Response to laser eye surgery request

[1Lily]

Hi,
I don't know if I mentioned this, but I have one bad eye - 20/400 with astigmatism. I am also almost completely unable to tolerate eyeglasses due to a trigger point from TN being located right on the bridge of my nose. I also get an inflammatory response in my bad eye, which makes it hard to wear contacts. I am legally blind without vision correction.

So everyone has been suggesting laser eye surgery, including my neuro specialists. So I sent a request for an eval by email to the eye surg group at my HMO.

They just responded that due to the TN, and the inflammatory response, which may be a result of corneal loss of nerve response, that I am not a candidate for laser vision correction.

I had even asked my neurologist for a neurectomy on my nose-bridge nerve, it's been so difficult. I think I will ask him again, with more pleading this time :confused:

This had left me pretty bummed out, all in all. And then I received a request for a psych eval from SSDI. I thought it might be the letter telling me that they were granting it. What the !?!?!? I need to see what the laywer says about that.

So, rough day...hope you all have had better.

Lily

[allih]

I feel for you. This disease makes things so hard. We are constantly having to adjust to what triggers us and how to deal.

I can't wear contacts either anymore. My glasses are off my face more than they are on. I have 20/400 with astigmatism also and macular degeneration. I can see clearly for about a foot before things start to blur so I can read and work without the glasses. But watching TV, driving and anything that requires seeing further than a foot, needs glasses.. There goes my face.

I hope you get teh answers from all that benefit you and don't make it harder.

Alli

That

[1Lily]

Alli,
So funny - you and I have so many things in common! I'm sorry to hear that ;-). I see just about as far, and now that I am in my 40s, I get concerned that the near vision will go.
I gave up on reading some time ago, my TN gets triggered from looking down...maybe I can get back into it to get a break from the vision correction. I already take my lenses out 2-3 times a day just to rinse the protein off and make them more comfortable. The letter from the doc also indicated that dry eye can be a side effect of TN.
I spoke to the lawyer's rep today, and feel more comfortable about the psych eval - it doesn't sound like it will be a dredging up of all my dusty ghosts - more like how I handle day to day living with this condition. And I am mostly pretty even keeled about that - I have taken many large hits this year, and am still standing. I don't have the luxury of wallowing in depression.
We have been working hard in our household to get my hubby hired at the HMO that I was working for, because the health plan is so excellent. Say a prayer for him too please, he interviews soon.
Hugs,
Lily

[ella138]

Hey Lily
I had lasik done about 9 years ago in both eyes. When I was firmly in my TN years and Tegretol. I know our situations are very different, but just wanted you to know that TN was not a problem for me with this, as a matter of fact it helped for the exact reason you were saying. The glasses sometimes caused triggers for the TN and my contact lenses were not working anymore because of dry eyes. I had pretty standard myopia. So nothing fancy, I could see great as soon as I opened my eyes. The whole thing took 15 minutes or so and lightened my pocketbook by $4300. Worth every cent!

[allih]

I didn't know that dry eyes came along with TN. Maybe that is what is bothering my eyes along with high pollen count. hmmmm Wonderful. I was thinking that as the new meds start to work that I could wear contacts again but now I'm not so sure. I was only able to wear them about 5-6 hours at a time before I stopped so possibly, the TN dry eye thing was already happening.

I'll test it out but won't be surprised if it doesn't work out.

Good luck on the eval. Living with this is not easy and I hope the psychiatrist is a good one.

Alli

[1Lily]

Ella,
That is great that you were able to have it done! It gives me hope, although the optometrists that I spoke to said that some laser eye places will do anyone. Not to imply that that was the criteria for you - I am just wondering if this doc is overly cautious.
Alli,
I get dry mouth from many of my anti-seizure meds - so badly sometimes that my lips will glue to my teeth while I am talking. It would not surprise me a bit if dry eye is also a side effect of the meds.
I am on three anti-seizure meds right now, so you may have better luck than me, if I remember correctly, you are taking just neurontin. So don't let my story stop you. I also use an OTC product called "Blink and Clean" that helps to moisturize them.
The email from the laser doc also recommended a consultation with a corneal specialist, so that is my next move.

Lily