Eye Issue
Went to eye optamologist yesterday, first time in about four years. I have not been able to see propery for some time now. He cut the appointment short, said he had to refer me to a specialist for 'advanced, wet-type macular degeneration.' I am not familiar with this, but he said that it is controllable in many cases, but irreversable. Said I am close to blindness level of involvement. I have not read that this condition could be chemo-related, but I do know that cataracts are strongly related to Prednisone use. If anyone has had macular degineration issues post-chemo, I am interested in hearing about what they learned.
Comments
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Truly sorry to hear this my friend
I certainly had cataracts, and a torn retina several weeks post cataract surgery. But, my tear was on the periphery, so my central vision is fine, but when I first wake up, there is a shadow in the left corner of my left eye. It goes away after a few seconds (so far), but is a result of the tear. I am taking an AREDS supplement sold by the retina surgeons to help slow everything down. If you need surgery, this is one of those emergent situations in which a consult on Friday might have you in the O.R. on Sat or Mon. Age-related, at least we have some hope of slowing it.
I'm thinking that in the case of macular degeneration, you might well consider a clinical trial, as progress against this condition is badly needed. Odd that micro veins are involved. I don't know if that is a type of angiogenesis in which vascular growth is triggered by some factor or not. The really odd thing is that steroid use can cause avascular necrosis, in which veins - normally to the hips or knees - wither and die.
Is there a way to decrese the size or number of veins behind the macula? A question begging an answer. Do you know if it is at all related to inter-ocular pressure? I am prescribed nightly drops to decrease that pressure. So many questions.
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Po, as the news agenciespo18guy said:Truly sorry to hear this my friend
I certainly had cataracts, and a torn retina several weeks post cataract surgery. But, my tear was on the periphery, so my central vision is fine, but when I first wake up, there is a shadow in the left corner of my left eye. It goes away after a few seconds (so far), but is a result of the tear. I am taking an AREDS supplement sold by the retina surgeons to help slow everything down. If you need surgery, this is one of those emergent situations in which a consult on Friday might have you in the O.R. on Sat or Mon. Age-related, at least we have some hope of slowing it.
I'm thinking that in the case of macular degeneration, you might well consider a clinical trial, as progress against this condition is badly needed. Odd that micro veins are involved. I don't know if that is a type of angiogenesis in which vascular growth is triggered by some factor or not. The really odd thing is that steroid use can cause avascular necrosis, in which veins - normally to the hips or knees - wither and die.
Is there a way to decrese the size or number of veins behind the macula? A question begging an answer. Do you know if it is at all related to inter-ocular pressure? I am prescribed nightly drops to decrease that pressure. So many questions.
Po, as the news agencies would say, this is a 'developing story.' The usual causes of m.d. are not known, except that it virtually never occures in anyone under age 50, and most cases begin only after 60. As I noted, the O.D. stopped the exam about as soon as he began, realizing that my case was out of his realm. I will note for clarity to the readers that I never took Prednisone, which R-ABVD does not use. He did get far enough to say that no perscription could currently better my vision beyond about 20-50. And he repeated that I have pretty bad cataracts -- something I have known for about seven years now. My vision has been like looking through a sheet of wax paper for a few years. I do not yet have any center-of-field blindness. It is interesting but likely not etiologically relevant that the night of my severe auto crash decades ago, I was totally blind the whole night, but could see the next day. No doctor has ever had an explanation for that. About four years ago I began having 'lighting bolts,' and the only known cause for those is retinal detachment, but I went to the doctor at that time, and she said I had no trace of r.d. The flashes quit about a month later, and have not returned.
The eye MD/surgeon's office called today. Regarding decreasing the size of the veins behind the macula, yes, there are needle injections which address this, and I understand that they are most often at least partially effective. My appointment is not until August 16.
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Well, let's slow it down a bit!
It sems that all cancer sites, sooner or later, end up dealing with geriatric issues. The body reminds if the spirit forgets it age. If they can do the cataracts while performing whatever is deemed appropriate for the MD, it might be a chance at a two-fer. It is so nice to see clearly again.
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Flashes
I started having flashes of "lightning bolts" in my eyes while on a business trip several years back before diagnosis with lymphoma. It was diagnosed as vitreous detachment. Vitreous detachment is often caused by sudden impact such as a traffic accident or fall and aging. Max I know you had a terrible traffic accident. Mine (probably but not certainly) was caused by a suicide explosion at a shopping mall in Netanya Israel. I was walking about 1/2 block away. Just a thought and may be worth asking about. Laser surgery helped mine and the "lightning bolts" are no longer an issue.
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Max
I am so sorry to hear about your vision. I did get cataracts from prednisone and had surgery a couple years ago. I respect your optomitrist for recognizing your vision problems are beyond the scope of his practice. Perhaps you start with omiting the cataracts.
While on chemo, I experienced the flashing lights in my eyes you describe. And a couple times, I was blinded. It was diagnosed as silent migraines and it stopped once I completed chemo. Each episode would last about an hour.
Last year, my Mother had atrial fibrillation and was put on Eloquis, a blood thinner. Not too much later she was diagnosed with wet macular degeneration--not cancer related. The cardiologist said the drug was not responsible. The eye doctor said it could be. She had shots in her eye several times but it was decided it wasn't working. Thankfully, it is only in one eye. So she can still see fine with the other eye; she even reads the newspaper each morning. By the way, Mama is much older than you--she is almost 94.
