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Dear all,
This is a weird thread, but I really need your help!!!
I'm so exited, I have an appointment with Dr. Latkany next
week (22nd). Finally...I'll go to NY for a week and I'll see him on my first day. So, I really expect much from the visit even though I know that he might not be able to help me. I'm a bit afraid that my English is not good enough (for talking, explaining and understanding spoken medical English). Has anybody ever visited Dr. Latkany who is not a English/American? Is he hard to understand?
How is he? I mean, how much time does it take, does he explain things? Does he suggest a treatment or do I have to do that (it is always like that here)....
I have a question for you guys. How do you pronounce Sjögren? Is the "g" like in target or like in gorgeous. :-) I couldn't think of other words! hehe
Okay, so I thought about sending Dr. Latkany some information about me and my eyes before. Do you think this is a good idea?
I tried to summarize my condition. Please have a look at it:
Some facts:
- dry eye since ~ 2002 (age: 16), has become worse very slowly, really bad since August 2005 (hasn’t changed since then)
- soft contacts lens (H2O extreme) wear from 1999-2004 (stopped because I couldn’t tolerate them anymore)
- the blood vessels in the right eye were there before the dry eye started (noticed them first in 1999) but they were hardly visible and did not hurt
- drops I use: Thera Tears liquid gel, Dwelle (I have tried lots of others)
- Myopia: -4.00
- Infection of the eye’s nerve (right) in Jan. 2007 (is okay again)
- Intraoccular pressure is okay
- I often have eye infections with chlamydia (it is treated by antibiotics and usually comes back within 6 months)
Current situation:
- extreme redness left eye > right eye (major problem)
- feeling of pressure/pain/inflammation in the left eye (-->blood vessels)
- dryness (esp. in the morning & evening: I could use drops every 5-10mins, but I try to reduce the amount of drops to 1x/hour)
- no full lid closure at night (lagophthalmos), I wear a sleeping mask (but it doesn’t seem to help that much), I tried tranquileyes + I taped my eyes but it didn’t help --> eyes look and feel horrible after awaking
--> I don't know how I am ever supposed to work in a normal office (I'll finish my studies at university this year)
Former therapies:
- Restasis (Nov. 2006- July 2007); 2% Cyclosporine drops (July 2007-Jan. 2008) (I stopped and my eyes didn’t change --> I assume it didn’t help at all)
- Lower punctum plugs (maybe upper one will help?)
- Homeopathy + acupuncture (didn’t help at all)
- Soft contact lenses (Air Optix Night & Day) --> dry spots after 1h of wearing (March 2008)
- Hard contact lenses eyes became very red (even after weeks) (April 2008)
- I took omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for several years but I didn’t see an improvement
Other information:
- I eat a healthy diet (lots of fruits, vegetables and wholemeal products, I try to avoid sugar)
- I do regular exercises (3 times a week)
- I do lid massage 2x/day, but I cannot tolerate hot compresses
- Sjögren Snydrome tests were negative
- I took the birth control pill from 2002-2008, I have stopped taking it in March 2008, no improvement so far
So, I really need to find something that helps me. My eyes have already ruined my social life to a certain extent (I cannot to to clubs with friends, I can't go biking etc.) and if nothing changes they will ruin my career as well.
Pictures of my eyes: http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/i...t=DSCF2423.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/i...t=DSCF2338.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/i...t=DSCF2337.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/i...t=DSCF2336.jpg
I appreciate any comment, recommendation...
Thank you!!!
This is a weird thread, but I really need your help!!!
I'm so exited, I have an appointment with Dr. Latkany next
week (22nd). Finally...I'll go to NY for a week and I'll see him on my first day. So, I really expect much from the visit even though I know that he might not be able to help me. I'm a bit afraid that my English is not good enough (for talking, explaining and understanding spoken medical English). Has anybody ever visited Dr. Latkany who is not a English/American? Is he hard to understand?
How is he? I mean, how much time does it take, does he explain things? Does he suggest a treatment or do I have to do that (it is always like that here)....
I have a question for you guys. How do you pronounce Sjögren? Is the "g" like in target or like in gorgeous. :-) I couldn't think of other words! hehe
Okay, so I thought about sending Dr. Latkany some information about me and my eyes before. Do you think this is a good idea?
I tried to summarize my condition. Please have a look at it:
Some facts:
- dry eye since ~ 2002 (age: 16), has become worse very slowly, really bad since August 2005 (hasn’t changed since then)
- soft contacts lens (H2O extreme) wear from 1999-2004 (stopped because I couldn’t tolerate them anymore)
- the blood vessels in the right eye were there before the dry eye started (noticed them first in 1999) but they were hardly visible and did not hurt
- drops I use: Thera Tears liquid gel, Dwelle (I have tried lots of others)
- Myopia: -4.00
- Infection of the eye’s nerve (right) in Jan. 2007 (is okay again)
- Intraoccular pressure is okay
- I often have eye infections with chlamydia (it is treated by antibiotics and usually comes back within 6 months)
Current situation:
- extreme redness left eye > right eye (major problem)
- feeling of pressure/pain/inflammation in the left eye (-->blood vessels)
- dryness (esp. in the morning & evening: I could use drops every 5-10mins, but I try to reduce the amount of drops to 1x/hour)
- no full lid closure at night (lagophthalmos), I wear a sleeping mask (but it doesn’t seem to help that much), I tried tranquileyes + I taped my eyes but it didn’t help --> eyes look and feel horrible after awaking
--> I don't know how I am ever supposed to work in a normal office (I'll finish my studies at university this year)
Former therapies:
- Restasis (Nov. 2006- July 2007); 2% Cyclosporine drops (July 2007-Jan. 2008) (I stopped and my eyes didn’t change --> I assume it didn’t help at all)
- Lower punctum plugs (maybe upper one will help?)
- Homeopathy + acupuncture (didn’t help at all)
- Soft contact lenses (Air Optix Night & Day) --> dry spots after 1h of wearing (March 2008)
- Hard contact lenses eyes became very red (even after weeks) (April 2008)
- I took omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for several years but I didn’t see an improvement
Other information:
- I eat a healthy diet (lots of fruits, vegetables and wholemeal products, I try to avoid sugar)
- I do regular exercises (3 times a week)
- I do lid massage 2x/day, but I cannot tolerate hot compresses
- Sjögren Snydrome tests were negative
- I took the birth control pill from 2002-2008, I have stopped taking it in March 2008, no improvement so far
So, I really need to find something that helps me. My eyes have already ruined my social life to a certain extent (I cannot to to clubs with friends, I can't go biking etc.) and if nothing changes they will ruin my career as well.
Pictures of my eyes: http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/i...t=DSCF2423.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/i...t=DSCF2338.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/i...t=DSCF2337.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/i...t=DSCF2336.jpg
I appreciate any comment, recommendation...
Thank you!!!
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