Confocal Microscopy

[DryLondoner]

She!

Regarding Moorfields, I just called Michael Hau's secretary (works with Stephen tuft) and made an appointment. I also emailed by history before hand.

[Gerri55455]

I don't remember what it feels like to be happy anymore, or to laugh, I pray one day I will.

I believe you will! This is how I felt sometime in May this year! I constantly thought: "I didn't know what a wonderful life I had before all this." Yet somehow, somehow, I've begun to feel some hope this last one month. Serum makes me feel like I'm taking baby steps towards healing ... but towards ... healing! Hang in there!

[Gerri55455]

[QUOTE=DryLondoner;92841I find my eyes get tired very quickly now. They feel heavy and sore, I don't really think I have severe pain like a few of you have. It's more of an intense burning and stinging, which comes and goes. Quite often I can feel me my eyelids on the eye when I blink, as if they are sharp, this is more on the outer corners than on the cornea[/QUOTE]

DL:- That's how I feel. Over the last month with serum, I feel my eyelids on the eye less when I blink and the outer corners feel less gritty and tight. My hope is that the burning and stinging will also go away ...

Steve:- thanks so much for responding to my queries about the serum ... sometimes I feel as if the progress is way too slow but I know now that I have to be patient ...

Good luck to all ... and keep looking forward to better days ...

[Gerri55455]

Sorry if thats emotive but i can only speak from my heart and try and speak plainly to try and help other people who are in the desperate plight i most certainly was

Truly helpful and appreciated when one is in the depth of desperation and misery I have been in this last year!

[Gerri55455]

You also need to keep the inflammation down as that is a nerve killer. Lasik kills the nerve when they are cut and hopefully they grow back (but not always). To keep the inflammation down I take lotemax.

You definitely want to start at 20% and increase from there if no new nerve growth. If you start too high you can create more problems.

Thanks djasik. Does anyone know another way to keep inflammation down without using steroids? I haven't done well on them at all. Thanks. ~Gerri

[steveyez]

Gerri - Its a pleasure to help and im so glad you're improving

I understand totally why serum would not be the first thing that opths hand out because of the cost, its not needed in the majority of cases, the inconvenience of storing it in the freezer, safety transporting it re infections, the inconvenience of using it as it dries out the eyes and clogs up the eyelids etc

But opths need to be allowed by the system in whatever country they are in to be be able to treat patients with serum who desperately need it - its a slow process but for some of us serum literally is a lifesaver

Similarly the confocal microscope should be available pre the serum stage for a wider audience and thanks for everyone on the board reporting its wider availability

Take care
Steve

[djlasik]

When I first started Serum drops the scans showed new nerve regrowth without lotemax. I was scanned about a month or so after I started the serum. My doctor said it would be better with the lotemax. He also stated that his studies showed that Serum drops alone do not work long term (may work short term).

RFREITAS,

The confocal Microscope is an 800x magnification in order to visualize the inflammation and nerve regrowth.

You could call the company Heidelberg Engineering (located in orange county, ca) and see where they have placed one with a cornea module.

It is a laser in vivo confocal microscope from heidelberg engineering. All other confocal microscopes due not visualize inflammation.

[Gerri55455]

the inconvenience of using it as it dries out the eyes and clogs up the eyelids etc

Thanks again, Steve. Quick question: might you know how one might best avoid having eyelids clogged? This is a potential side effect that my doctor had not warned me of. Though I have no reason to believe that my eyelids may be getting clogged, I also want to be careful. Also, I might have asked you this before but what is the percentage of serum in your drops? 20%? 40%? 50%? 100%? or something else? Would the percentage have any relevance to the clogging of eyelids? Thanks. Best, ~Gerri

[Gerri55455]

He also stated that his studies showed that Serum drops alone do not work long term (may work short term)..

This is very interesting. Several people on this sight (i.e. Neal Matthews has been using serum for over 5 years. http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/showt...-saved-my-eyes)

Wonder how short the short-term might be.

Thanks again.

~Gerri

[Gerri55455]

I'm in KL now, so finding it hard to know who is good. Not the same as the UK. I have considered coming back. Would mean I leave a dream and fabulous job behind. Although, my eyes are obs. more important.

SAAG, who seems to be a veteran on this site, is apparently currently traveling in SE Asia. Nightbird, also on this site, wrote to tell me this after I had unsuccessfully tried to engage SAAG in a thread conversation. I don't know whether Nightbird is in SE Asia but perhaps you can inbox him/her to find out if s/he has SAAG's contact there or if s/he knows anything about getting serum and other treatment in the region. I have a very good medical insurance in the US. It has covered Restasis, Lacriserts, brand medications (when needed) and much more. I also live driving distance to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, ranked # 1 US hospital. But I'm finding that the best solutions for me have come from doctors willing to listen and to try therapies even if they are exploratory. I do hope you don't have to leave your dream and fabulous job behind and that there may be a solution where you are. All the best. ~Gerri

[steveyez]

Thanks again, Steve. Quick question: might you know how one might best avoid having eyelids clogged? This is a potential side effect that my doctor had not warned me of. Though I have no reason to believe that my eyelids may be getting clogged, I also want to be careful. Also, I might have asked you this before but what is the percentage of serum in your drops? 20%? 40%? 50%? 100%? or something else? Would the percentage have any relevance to the clogging of eyelids? Thanks. Best, ~Gerri

Hi Gerry - I use PRP serum as opposed to Autologous Serum - they're both spun from your own blood but with a different technique - whereas Autologous Serum can be different strengths like you ask i think PRP Serum is just 100% serum but i may be wrong - hope that helps
Steve

[Jovver]

Hi Gerry - I use PRP serum as opposed to Autologous Serum - they're both spun from your own blood but with a different technique - whereas Autologous Serum can be different strengths like you ask i think PRP Serum is just 100% serum but i may be wrong - hope that helps
Steve

Hi Steve,

Sorry to be a pain , but can I ask how you how you managed to get hold of the PRP serum in Spain? At the risk of asking a silly question, did you just use a prescription from a consultant in the UK, or did you have to see a consultant in Spain and get them to prescribe it there? Apologies for all the questions!

[Gerri55455]

I use PRP serum as opposed to Autologous Serum

Thanks, Steve!

I finally looked the difference online: PRP is apparently even better in the treatment of ocular surface disease: http://www.eyeworld.org/article.php?sid=3942

Best,

~Gerri

[steveyez]

Hi Steve,

Sorry to be a pain , but can I ask how you how you managed to get hold of the PRP serum in Spain? At the risk of asking a silly question, did you just use a prescription from a consultant in the UK, or did you have to see a consultant in Spain and get them to prescribe it there? Apologies for all the questions!

Hi Jovver

No that's not a silly question at all - i thought exactly the same as you when i first looked into this.

In short my NHS opth in Brum prescribed me Autologous Serum about 21 months ago but we fell into a administrative catch22 funding delay whether we funded it privately or the NHS so i ended up going to the Vissum institute in Alicante, Spain.

In the end didnt need a NHS prescription because Dr Alio at Vissum will assess you himself ( consultancy fee is something like £80 and the PRP costs £150 for 3 months )

Hope that helps
Steve

[Jovver]

Hi Steve,

Thanks you for getting back to me, it's very much appreciated. I'm just waiting to hear back form Professor Dua to see if he recommends the serum route.

From your description it looks as though getting serum in this country is going to be more than a little problematic, so I'll email Dr Alio and see if I can arrange to see him (if serum is recommended of course).

Hopefully there may be light at the end of the (very long) tunnel!

Hope you, indeed all of us, get better soon.

David