specialists, where and how?

[jax8it]

Hi all,

I am now 8 months post lasik. The pain in my left eye is unbearable most of the time. I see a lot of posts about seeing corneal specialists and pain specialists. I am in need of both. I live in the Dallas area. Does anyone know of good specialists in both areas? Also are these types of doctors referral based. If so, who do I get the referral from? I read a post by Cali that said something about a trifecta of doctors. I have a therapist and a good OD, but my pain is so bad now. The entire left side of my face hurts. Sometimes I can barely manage the pain. Any help would be appreciated.

[vivian3090]

I see Dr. Bowman of "Cornea Associates of Texas" but they have a few more doctors at that practice....

There is also Retina Institute of Texas, they have several locations around DFW, but Im not sure if they would help with dry eye related things??

I am about to see Dr. Huber, He is an optometrist, but specalizes in Dry Eye...

ALso, if you are having alot of neurological pain I would just try to call Cornea Associates of Texas and they can probably refer you to someone that can help you with that. I had to go see a doctor at Cornea Associates (in their dallas office) for an emergency apt (my left eye was blacking out and I have been having a lot of pain in my left temple) and he said if the pain continues he'd refer me to someone that could help look into it.

These are just suggestion though. Hope that helps a bit.

[littlemermaid]

Vivian, your left eye was blacking out? what did they think that was?

[vivian3090]

Vivian, your left eye was blacking out? what did they think that was?

He had no idea. I was scared it may have been retina detachment, but thank goodness it wasn't. He says it may be symptom of my dry eye problem but he has no explanation as to what exactly it is.

[jax8it]

Thank you Vivian for your reply. I saw my OD today and he is referring me to a neuro ophthalmologist. I also wanted to say I understand your issues with your appearance. I hope I am not touching a soft spot by commenting on this. I have to wear custom moisture chambers in front of a bunch of high school students. They sure look a lot better than onion goggles, but they are still odd. The students comment on them and I get really embarresed. When I get embarrassed they fog up which makes them more noticeable. Anyway, I can't go without them. I considered myself attractive, but now I don't. I feel I look like I have aged 10 years and now have to wear goofy glasses. Btw you are a beautiful young woman.
Thanks again

[vivian3090]

Nuero Opthamolgist!! Yes, thats the word i was looking for, but i couldnt get it off my tongue! I am glad that he is referring you to one....Thankfulling the pain in my left temple hasn't come back since last sunday.

You're not touching a soft spot. Although I hate to hear someone else having appearence issues, it helps me tell myself I'm not being crazy, or too selfish for being so worried about appearance as well.

I know i keep saying that I should get some moisture chambers, but I keep putting it off. I feel it's something I may need to do if my eye situation get's worse than what it is right now.

And thank you for your compliment, I really appreaciate it! And I am sure you are still attractive, Moisture Chamber goggles and all! And I am still willing to get together if you want to have a "mini" support group if you want. I am here for you!

[littlemermaid]

Vivian, What happened when your left eye blacked out? has it only happened once? were you leaning over or particularly stressed/angry? do you have any other signs of visual field problems - lights, wavering? was the blackout like a camera-shutter? do you have spots in your vision? Are you seeing a neuro-ophthalmologist? I'm just asking because we've got some of this stuff going on completely unrelated to dry eye and it's intracranial hypertension mostly triggered by stress, cerebrospinal fluid pressing on back of eye and optic nerve. But it's both eyes. I've also heard of similar vision blackout with raised blood pressure and possible clot in the artery which was undiagnosed by ophth for a long time. The lady relieved it in the end with one aspirin. Have you ever had an injury on the left side?

[vivian3090]

Vivian, What happened when your left eye blacked out? has it only happened once? were you leaning over or particularly stressed/angry? do you have any other signs of visual field problems - lights, wavering? was the blackout like a camera-shutter? do you have spots in your vision? Are you seeing a neuro-ophthalmologist? I'm just asking because we've got some of this stuff going on completely unrelated to dry eye and it's intracranial hypertension mostly triggered by stress, cerebrospinal fluid pressing on back of eye and optic nerve. But it's both eyes. I've also heard of similar vision blackout with raised blood pressure and possible clot in the artery which was undiagnosed by ophth for a long time. The lady relieved it in the end with one aspirin. Have you ever had an injury on the left side?

It's really hard to explain...I only notice the blacking out when I cover my right eye up and look through my left eye. and it only happens when i focus in on an object. it's a gradual blackening out. it starts out on the outter edges and then slowely black out to where i cannot see anything at all.

It's very hard to focus with the eye b/c it's gotten very blurry. I dont know if my vision has changed or its the fact the dryness is so bad that its making it blurry.

lights and wavering wise....I THINK I have it. It's hard to explain but I do feel like i see areas of brightness (so spots i guess, but they every so sutle, but enoough to were i can tell there is SOMETHING). Kinda like if you press on your eyes and you kinda see that "brightness" from the pressure...( like is said its hard explaining my sympotms but I am trying my best!)

I am ALWAYS stressed. It is how I have always been! not a day goes by where I am not under some kind of stress and I experience anxiety 24/7.

And I am not sure if I have ever had an injury to my left side, but a few months ago i got hit in the face with a softball....it bruised my entire right face including my eye lids and stuff.

Who would i need to contact to figure this out if it is what you have been dealing with?? We know for sure its not retina deatchment, but I wont lie when I say that it does make me wonder what exactly is causing it!!

[littlemermaid]

Hi Vivian, IH shows as papilloedema on the optic nerve heads on the retina (ie blurred margins of the optic disk) and you are seeing enough eye docs that they should notice that. We get retinal photographs as a record for comparison and get regular vision and visual field checks every 3m.

It sounds like you are getting good consistent eye doc treatment now, and if you report the symptoms they can think about it. I like Tankie's approach very much 'do you think it could be...?' and then they have another look and think. I wonder if Eyemech knows what it is by PM, whether he's seen it as a dry eye inflammation thing.

Are you doing anything to cope with the anxiety? Relaxation techniques, yoga breathing, comedy etc. Our Neurologist is big on this and thinks LM's triggers for this neuro-ophth might be 75% stress so we are working on this. At first I didn't believe him but now I see he's right, similar to high blood pressure.

[vivian3090]

No actually I am not. I have anxiety medicine that I can use PRN, but never actually get to taking them. I goto school M-F and goto work right after that. I have weekends off, I try to relax, but it is so hard when I have so much reading, studying, and errands to run on those two days off. I could look into things to get my stress and anxiety levels down though! thank yoU!

I am actually going to see an optometrist who specializes in dry eye, so I will try to ask him about it as well.

I messaged Eyemech, he hasnt responded back yet though; so we'll see!