ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Eye Issues => Topic started by: Meagan on May 06, 2009, 08:48:30 am
-
Does anyone out there have the thing were part of their eye is stitched up? I am going on two years of it being that way as my cornea was severly damanaged and a eye weight was not enough.....just curious on how long some people had that.
Thanks all and enjoy your day.
Meagan
-
Meagan -
I know that Deb (user name oHIo) had her eye stitched for a fair amount of time post op. I don't recall all the spefics, but she's a nurse and had returned to work with it still stitched.
She doesn't get on the forum much anymore, but if you PM her she'd be more than happy to tell you her experience.
Hope this helps,
Jan
-
I have had many different things, but for me, the weight has been the best. Have you tried a different weight? I have had a little stitch on the end - years ago - I guess it is still there - i don't think I ever had it taken out. However, after that, I had to have my eye TOTALLY sewn shut because it was so severely scratched. The Dr. wanted to LEAVE it sewn shut indefinitely (& I will say it was easy to care for) but I wanted it open - talk about stares! I was only 25 at the time! Feel free to ask any others questions. Good luck!
K
-
Hi Meagan.
If you mean a lateral tarsorrhapy, yes, I had that too. I've had mine for 2 years on May 1st. I have seen photos of some that are very noticeable but mine isn't. My doctor just put a few stitches in the outside corner to bring the bottom lid up a bit. It made my eyes look more even and helped to keep some of the moisture in there and not just running down my face. He's clearly a very talented surgeon and I couldn't be happier with the job he did.
My doctor and I have spoken about having it "undone" at some point, but neither of us is in any rush to have it done. He said it looks fine, it's protecting my cornea and it's okay to leave it for now. I think it looks fine, my eye feels good and I'd rather not have anyone poking around in it if it's not necessary.
I've never had an eye weight and never needed one since the surgery, my cornea is in good shape without needing the weight.
Have you talked to your surgeon about having yours undone? I'm sure he or she would be able to give you some good advice on that.
Lori
-
Thank you all....I wish i had the weight but since they had to sew it a few times the weight would just fall out.....I meet with my eye surgeon in July and last year he promised he would take it out....but you know how that goes.
My eye is about half shut so not tremendously noticable but enough where people ask me....it has been over 2 years so i am getting antsy....to be gross it is starting to pull apart but since I don't have feeling i don't feel it.
Well thank you all....if anyone else has had the lateral tarsorrhapy let me know :) Have a good day all.
-
Hi,
I'm having it done on June first. I have a mis-shaped cornea from months of irritation due to the dryness caused by an eye lid that won't close all the way. They took my eye weight out but my lower lid is the problem so I'm having a stitch or two put in to raise it. My doctor says it won't be noticeable and should help keep the eye moist and gradually my cornea will heal correcting my double and blurred vision. I'll let you know if I get any relief. Joe
-
Hi Meagan: How does the weight 'fall out' ? Is it an external weight ? (I've had 3 weights put in till they got it right). I've had 5 eye surgeries to help with both cornea protection & symmetry. My last surgery for this problem was 11/08; I had a canthal sling done by an oculplastic surgeon. I also still need to use Refresh PM ointment a few times a day + Refresh Celluvisc to protect my cornea.
I think your paralysis is much less severe than mine (thank God) - so I'd look into an oculoplastic surgeon to take care of things.
All the best, always good thoughts, Nancy
-
Hi Meagan,
I had my left eye about half way stitched shut after my surgery to protect the cornea. For 5 months. I hated it. Hated the stares, (plus the droopy left face) and the feeling of it being sewn shut drove me nuts.
I can't believe you have had it for 2 years. You poor thing. Who knows, maybe you are used to it, but Geesh!
I would imagine with modern technology the ocuplastic surgeon will be able to do SOMETHING!
But it all depends on your cornea.
Mine is OK but not great. I have the weight and use lots of eye ointment daily.
I've been threatened that the eye will be sewn shut again, if my cornea starts acting up.
Scare tactic :o
Let us know what the doctor says.
Maureen
-
I never had the weight but they said my eyelid is light cottage cheese...not sure what that means but they were talking about the weight they sew in....not outer....which is something to think about....i didn't have any vision as my cornea was scratched off so this is protecting my eye but not very pretty.....they had it all the way sown shut and now it is only part way....it isn't huge but i see it daily and it makes me sad.
I am seeing the eye doctor in July after a year of no visit and they said i could use the contact that lubricates and stitches will be gone....but i will believe it when i see it.
I will bring all this to my eye doctor in july as there has got to be something else than stichtes....and for some reason i can't spell that word :)
-
Meagan,
Wow, are you saying that your cornea is not working at all? You said the cornea was "scratched off." Was this from the surgery or after surgery?
Hopefully they can get the eye opened. Iif the cornea is no good, then what is the point of having your eye stitched shut?
Curious situation you are in.
Hoping for good news for you.
