Gold weight and Tarsarophy

[MNTim]

Nearly two years post surgery and investigating these procedures to gain full closure. I have about 1 mm of opening when "fully closed". I would love  to not have dry eye and eye blurred from mucus. What kind of results did you see?

Tim

[Suu]

Hi MNTim
I didn't get the gold weight but did have a lateral tarsorrhaphy where the outer lid was stitched together to make my eye close up more to protect the cornea.
The pain and dryness before I had this done was pretty bad and nothing seemed to lubricate it for very long.  Post surgery I only need the drops or the lube occasionally.  I was also told by my opthamologist to manually close my lid up and down at least 6 times a day.
My eye does blink every 6 or so blinks and hubby says my eye seems to relax closed after I'm in a deep sleep so I don't have to tape it.
If I'm in air conditioning for awhile I find that it dries my eye out but I've also been told that I'm losing sight in it but that could be the glaucoma or the cloudy lens forming a cataract.

So my answer is to make sure your eye is well lubricated even if it means only used 'fake' tears.

If my 12/7 nerve graft is successful (had it done in Feb with no signs of it happening yet) then the opthamologist is going to reopen it.  If it doesn't work he's going to do an eyebrow lift for free!  Not sure about having yet another surgery so I reckon I'll put up with how I am now and treat myself as a well person who is unique from any of my friends and family LOL

I hope this helps your decision in some small way.
Suu

[alabamajane]

Hi Tim,
I had a 1.2 gram gold weight put in 4 days after translab last Oct. when I had the 12/7 graft done and have had pretty good results so far. I do have facial paralysis on that side however that is getting some better also. My eyelid does close all the way except I can't close AS tightly as good eye, if that makes sense. I tend to get a little soap in it when washing face,,but to look at it closing ,,I don't think you could tell it is not tight,,,
I was told to use drops daily and PM drops at bedtime; however, over the last year I have found I don't need the daytime drops very often at all,but do put them in at nighttime still as it feels good,,,

I had annual dr visit last week and asked about removing it ,, and it was discussed that it is my decision really as to when I feel ready,,,and that I could also have it replaced with a weight half the size,,  .6 grams to make it less noticeable ,, which I would like to do but have decided to wait maybe 5-6 more months to see if I have as much improvement perhaps I could do without it instead of having two surgeries,,even though surgery is "minor",,,

So maybe if you have some closure, you could consider the smaller weight and get good results,,
I hope this helps give you some useful info,, if you have more questions,, just ask, best of luck,,Jane

[Kaybo]

I have had weights off and on for the last 10 years - I love it when I do have a weight in!!  Much less care!

K   

[MNTim]

Thanks all. I have been living on hope for the past few years that full closure will come but I am tired of relying on eye lubricant and dealing with the complications of dry eye. I met with an opthamologist recently who was recommended by my facial therapist.  He is recommending that I do both procedures for maximum effect. Apparently he places the weight higher in the lid so it is less noticeable. Anyone heard of this?

[Suu]

While I haven't heard about the weight being put higher in the lid, I would be really interested for your thoughts if you have it done.

Cheers,
Suu

[nancyann]

Hi there Tim. I have total right sided facial paralysis. Have had a gold, then a platinum weight put in (1.6 grams) & a canthal lateral sling which is the only one that has lasted more than a year. The weight helps me to 'almost' close my eye. I still have to use Refresh PM 24/7. I just printed out a new/still in experimental mode paper on a polymer/"artificial muscles restore ability to blink, save eyesight" from UC Davis Health system to show my oculoplastic surgeon tomorrow.  Just search Polymer on this sight & you'll find the link.
always good thoughts, Nancy

[badyellowvette]

While I haven't heard about the weight being put higher in the lid, I would be really interested for your thoughts if you have it done.

Cheers,
Suu

I have had a gold weight put higher in my lid. Doctor put in a 1.8 gram lower in my lid and my eye closed very well but at night I could feel it on my eye ball and was very irritating. So he went back in and mover it much higher. I haven't been very happy with the results. Eye doesn't close all the way and gets irritated very easy 

[pmcollings]

Hi Tim,

I will have both these procedures soon- well as soon as my insurance pre-approves the surgery.  I have right side paralysis and have been using drops during the day ( and taping occasionally ) and then putting ointment in at night, taping then a soft bandage at night.  My surgery was two months ago and I still have problems driving.  My eye is very dry despite all this and antibiotics.  So, I will keep you posted on how it all goes.  Keep your fingers crossed for me because this stuff is getting old - lol ! 

Take care,

Pam

[MNTim]

I am having the weight and tarsorrhaphy on Feb. 28. I will provide an update when I have recovered,

Has anyone who has had either procedure noticed better tolerance of bright lights? Night driving can be an adventure to say the least. I attribute this to my inability to squint but I could be mistaken.  Dry eye halos don't help.

[Brewers7]

Like Nancy I have had a gold weight and recently a platinum weight.  I still have to use lubricant some, but I am much happier with the platinum weight; it is less noticeable.

[alabamajane]

That's good news about the weight being less noticeable , Brewers7,,, I don't like my gold weight for that reason,,
not to hijack Tim's post,, but was that a hard surgery to have it changed? Does an ophthalmologist do it?   Thanks,, I don't have dry eye too badly, I do use ointment at night and drops some during the day most days,, but just to get a smaller weight would be nice ,,,

Best of luck to you MNTim with your procedures next week,, I only have the weight and it gets aggravating due to size,, 1.6 gram I believe,, but not sure eye would close completely with smaller/ lighter one either,,, thanks all and best wishes for successful outcomes all ,,, Jane,

[Brewers7]

Dr. Byrne, a plastic surgeon, did platinum weight recently (they call it a "chain") in connection with other surgery.  Opthomologist put in and removed the original gold weight.  Very simple procedures.

[Kaybo]

I think it all depends on the placement (& the Dr!).  I've had 4 gold weights and a platinum chain over the years.  The weight I have now is a gold one and it is BY FAR the least noticeable of all - even the platinum one.  No one even knows I have it - at all!!  Even went to a corneal specialist today and he didn't think I had one at first.  No make-up on or anything!!  So I am a FIRM believer in the Dr's choice of PLACEMENT!!

K   

[alabamajane]

Kaybo, that's encouraging that you have such significant experience with the weights,,  do you know the size of your current weight? Maybe that has some relavance to how noticeable it is,, just wondering,
I have only had the one I now have but it seems to me anyway to be quite noticeable and I would like a thinner one,, which I was told I could try just haven't wanted another surgery yet,,, mine is about as close to bottom of lid ( eyelashes) as it could be,, interesting anyway,, thanks for input ,, Jane