My Eye Update & A Warning to Soft Contact Lens Wearers - Page 2

bekibug · #1 07-07-2005, 08:32 PM

P-n-C, I hope your recovery goes well!

Thanks for the warning. I've been wearing soft lenses since 5th grade, since I am, to put it simply, f'ing blind. Must start a more stringent eye care habit...

girliegator · #2 07-07-2005, 10:45 PM

Thank you for the warning, I really appreciate it! I was a competitive swimmer in high school and I still swim a lot for fun, and I always wear my contacts in the water. I do wear goggles, but it seems like some water always gets in.

I hope your condition gets better, it's great that they are still able to treat it. Keep us updated on how you are doing!

ADqtPiMel · #3 07-07-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by girliegator
Thank you for the warning, I really appreciate it! I was a competitive swimmer in high school and I still swim a lot for fun, and I always wear my contacts in the water. I do wear goggles, but it seems like some water always gets in.

Me too - and I shower with mine in. Whoops.

I hope you feel better soon Cream!

ambición6 · #4 07-08-2005, 12:00 PM

that sucks peaches! i hope you make a speedy recovery. man, its stories like this that makes me glad i got lasik...(although who knows years down the road what the long term effects will be).
but for now, im glad i got the lasik!

Pecan · #5 07-08-2005, 02:44 PM

PnC, I really hope that you make a full recovery! I had never heard about this condition before, so this post is great for all of us that wear soft contact lenses (including myself). Things like this are reminders for us to take great care of ourselves.

Peaches-n-Cream · #6 07-08-2005, 06:44 PM

Thanks for the well wishes and kind words. I really appreciate it.

I saw the eye doctor again today. Actually, four doctors saw me. They see an improvement since Tuesday and Wednesday so the medicine is doing its job. I gave myself 54 eye drops

yesterday so it better be working! I'll be doing that until Tuesday when I see the corneal specialist again. The truth is I'll probably be treating this for at least one month.

Apparently, I am the talk of the ophthalmologists in New York. This condition is quite rare so the doctors line up to look at me. I am the first patient the younger doctors have seen with this condition in real life. The older doctors saw it a lot in the late 80s and early 90s so they know what to do.

I'll answer your questions now. I have regular soft contact lenses which I never wear while sleeping. My prescription (+7) doesn't come in disposables. Also, I can't get LASIK because my prescription is so high.

The first symptoms felt like allergy eyes. The were itchy and red so I was treated for allergic conjunctivitis. A week later they became light sensitive and painful so I went to the eye hospital where they diagnosed and treated me for keratitis and iritis in my right eye. After almost three weeks of treatment, there was no improvement. Eventually, they became more painful, felt dry, and felt like something grainy was in them. My vision began to diminish.

I'm not sure what to do about showering if you can't see. The doctor said to use one of those all in one cleaner disinfection solutions like Renu. Clean your lenses whenever you wear them and disinfect them for at least 6 hours. Change your lens case monthly. Rinse the case with solution, not tap or distilled water.

UKDaisy · #7 07-09-2005, 03:22 AM

I hope you get better!

You have me all scared now.

Private I · #8 07-09-2005, 09:37 AM

Question: does it make ANY difference whether a person is short or far sighted? (probably doesn't. and the fact that I swim in the sea as well as shower and sleep with my contacts doesn't help. Or the fact that I don't change them after a month. I'm so screwed). But really, does it make a difference whether you swim in a pool or in the sea? Cos I did take my contacts out while on the swim team, but I never take them out when I swim in the sea. Your story has got me so scared.

FSUZeta · #9 07-09-2005, 10:22 AM

peaches, glad to hear that the diagnosis and treatment seem to be on the mark. continued thoughts and prayers being sent to you.

sigmachicard, hope your condition improves and that it becomes no more serious than it already is. you too will be in my thoughts and prayers.

AchtungBaby80 · #10 07-09-2005, 03:16 PM

Eye problems are nothing to mess around with. I'm glad y'all shared your stories, 'cause it appears that I need to be more careful with my eye care (I've had eye problems, too, and I don't want more!). Peaches-n-Cream, I hope you get better soon!

ZTAMich · #11 07-10-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
I saw the eye doctor again today. Actually, four doctors saw me.

Any cute single ones for MEEE??

HAHAHA Just wanted to make you laugh a little...speedy recovery!

Peaches-n-Cream · #12 07-12-2005, 12:51 PM

Six different doctors saw me today. The corneal specialists thinks that I am responding very well to the medicine. He reduced one medicine to every three hours, reduced another medicine to every other day, eliminated one completely unless I have pain, and is still keeping me on two eye drops hourly. I don't have to return to the doctor until next Tuesday unless I have a problem. This will take a month or so to cure, but so far I'm improving. My eyes are really sore from all the drops, but I'm not in the pain I was in before this treatment.

Lol Michelle!

There is one young male resident who might be cute, but I can't really see well enough to tell. He's really nice.

#13 07-12-2005, 02:04 PM

Hi Peaches. I'm glad to hear you are getting better. I'm passing this info on to my roommate, because she is experiencing some of the same symptoms. I hope it isn't this, but we are both guilty of poor contact hygiene. I have not taken off my contacts in a week, but I'm definitely cleaning them out today.

Peaches-n-Cream · #14 07-19-2005, 05:47 PM

I'm back from seeing the cornea specialist. The bottom line is it could take a year for the acanthamoeba to clear up. I had hoped that this was would be finished by Labor Day, but now we are aiming for Memorial Day 2006. Apparently, this is one of the most difficult eye problems to treat and cure. My regular doctor was upset that I have this, and now I know why.

I still must use two drops every hour. The vision in my right eye is very cloudy and looks like steam on a mirror when you take a hot shower except I can't wipe it off my cornea. The doctor is not really concerned since that ought to clear up in about a month. We're trying to avoid a cornea transplant as much as possible so it will be drops galore until I'm well.

I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate this condition into my life without having it dominate and define me as it has for the past month. I find it very difficult to function and do the things I want and need to do. I haven't socialized since early June so I feel like a hermit. I am trying to be optimistic and patient, but it's very difficult.

I'm looking forward to buying new cute glasses soon since I will not be able to wear contacts until I am cured, if ever.

ETA: The doctor did see an improvement, but it's a very slow process to get rid of this.

Honeykiss1974 · #15 07-19-2005, 06:04 PM

Hey Peaches and Cream

Praying for a speedy recovery. I'm a -7.5 (although I do wear disposables - Focus) so I know your pain, especially when having to wear glasses (YUCK - I only wear mine at night). I've been gulity of poor contact hygiene too so this is definitely a wake-up call for me.

Hugs....