So, Daylight Savings Time has ended and with that, the need for anti-halos drops increases. I'm resisting, though, as, well, frankly I'm sick of squirting stuff in my eye. The halos are a lesser concern at the moment because for the last year I've been battling an unrelated infection/inflammation that I've just not been able to shake. It started with severe redness and increased dryness about this time last year - so red that I found myself not looking people in the eye for fear of grossing them out. I remember thinking on Christmas Day that the whites of my eyes looked like pepperoni - all red, bumpy, etc. Awful.
I had a follow up appointment scheduled with my ICL doctor, so of course while I was there the redness was discussed. At first the opthalmologist (not my surgeon) said it was a dry eye flare up (I had dry eye prior to surgery) and she prescribed a couple of things. Tried that for a few weeks with no results. Went back, was prescribed something else. Again, no results. The prescription given to me at the third visit turned out to be something I was allergic to, so I only used it twice. At that point, I decided to call my regular optometrist, as the allergic reaction needed immediate attention and getting into my surgeons office last minute is virtually impossible, and by this time I was ready for a second opinion. My optometrist prescribed something that made the whiteness go away, but every time I tried to taper it off (per my doctor's instruction), the redness came back. A few months ago, the tearing started. Copious amounts of tears. I had to keep tissues on my at all times, I was dabbing at my eyes every few seconds, having to apologize to strangers and tell people that 'no, I'm not crying'. It was a ridiculous amount of tears, and the redness was creeping back.
Fortunately, two weeks ago my optometrist gave me a new prescription that is working! Within two applications, the tearing had stopped and my eyes are white again. It remains to be seen if this will hold once I start tapering off again. But so far, so good.
Anyway, with all the stuff I've been squirting in my eyes this year, anti-halo drops are an afterthought. I still use them when absolutely necessary, but otherwise I'm just living with the halos.
15 comments:
Hey i have a few questions if you dont mind??
im gonna have icl surgery in like two weeks, so i have this questions for after the surgery, i know i can ask the doctor bur i think it's best to hear it from someone who actually lived the process..
so here:
When can I start showering/washing my face?
When can I start using make up? and how is the best way to remove it?
What if I get something in my eye? or shampoo into my eye?
What should i do in case of emergency? call my optometrist or surgeon or go to emergency room or.. ?
Should i worry about sneezing or cough ?
thank you so much, i would really appreciate your answers, email me here : danup@hotmail.es
thank youuuuuu!!!
lils:
I had my eyes done two days apart (Monday and Wednesday of the same week), and after each I had a plastic shield taped over the affected eye for 24 hours. I could remove the shield temporarily to put drops in, but had to keep it in place the rest of the time til the doctor removed it the following day (I even had to sleep with them). I was given a different protective shield while I was in the shower. By Friday I was showering without the shield and was able to wear makeup.
Check to make sure that your surgeon's office has a doctor on-call for after hours issues. I was so nauseous from the Valium after my first surgery that I vomited that night. I called the on-call doctor who had me return to the doctor's office so she could check me out, but everything was ok. Coughing shouldn't be a problem, and unless you tend to sneeze violently, you should be ok.
I was pretty much sidelined for at least the first 24 hours, since one eye had a shield over it, and I had to leave my contact lens out of the untouched eye prior to surgery and my glasses wouldn't fit over the shield for the other eye. So, my ability to see (when the shield was on) was reduced to almost nothing. I could see clearly, though, through the eye that had had surgery when I removed the shield to put drops in (there are a lot!)
Nowadays, makeup removal is just like it was prior to surgery. I am extra careful around the eyes, though, and try not to use too much pressure.
Good luck with your surgery! (or surgeries?)
Hi there, I came across your blog in google and was really hoping you could give me some guidance.
I also have severe dry eye syndrome, (they think its because my meibomian glands are clogged, not producing enough oil to stop tears from evaporating too quickly...my tear output is normal), but anyway this is why I want to get the ICL, because I can no longer wear contacts.
I was wondering, in regards to your dry eye, has it gotten worse, better, or stayed the same with the ICL? And was your surgeon weary on operating on you because of your dry eye, or did they not see it as a problem? My surgeon told me to try and get my dry eye "controlled" before the surgery, did yours express the same concern?
I guess I'm just concerned that it may get worse after the ICL, and somewhat hopeful that it may get better lol.
Thanks in advance!!!
