Loading ...Just a quick update to add my OCT image. I’ve added here and to last night’s post (so you can compare mine with the normal one posted on the Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York website.) I kind of think mine looks like two people laying on the beach on their bellies and seeing just their backs and butts. I’m hoping to hear from the doctor today or tomorrow.
My OCT scan from 11 Jan 2010.
What an adventure today at the Pagoda Building at 100 Presidential Ave. After a few minutes in the waiting area, we were called back. I followed Irene into a very dimly lit room, stumbling slightly on one of the stools. I sat on a stool that seemed to be a bit too high for the machine I was supposed to put my chin in while pressing my forehead against the bar. The device that was going to take the images and measurements of my retina looked similar to an older (circa 1998) surveillance camera. Inside the lens was this cool blue light, slightly lighter than the blue light on the machine that reads your IOP, that looked similar to something in a sci fi movie with a thin red line across the horizon that looked like a laser.
My good fortune was that the machine was brand spanking new and both Irene and Todd had not yet mastered it. Irene couldn’t get a good set of images and kept asking me if I was diabetic, which I am not. She then said that the cataract in that eye must be really dense, because they couldn’t get a clear image. She then decided to dilate my eye. (This test was only for the left eye. The right is waiting for the Six Million Dollar Man eye and I haven’t spotted those at Radio Shack yet.) Dr. Pro had asked that the eye be dilated, but Irene thought it wasn’t necessary at the beginning. While my pupil was dilating, Irene stepped out of the room. Todd, Eliz, and I talked about the machine. I asked Todd a question and didn’t get a response. Eliz then answered for him. Seems he didn’t realize I couldn’t see him and he nodded yes to answer my question. After about 10 minutes, Irene walked back in, but Todd wanted his turn on the machine, so Irene coached him. He couldn’t get a good image either. Irene’s turn again.
After about 10 to 15 minutes of trying, we were asked to go wait in another waiting area. We only waited there a couple of minutes and then it was back into the hot seat for me (and I didn’t stumble in the room this time since my eye was dilated…) Finally, Irene was able to get the correct images the doctor ordered. I asked if I could have one put on my flash drive. Irene said no, but said she’d print one out. As she looked through all the images, she realized that they weren’t that good. She asked if she could try again on getting a good image. At this point, either Eliz or I mentioned the Endothelial transplant from December 2008. She then said that might be why she couldn’t get a good image. Whatever. She got some images she was happy with and printed one out for me… In black and white! The doctor will have a look in a day or two. I’ll call on Wednesday to see what the story is.
I’ve got a scanner issue that is stopping me from uploading the image. Hopefully I’ll figure it out tomorrow and have the image up here then. I know it doesn’t look like this image:
OCT demonstrating normal retinal architecture.
My OCT scan from 11 Jan 2010.
So now I have to wait to hear from the doctor. My image is a bit more “hilly” than the image above. I’m hopeful this is the reason for my latest issue. I also hope this can be fixed.
My latest Fields Test done at Wills Eye during a glaucoma study.
Over the past year, Eliz and I have taken part in a glaucoma study at Wills Eye in Philadelphia. I was asked if I’d be willing to participate and when they realized that Eliz would be bringing to each session, she was asked to participate as part of the control group. Fortunately, Eliz doesn’t have glaucoma! The study included a (torturous) visual fields test, IOP and vision check, a questionnaire on how glaucoma affects your life, an obstacle course, spotting different size boxes around a room, dialing a “telephone,” reading in varying lighting conditions, spotting objects moving on a computer screen, and, my favorite, matching socks. It takes about three hours to complete and we had to go in four times within a year. Last Thursday (17 Sep) was our last session.
We were compensated $20 (total) and had our parking validated at each visit. At the end of the study, we are each to receive $160 (which is due in the mail in the next week or two.) To get paid to get a fields test is AWESOME! It’s like getting paid to be water boarded… The fields test is so exhausting to me, because I have trouble just looking at the dot in the center of the machine. I only get the test done on my left eye, as my right eye can barely tell light from dark (I can tell light is shining on it by waving my hand between my eye and the light source, about 10 inches from my eye. If I see a shadow, I know there’s light and six more weeks of winter. Of course, I could always just open my left eye, but I like to know what I can see with the right eye.) For those that haven’t taken a visual fields test, as you look at the center dot, a series of lights, ranging in size and intensity, flash all around the inside of the machine, one flash at a time. You have button in your hand that you press if you see the light. It’s kind of like being on a game show. I would hope that I would hit the button more if I were on a game show… I’ve posted my my fields test from that day so you can see the results, they weren’t pretty.
One of my concerns that day was the eye chart. I could only see the big E at the top with my left eye (the “good” eye.) That is the 20/400 line. I was able to see the E on the 20/200 line, but only with the pinholes. I have noticed over the past few months that my vision seemed to be slipping (again.) I have also noticed some double vision, especially on lighter objects with a dark background. This is extremely frustrating, because it has really effected my reading on the computer. I have a local ophthalmologist appointment next week, a glaucoma specialist appointment the following week, and my cornea specialist appointment in mid-October. Hopefully, one of them will be able to find the problem and fix it (though I’ve been waiting my whole life to have my problem fixed, so I won’t hold my breath.)
I was asked at the glaucoma study if I would be interested in participating in more studies. I told them I’d be happy to so. It upsets me when I see a young kid at Wills Eye to see a glaucoma specialist. I know what is ahead for them and it isn’t fun. I also know what you are now thinking, ‘With technology and stem cell research, they’ll be able to take care of that problem…’ I hope so, but pardon me for not being as optimistic. Those same things have been said to me over the years, from the time I was in middle school to the present day by friends, teachers, coworkers, employees, and others. I’m still waiting.
Loading ...
Print This Post