Maureen
-
Lori
So glad to hear something positive about lateral tarsorrhapy. I am scheduled to have it done on the 25th of this month and I'm a bit nervous. How soon before I can return to work? Next day hopefully! Does it feel "weird" or do you get used to it. The surgeon told me I would hate it. He said everyone he's done it on dislikes it to one extent or another but that it is the best think for cprmial protection until they can decide if I will be a good candidate for a gold weight. Any imput?
-
What do they need in order to determine if you are a good candidate for a weight? I had one put in at about 10 weeks. I wish I could have had it done day one. My input is to see why they can't just go ahead with the weight and skip the other one.
Sara
-
I feel the same way as Sara - if you need a lateral tassorrophy, you need an upper lid gold or platinum weight - what's the wait about ?
I'd go for another opinion - go to an oculoplastic surgeon. I also wish I got it day 2 post op AN surgery.
I had the weight & my lower lid pulled tighter at the same time 1 month after my AN surgery. No 'stitching my eye closed.',
& I have chronic parlysis, right side.
Hoping for a good outcome with this for you, always good thoughts, Nancy
-
This is an oculoplatic surgeon. He said he wants to wait on the weight because he thinks I'm close to blinking on my own. In the last two months I've notice a slight difference in my blink. My eye kind of flutters when my good eye blinks. Before that there was no motion at all. He says if I can't blink on my own in the next 6 months or if my blink is incomplete then he will do the gold weight. In the meantime the tarsorrophy will help keep my cornia healthy. At least that's his take on things. It's so hard to know what is right.
-
My cornea was scratched as I was never told to lubricate after surgery....so two months after surgery i lost vision....I have a scar tissue on the eye so not 100% vision and may never be. I went to a not great eye doctor that messed up my eye and wasn't able to stitch it properly...needless to say i have a new doctor. I would have given anything to do the weight but missed that option.
I was at work the next day so very easy surgery....especially after all we have been through :)
-
Meagan-
You can still get a weight if you need one. I got my first 7 YEARS after my AN surgery!!
K
-
I'm glad to hear it is an easy procedure and I will be back to normal by the next day. I liked the comment about "especially after all we've been through".
-
Joe.
I would not get my eye stitched with there being better alternatives. I just had the lateral canthal suspension done for both eyes and they stitched my eyes half way shut so that while they healed they would maintain their lift. I only had them like that for a short time but it drove me nuts. It looked unpleasant and felt unpleasant AND I couldn't see very well. If I were you.......try an external lid weight especially if you are attempting to blink on your own and even if you're not it still works by helping the eye to close with gravity. Alot of docs will have you play around with different external weights to see which weight to surgically implant for the gold weight. This way you can take it off periodically and see how your blink is progressing. How are you going to know if and when your blink improves with it stitched up? Just something to think about. I personally think stitching up the eye should be a last resort for those people who can't wear the external weight or for those who can't tolerate the gold/platinum internal weight which I believe most can tolerate these procedures if the eyelid skin is healthy. Now if you're talking about stitching just a little in the outer corner to make the eye surface smaller then that makes sense and can look and feel fine I'm sure as they were going to do this to mine if I opted for that which I did not. It can always be reversed if you hate it but I will say that the stitching of my eyelids together hurt worse than an eyelid weight which I had an internal platinum chain put in. (I now wear an external weight and am blinking pretty good). Plus they stitched up my eyes from the middle towards the inner part of my eye which is pretty tender. Thank God they unstitched them when enough healing had taken place from this last surgery. I guess all in all I am pretty confused as to your doctor's decision to do this procedure instead of the external lid weight........it cost $75 and there's no pain and no risk of infection and YOU CAN BLINK! hence protecting your cornea.
Good luck in making the right decision. You will hear all kinds of advice so just weigh your options carefully.
Angie
-
Yes to be totally retarded....the weight is to help you blink and maybe with time you blink on your own.....is that right.....??? they are thinking of taking the stitches otu and giving me the contact to help lubricate....my eye almost closes when i make myself blink.....so please share thoughts.....i know you can't really see the weight but that is one of my last worries....cornea protection is #1.....so help :)
-
I guess the real question is what will the stitching help. In my case the drs. think it will help more than a weight because my most serious problem is my extremely droopy bottom lid. Even when I pull my top lid all the way down it doens't come close to meeting my lower lid because it's so droopy. He is just going to take a couple stitches to bring the bottom lid up and help narrow that eye. Right now my left eye is VERY open and has that startled look. This hopefully will make my eye more they size of my good eye and not look so odd. I am going to ask about the external weights though, that might make a good combination if and until my natural blink comes back.
-
MEAGAN,
In response to your question, the weight will allow you to close your eyelid down. Sounds like you have a little function there, if you are able to almost close your eye. Hopefully your eyelid tissue will be strong enough at this point to hold a weight in place.
I have the weight, have a very partial blink reflex, and use ointment all of the time to keep my eye lubed. Drops last like 1 minute and then I need more.
And Epodjn-
Sounds good that it will be just a couple of stitches, and maybe the outer weight-looks like a promising plan.
Keep us informed :)
Maureen