Jo, my dry eye situation is kind of complicated, so it's hard for me to say one way or the other. I had to stop the drop I mentioned in this blog post, because it raised my eye pressure. I tried a few others, but the tearing continues to be out of control. I've made an appt with my ICL surgeon to have my punctal plugs removed. I'm a little hesitant to do that, as I credit them with stopping my eyes from getting too dry during the night. But this constant tearing is driving me nuts. Also, the redness is slowly creeping back in - I'm not sure what I'll do about that.
My problem, like yours, has been identified as a meibomian gland problem. I've tried the hot compresses, with no results. My optometrist sent me to a specialist who was doing a new "meibomian gland probing" procedure, where he sticks a probe into the glands to free them up and get them working again. It did not help the right eye, so I'm not having the left eye done.
Personally, I don't think the ICL had an impact on my dry eye one way or the other. I don't see how it could - the meibomian glands are in your eyelids, not your eye. Now, at the time of my ICL, I just had classic dry eye, and the punctal plugs helped, so my surgeon was not concerned. It's only been in the last 18 months that this freakish tearing/red eye problem has surfaced. My ICLs are fine and I'm still reading at 20/20 (confirmed last week).
So, that's probably not a lot of help to you. Sorry! Let me know if I can answer any other questions.
Hi,
This is santy here. I had my ICL two weeks before. Vision is perfect. I am happy with that. I have little burings sometimes. Hope it will go soon.
But my only worry is that i read in few websites and in few blogs about teh side effects of ICL(like catacract, glucoma, haals etc...) Will everyoen get this side effects? How is you expirence and opinion about it. If i remove ICl from my eyes after 6months will i be safe..... bcz i dont want to take risk.... i am very much worried about the same. Please help me.... i will be very thankful to you...
cheers,
Santy
Santy,
First let me say that I'm not a medical expert of any kind, so nothing I'm about to say is factual. It's just my opinion. Yes, with ICL you risk cataracts, glaucoma, halos and other side effects. That's why anyone considering ICL should make sure they choose a surgeon who knows what they are doing, has had a lot of experience with the procedure, and can recognize whether you as a patient are at higher risk than others where this procedure is concerned. It is a big deal and should not be taken lightly. That said, having ICL surgery doesn't guarantee these side effects, so no, not everyone will get them.
I can't tell you anything about removal of ICLs, as I still have mine and have no plan to remove them. But I don't think removing them just because you fear a side effect would be a good idea. You may do more harm than good. Your doctor can guide you on that. Frankly, these are concerns a patient should discuss with their doctor before surgery, rather than after surgery.
Unless you are experiencing complications already, I think you just need to relax, don't worry so much over what *might* happen and check in with your doctor if you have concerns.
Good luck!
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thanks a lot for your answers and patience. Very kind of you.
Please don’t get bored by reading my comment…. My comments may look like stupidity… but your answers for this will really help me in building my confidence level….
Yes I completely agree with all your points. Before surgery I had discussed with my surgeon and had collected all info. And you known how our mentality will be before surgery, it’s always “let’s just give a try…”. Because I was very frustrated with glasses and Contact Lenses, I was looking for an alternate way which will keep me happy. I heard ICL will do that.
I started having fear factors when I started reading the blogs and experience of the post surgery patients of ICL. Many have these dryness, halos and glare(and also Cataract). These fear factors are blocking my happiness of enjoying my ICL(New eyes).
Doctors said that I should completely avoid rubbing my eyes because it may lead to Cataract. How will I make ensure that I won’t rub my eyes unknowingly in my sleep(also in day). Because it’s not just a matter of one week or one month, it’s for life time.
Before surgery I was feeling it’s not a big deal if I don’t rub my eyes…. But implementing it for lifetime is the big challenge which I have in front of me. Now I realize that “saying is different from doing….”.
My only request to you is, can you just brief me how is your experience going on with ICL and how did you avoid rubbing your eyes? What’s your future plan about ICL?
Regards,
Santy
Hi - so how is your vision now. I had my surgery in Oct 2011. but got lots of floaters and two PVDs. Have to see the retina specialist in 6 weeks time
To Anonymous:
My vision continues to hold steady. I have no more floaters now than I did before surgery, and my vision is still 20/20. The halos do persist at night, but they're more a nuisance than they are a disability. I still don't use the anti-halo drops now, as I get by fine without them.
