Eye disease, corneal transplant

[bodybuilder1958]

Hi All,

In 2005 I was diagnosed with Dot-Map dystrophy and Fuch's dystrophy in both eyes. Within 6 months I had 5 eye surgeries, cataract, yag laser and corneal scraping. This morning after spending 2 hours with my eye doctor I found out something new, a corneal transplant is in my near future.

The dystrophy causes ridges on both the cornea and in my eye. It makes my vision blurry, fuzzy and at time in my left eye, double vision (the double vision is new). So far I haven't developed any blisters on my cornea and I hope I never do.

This disease (lucky me) only affects about 1% of the population, it's suppose to run in families but for some reason no one else in my family has it. (Gee, perhaps switched at birth)

So, dished out $550. for new lenses and glasses (really had to work to get that price), almost doubling lenses in the left eye and more than doubling the bi-focal part. Fun, fun getting used to that. Hopefully once I get used to the new lenses my eyes will stabilize again (had been stable for 2 yrs).

Just makes me wonder what God has in store for me...but I know it won't kill me. Just makes me stronger and pray more.

BB

[chrischris]

Hang in there DD. Vision care has come a long way in the past 10 years. Didn't realize you have eye problems. So do I. I wonder if all us IW's are just all part of that low percentage of people who are doomed to the rare medical cases. I will always remember my first WC doc. She would just shake her head at me and say something like, you are a "mystery" to me. LOL!

Can you wear contacts? I've never been able to because of a double eye surgery in '93 which has left scar tissue. 5-hr. surgery to fix, but I had the greatest eye surgeon ever! New glasses every year. I have eye insurance and still pay a lot! Oh well!

Take care!

[bodybuilder1958]

Hi Chris,

Thank you for the support. I had the same eye doctor for over 10 yrs, he totally ignored my symptoms and eventually told me that I was obscessed with how well I could see. Well, someone who assists with surgery needs good vision. So I left his office and made an apt with another eye doctor. So imagine my shock 3 days later when I found out that I had two different corneal dystrophies plus cataracts in both eyes.

Can't wear contacts due to my allergies. Wish I could, heck I couldn't tolerate the bandaid contact the surgeon put in after my corneal scraping.

I have alot of faith that medical science will keep one step ahead of my eye sight. Don't know why I have this problem, I was born premature, wonder if that is part of the problem. Weighed 2lbs 5oz at birth, just 13" long.

We have insurance but they only pay for eye glasses or lenses every 2 yrs, eye exam every year. But even with our insurance I still paid $318. last year for glasses with new lenses.

Take care,
BB

[Bummer Knees]

Hi Bodybuilder

Eye problems run in my family, my Father had many eye surgeries thru his life.

I had my first pair of glasses at 1 yr of age, and had my first eye surgery at 4 yrs of age. I was a toddler when I started visual therapy.

My twin nieces have the same condition and had surgery at 18 months, now 22 they again need surgery.

Cataracts also run in the family, my youngest sister was 19 when she had hers, my other sisters where in their 20's. I was 42 when I had my cataract surgery.

I really do not know the name of the eye condition my family has.

It is no fun, and expensive.

[bodybuilder1958]

In 2005 between Dr. visit co-pays, surgery co-pays, glasses, meds and transportation we spent close to $8,000. 2005 was a difficult year for me, it was also the year I injured my knee, I had 7 surgeries that year. Five on my eyes, one knee and one plastic surgery.

My half sister started wearing glasses at age 2, she's been deceased nearly 34 years. By the time she died she was legally blind. So perhaps she had the same disease I have. I got my first pair of glasses at age 5, they broke a yr later. They weren't replaced until I was 15 when the authorities told my parents that they had to provide me with a pair. I could see close up perfectly but not far away. My dad felt like glasses were a waste of money and that he could train my eyes to see. I remember going to vision therapy for several years. It didn't work.

[Bummer Knees]

My eye doctor has a discount eye plan a patient can join.

This cost me a one time fee of $20.00 for the family and every dollar I spend adds to the discount.

My last pair of glasses I had a $60.00 discount applied towards the purchase.

If you are interested I will check my card and let you know the name of this plan.

[bodybuilder1958]

I'd need to know if they cover Shea optical (now TMS eyecare, that's where I go and don't really want to change. Dr. Anh Tran hs kept me seeing so far even though it's expensive. She got me a discount on my glasses on Friday.

[Bummer Knees]

My niece use to go there, I now have her going to my doctor.

Bre has lots of vison problems, her vision is 20/400 without glasses, and 20/25 with glasses.

The information is on my card:
Vision Care Direct Savings Plan
Coustomer Service (877) 623-4786