Well, I went almost four years without having to get a needle in my eye. That’s a pretty good run.
As most of you know, five years ago I developed a case of wet macular degeneration in my left eye. For more than a year after that I had to undergo the treatments for it, which consisted of periodic injections in my eyeball. That regimen worked very well, so that the condition improved and eventually stabilized.
But I always knew it was likely to flare up again someday, and last week it did. I noticed the telltale signs — expanding concentric areas of discoloration that resemble a visual afterimage — in the scar left by the earlier damage. So on Friday I made an appointment for this afternoon to see the retinologist.
The good news is that I caught it early, and in all likelihood I’ll only have to endure a few repetitions of the injections before it stabilizes again. I go back in a month to get another scan and a shot, and the doctor will see how things look then.
The bad news is that my vision is still pretty messed up from the dilation, the scanner with the horribly bright flashing lights, and the shot. I’m having a hard time seeing the screen clearly, so posting will be light this evening.
I’ll probably post at least one subtitled video before bedtime. And I heard about the vehicular jihad in Toronto, which happened just before I left for the doctor.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
I cannot think of anything worse than having a needle stuck into the eyeball. Good luck, Baron and may it pass quickly.
My mother had this, and the needles treatment. I am glad yours was caught and diagnosed earlier. Not so great when the diagnosis is later.
I would urge all people over 60 to get checked for it, annually. It’ll cost a bit as it is not automatically covered so far as I know, but the cost is worth the expense. Early stages, very likely no symptoms.
I hope that this comment does not come up twice, but the last one vanished without a trace after I hit the post comment line.
I am familiar with those shots in the eye or eyes, as the case may be. My mother had wet mac. You are fortunate that it was caught early.
I would urge all those over 60 to get checked. It may cost extra but it is well worth it. I have been told that in the early stages there may be no symptoms at all.
Ok, now to post. The tension mounts…will it work or just vanish again?
Evidently, some people aren’t seeing their comments come up?
Yes, this is “wet” macular degeneration, for which no treatment existed until Dr. Judah Folkmann began developing anti-angiogenesis drugs. I read the book about his work many years ago, never dreaming Avastin would have so many other uses.
AFAIK, there is no real treatment for the dry variety. The B is younger than his fellow-sufferers he meets in the doctor’s waiting room, but then he sat in the noonday sun for decades, painting landscapes. Not the only artist to end up this way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macular_degeneration
Sorry to hear of the Baron’s problems.
Dry AMD treatment is coming and implants have now been inserted successfully.
Both will probably be treated with stem cells in the end, but it is hard to redevelop neural tissue, which is what the retina is.
For years AMD was a hopeless backwater of ophthalmic research. That has changed.
All the best
That’s good news. Dry mac is a death sentence for anyone who is visually oriented, e.g., the Baron. So he was ‘grateful’ it wasn’t worse and that by the time he got it, the anti-angiogenesis treatments were available.
Please accept my good wishes for successful treatment. A very dear friend of mine has this, and my mother has a friend who is a sufferer. Both have found the injections work quite well in stabilising the condition and appreciably improving it. So good luck.
All the best for this, Baron. Let’s hope catching it early will be the key to a quick stabilisation.
Good wishes for a full and quick recovery.
My best thoughts and wishes too.
All the best, Baron. I, too, have had eye troubles (glaucoma) for the past seven years. IMHO, the American ophthalmology profession is very set in its ways. Some of their treatment processes can use industrial engineering, not just rocket science. Better patient monitoring tools are needed between appointments. More money is needed for eye research, not new GPS apps. Where are you, Bill Gates and other funders?