gonna kill myself because of my children. As I see the pain can appear any moment after the operation, so I would not take the additional risk as for now. But who knows , maybe I will change my mind someday.
                  Last edited by Irina; 07-Mar-2016, 12:41.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Irina
                    Have You visited Dr.Hamrah or Dr.Rosenthal? I would like to have a list what are steps for corneal neuralgia threatening. I have read only their articles. My LASIK doctor (neuro ophthalmologist) said that such diagnosis doesn't exist.
                    I have not heard about LDN.
                    Yes I work with one good homeopath and worked with one good acupuncture specialist. I went to reiki .
                    One year after LASIK my left eye started itching. Now, after 6 months this eye mostly feels painful. In the morning it is better that in the evening. If I compare it with headaches it is not migraine yet. I have no problems with wind. Some days ago my left cheek started to be numb. Right eye is ok, no problems. I had no eye problems before LASIK.
                    Neurologist prescribed me Neurontin for cheek. Eye pain level decreases to 1 or 0.
                    I have not tried scleral lenses for my left, painful eye yet.

                    My wish would be to get second opinion about my eye situation - is this corneal neuralgia or not. Corneal specialist said that I do not have corneal neuralgia, because nerves are ok, but there is inflammation as by dry eyes. But my complaints are not as by dry eyes suffers...

                    Anyway I will start with corneal neuralgia steps like serum drops, scleral lenses.

                    I have made warm and cold compresses for eyes. I liked them.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Anda, no, I haven't seen those doctors yet, but I've read a lot info about their treatment from other patients. None of the doctors believe to Dr.Rosenthal that corneal neuralgia exists. I do have weird headaches as well . It's mostly pulling and burning sensations above the eye and in the temple area.
                      What was your pain level before the neurontin? Do you have serum drops in Latvia?
                      Last edited by Irina; 07-Mar-2016, 21:03.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Irina, I agree with you - additional procedures are risky. This is what holds me back from doing my right eye. My right eye is almost normal and not disabling in any way. It only sometimes has pain.

                        In regard to the person who you know who had a flap lift which did not reduce pain - did they use plasma straight after. In theory that should help to grow the nerves normally.

                        Either way, with or without flap lift, plasma should help. If the nerves grow too slowly they may grow abnormally causing pain Plasma helps the nerves to grow normally and faster. There are plenty of people who have resolved their pain post-lasik with just plasma or serum alone. It does take time, so we need to be patient - months maybe years but we will get better.

                        Anda can you get plasma in your country. I really hope you can since this helped me so much and I know it will help you too.

                        Living a Lasik nightmare - Wake me up!!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Irina
                          My Pain level before Neurontin was 5 from 10. If I compare it with headaches it is not migraine.
                          Things with serum drops is in the process. I know that laboratory makes serum from blood. 7,80 EUR for one test tube. But I don't know what to do next. Bring it to home and split it myself by bottles. Then put it in freezer. I should call some Pharmacy today.
                          What is Your process with serum drops? Do You use 50% serum drops?

                          Angela810
                          Last eye doctors was smiling if I asked about serum drops. They don't take it seriously.
                          Before LASIK I had no problems with Trigemental nerve. Previous week it started to be weird, like burning, tingle, numb.

                          I don't know if I have corneal neuralgia, because corneal specialist made confocal micrascope and said that my nerves are ok, but there are inflammation as by dry eyes. But my osmalirity is in norm 270, cornea is white and tear film stable.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            No Pharmacy in my country makes serum eye drops....
                            I can get only blood serum from laboratory....

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Anda, It's great that neurontin helps you! Maybe it's not an eye issue, and something happens with the nerve? I used 100% serum. Previously I used 50%. I'm not sure if serum works, but I'm going to continue using it.
                              Angela, yes, the person uses PRP after flap lifting with the same doctor as you. I'm looking for laboratory close to me which makes PRP .So far I found one in the other state.

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