Question about eye problem

Patti678
Patti678 Member Posts: 55
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My neck dissection was on the left half of my neck. I read the surgical notes which are available to any patient at your hospital. He "sacrificed" my spinal accessory nerve during the surgery. That has led to many issues but the one I have a question about is my left eye. Two things. One: the eyelid has been slightly swollen since surgery and somewhat red. The other thing is that if I am in low light the left pupil remains very small whereas the right pupil dialates like it should when it is dark.

I asked my surgeon about it and he says it will correct itself. But so far I see no changes. My left eyelid feels heavy. And if I look straight down the vision is considerably diminished. I don't think an opthamologist will help me as this is a nerve issue, not an eye issue.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Anyone else out there had this issue?

Thanks-Patti

Comments

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #2
    Good question...
    Perhaps a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist would be able to offer some suggestions? Maybe eye movement exercises would help with the heaviness?

    My nerves came through my surgeries mostly intact, but I do suffer from extreme dry eyes now. My eyelids seem swollen to me, by the end of the day. You may have more than one vision issue going on. See an eye specialist for the best advice.

    Good luck and may the healing continue.

    Deb
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
    Hi Patti
    The spinal accessory nerves are always sacrificed in the course of performing a radica neck dissection. Sacrificed, in this case, implies they are purposefully cross-cut and ligated (tied). That has nothing whatsoever to do with eye accomodation or pupillary problems. Those things are handled by CRANIAL nerves. Cranial nerves are not directly involved in a radical neck dissection. Something beyond your surgery is causing this, and may need to be investigated.
  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #4
    longtermsurvivor said:

    Hi Patti
    The spinal accessory nerves are always sacrificed in the course of performing a radica neck dissection. Sacrificed, in this case, implies they are purposefully cross-cut and ligated (tied). That has nothing whatsoever to do with eye accomodation or pupillary problems. Those things are handled by CRANIAL nerves. Cranial nerves are not directly involved in a radical neck dissection. Something beyond your surgery is causing this, and may need to be investigated.

    Thanks
    Thanks. I will get it checked out. It has to be the surgery because I NEVER had issues like this and I noticed the swelling of my eyelid immediately after the surgery. At first I thought it was an allergy to something from the surgery like tape adhesive or such. My PT is the one who first saw the pupil issue.

    I did find this info online: The spinal accessory nerve, cranial nerve XI, is a purely motor nerve that has both cranial and spinal components.

    So perhaps it could be related to my eye??
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    Patti678 said:

    Thanks
    Thanks. I will get it checked out. It has to be the surgery because I NEVER had issues like this and I noticed the swelling of my eyelid immediately after the surgery. At first I thought it was an allergy to something from the surgery like tape adhesive or such. My PT is the one who first saw the pupil issue.

    I did find this info online: The spinal accessory nerve, cranial nerve XI, is a purely motor nerve that has both cranial and spinal components.

    So perhaps it could be related to my eye??

    Hi Patti

    I had a lot of nerve damage in the face along with pain. I found so far that acupuncture and taking Lyrica 50mg has made a big different in my life. Ask your doctor and see if he thinks it will help you.

    Wishing you well
    Hondo
  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #6
    Neuro Ophthalmologist?
    If you can find one, a neuro ophthalmologist might be helpful. There are only two in Seattle and they serve all of Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Won't look too hard, but if one were available. They specialize in the nerves between the eye and the brain.

    My wife has seen one because she has had a pituitary adenoma, and the tumor pressed on the optic nerves which cross near the pituitary.
  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #7
    Hondo said:

    Hi Patti

    I had a lot of nerve damage in the face along with pain. I found so far that acupuncture and taking Lyrica 50mg has made a big different in my life. Ask your doctor and see if he thinks it will help you.

    Wishing you well
    Hondo

    thanks
    I used it for other sports injuries. I was thinking of going back to it for my shoulder blade pain. Cancer should come with a free credit card right? Massage, accupunture, chiro..etc etc.
  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #8
    ToBeGolden said:

    Neuro Ophthalmologist?
    If you can find one, a neuro ophthalmologist might be helpful. There are only two in Seattle and they serve all of Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Won't look too hard, but if one were available. They specialize in the nerves between the eye and the brain.

    My wife has seen one because she has had a pituitary adenoma, and the tumor pressed on the optic nerves which cross near the pituitary.

    thanks
    I did not know this specialty existed. Atlanta is full of all types of docs so I'm pretty sure I will find one of these.
  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #9
    ToBeGolden said:

    Neuro Ophthalmologist?
    If you can find one, a neuro ophthalmologist might be helpful. There are only two in Seattle and they serve all of Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Won't look too hard, but if one were available. They specialize in the nerves between the eye and the brain.

    My wife has seen one because she has had a pituitary adenoma, and the tumor pressed on the optic nerves which cross near the pituitary.

    found one
    There are some of these in Atlanta and I set up an appt in December. Thanks!

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