Hugs and prayers,
Rocquie
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Thanks
Thanks to all responders. I have a cousin who developed acute leukemia several years ago, and one of the chemo drugs she took left her almost totally blind within a few months. I do not know which drug, but will ask her to look into it. In general, I do not recall mention in the past of a chemo agent that causes blindness. She can make out blurry grey shapes, so is not in total blackout. And she is N.E.D. today.
Shady, the bomb blast experience was interesting but very unfortunate. In the submarine service, there were certain things that at times (but rarely) produced dangerous decible levels. I did not have known head injury when admittted to ICU following the wreck, but 10 weeks later, my ear itched, and I pulled out a hunk of windshield glass, so there was definite head impact. I later asked how a person could be in the hospital for eight weeks (mostly in ICU), and not have someone look in their ears, but never got an answer. I recently re-met my old friend severe vertigo, which I have had off-and-on since the wreck. My G.P. told me yestereday that I likely suffered a microfracture somewhere near the inner ear canal.
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"Under Pressure"po18guy said:Pressure changes
Submarine service and pilots. Is there any correlation to MD?
PO,
M.D. is not linked to pressure, based on what I have read so far. It is not even linked to glaucoma, so I doubt there is a link. Interesting is the fact that to be admitted into the submarine force, you must undergo ear-equalization tests. Put inside a large white cylinder at Submarine School New London (Connecticut), that looks about like an PL gas tank. The cylinder seats about a dozen guys at a time. It is sealed, and the air pressure is jacked way up, so high that if you cannot equalize pressure, your ear drums will rupture. In other words, no way to fake an ability to equalize ! Pressure increases dramatically as a sub goes deep, such that if a string is tied taut from one side of the hull across to the to the other side, by the time the boat is way deep, the string is hanging loose.....
Greatest song regarding 'pressure' ever, and even has a line about '....like a blind man.' Also rated as one of the greatest-ever basslines in rock history.
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dry eye
There are things they can do for wet eye but dry eye which is what I have is another story. I asked the eye doctor how do we treat it. I could not believe what he told me. Take a vitamine and eat salads. Now we have close to 100 years of achievements in medicine and that is all they have. Unreal
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"Treatment"
I can relate, obviously, Coupe. M.D. is one of the leading causes of blindness, but is the only common eye disease that is totally non-operable. Glaucoma, cataracts, retna detachment -- all operable.
I have been reading a bit, and the vitimans apparently are fairly effective. Read the "ARES-2" information online. I see the doc on the 16th, and will relate whatever I learn.
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A certain research hematologist says...
That despite the decades and billions of dollars spent, all that medical science really cures is infection. It cannot cure diabetes, heart conditions, and virtually all other medical maladies. In our world, we come out better than many. There is nothing that will put confgestive heart failure into remission, for example.
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Yes indeedy ……po18guy said:A certain research hematologist says...
That despite the decades and billions of dollars spent, all that medical science really cures is infection. It cannot cure diabetes, heart conditions, and virtually all other medical maladies. In our world, we come out better than many. There is nothing that will put confgestive heart failure into remission, for example.
We are certainly mortal and seem to have evolved with a limited lifespan.
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George Cpo18guy said:A certain research hematologist says...
That despite the decades and billions of dollars spent, all that medical science really cures is infection. It cannot cure diabetes, heart conditions, and virtually all other medical maladies. In our world, we come out better than many. There is nothing that will put confgestive heart failure into remission, for example.
George C. Scott's famous outburst in The Hospital (1971, Acadamy Award winner) could certainly be a fitting slogan for the AMA: We heal nothing,we cure nothing, the whole '''' ''''' world is stangulating before our eyes."
Besides congestive heart failure, modern medicine can do very close to nothing for serious mental diseases, whether psychosis or dementia/Alzheimer's sorts of conditions. Regarding addictions, no hope; behaviorial changes, but no cures. M.S., ALS are more-or-less untreatable, except for some pallative drugs. The same for Parkinson's. When a new 'life-extending' drug, that will increase life by perhaps two months is developed for a few billion dollars, and then sold to the patient for $50,000 an injection, it is praised as 'wonderful.' We think small, and expect little, from medical research. And are never surprised or disappointed. Robert Frost wrote a poem about how people flock to the beach, and gaze outwards for hours, like moths before a light bulb. It too is an epithet for medical researchers:
They cannot look out far
They cannot look in deep
But when was ever that a bar
To any watch they'd keep ?
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A HShadyGuy said:A horse ….
a horse, my kingdom for a horse! $50k for another two months? Sold! The dead cannot spend money. Life is priceless.
"...a horse is a horse of course of course." Date yourself by identifying where that line is from.
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Thank youSandy Ray said:Password reset
Max,
Sorry forgot my password and was lazy getting around to reset. Sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. You will be in my prayers.
Thank you Sandy Ray; it is what keeps me going. I am not a pessimist or a secularist, despite my academic training and occasional bouts of dispair.
I 'do' lazy -- so I can well relate.
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SourcesShadyGuy said:Shady: the comparison of your quote to mine proves my cultural superiority. Mr. Ed was one of the brilliant programs of all time, but who ever heard of this 'Shakespeare' dude ?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoDh_gHDvkk
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