Good luck with your retina followup. I do worry a bit about mine, but only because I know I'm at higher risk due to the myopia.
I recently had the jag procedure done on my eyes about six days ago. I am considering not doing the surgery in two weeks because no one at the doctors office can completely answer my question of why I have extremely poor centeral vision with my glasses. I have been encouraged to go through the surgery by one of the particpating eye doctors. The surgeon never really answered my questiions and I haven't stopped bothering them. I had headaches, can not see street signs, and eye pain. They have dilated my eyes and said I have pvds now in both of my eyes and my eye pressure is good. I am concerened if any of this is normal. I can't see peoples faces and wonder if now having the yag is going to leave me this way. I would be crazy to have the procedure now that I already have this. Can anyone help?
Anonymous:
If you've got concerns and your doctor cannot or will not answer your questions to your satisfaction, its time to find a new doctor. I can't answer your questions about the problems you're experiencing, but you have to have confidence in your doctor and if you have doubts, listen to your gut. There's no rush. Take your time and do more homework for a provider who will listen to your concerns. Good luck.
Hi Nancy,
I am considering ICL surgery now and it looks like the lens technology and procedure have changed a bit since you had the surgery. I have severe myopia (-11.5 and -12.5) like you, no astigmatism, and no severe dry eyes...so I'm hoping it'll be less problematic than your post-op has been with the halos!
More than the ICL right now, you mentioned having constant tearing and some prescription that helped. My sister has been living with constant tearing where the skin around her tear ducts becomes hard and crusty for a few years now. Can you elaborate on what prescriptions your doctor prescribed to remedy this? Hopefully she can bring it up to her eye doctor and see if it's an option for her!
Thanks,
Ruchi
Hi Ruchi
As it turned out, the tearing was caused by a drop I had been for prescribed for a severe red eye problem. When I stopped using the drops, the tearing stopped. What was odd was that the tearing didn't start with the first drop application, or else I would have figured it out sooner. Fortunately, by that time the redness was gone, too. I hope your sister can figure something out for her problem!
Good luck with your surgery!
Wow quick response! I had a couple follow up questions on ICL after doing some research:
1) Does the lens ever move? For example if you rub your eyes?
2) Has the iridotomy caused any problems? Curious if having those holes in your eye is noticeable from a symptomatic perspective or if it has any issues of its own. Does the cornea have to heal over it? I didn't quite understand how the holes worked since they're apparently supposed to remain forever, but you obviously can't be walking around with actual holes that go straight through from front to back.
3) Are you still able to go swimming? Are there any issues with wind? (I'm thinking skiing, sky diving, bungee jumping, driving with the hood down, any activity that involves wind blowing in your face.)
4) Is the slit(s) made to insert the lens the only incision(s) that is made which requires healing after the procedure? (As opposed to PRK where the entire cornea has to heal.)
1) Does the lens ever move? For example if you rub your eyes?
No, but I am careful about how much pressure I use when I need to do something like remove eye makeup. I just use the fingertips only and I never rub my eyes with my knuckles like you would when you first wake up.
2) Has the iridotomy caused any problems? Curious if having those holes in your eye is noticeable from a symptomatic perspective or if it has any issues of its own. Does the cornea have to heal over it? I didn't quite understand how the holes worked since they're apparently supposed to remain forever, but you obviously can't be walking around with actual holes that go straight through from front to back.
I don't know about the actual structures involved, but the YAG holes are still there and if my eyes are open wide enough I can see some shapes through them, in certain lighting conditions. They're sort of like mini-pupils.
3) Are you still able to go swimming? Are there any issues with wind? (I'm thinking skiing, sky diving, bungee jumping, driving with the hood down, any activity that involves wind blowing in your face.)
I haven't really put swimming to the test, yet, even now. I admit I've had problems getting used to the fact that I can actually hold my eyes open underwater again. I got so used to wearing contacts in the pool and having to keep my head above water or keep my eyes shut when I went underwater, that I haven't really pushed it. As far as the other activities you mention, you'd want to use the same protections as you would even if you didn't have ICL.
4) Is the slit(s) made to insert the lens the only incision(s) that is made which requires healing after the procedure? (As opposed to PRK where the entire cornea has to heal.)
As far as I could tell, yes. On my second eye, there was some visible bleeding at the incision site so I could see exactly where it was. It was at the top of the eye along the border of the iris. Very minor and healed up just fine.
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