Aa
Corneal Scarring / Irregular Astigmatism
Hello,
I'm in my twenties, in good health and have worn contact lenses for 10+ years. Two months ago I developed a severe (bacterial?) infection and corneal ulcer. I now have a small corneal scar in my line of vision. My vision in the affected eye is 20/40 with glasses. I experience halos, floaters, foggy vision (particularly in bright light) and blurring.
The ophthalmologist who treated the infection said that while there may be some improvement over months/years, I'll always have vision problems. He said he wouldn't consider performing PRK or similar on that eye. The local doctor who's now treating me seems more optimistic. He indicated that he expects significant improvement. He's treating me with FML 0.01% 2x/day and Maxitrol ointment at night. I understand that no one can predict exactly how/whether I'll heal; I just have to be patient. That said, I have the following questions:
1) Is there any benefit (or even potential benefit) to taking Vitamin C? I've read online that some doctors recomment 1000 mg/day to prevent/heal corneal scarring. Is it dangerous or worth a try?
2) My vision in the affected eye is unstable. Throughout the day it's generally blurry when trying to read, but there are times when it's significantly sharper. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to this - it's not related to taking my eyedrops, time of day, lighting or anything else as far as I can tell. What's causing this? Are vision fluctuations a part of the healing process?
3) The ophthalmologist said I could start wearing contacts in mid-Feb. He said there's always some risk to using contact lenses, but seemed to think I could (and should) use them. I'm considering it because I''ve always had better vision with contacts than glasses. Am I at an increased risk of future infection/scarring now that I have a corneal scar?
4) I'm on the computer all day at work. Can that interfere with healing?
Thank you so much for your time and assistance.
I'm in my twenties, in good health and have worn contact lenses for 10+ years. Two months ago I developed a severe (bacterial?) infection and corneal ulcer. I now have a small corneal scar in my line of vision. My vision in the affected eye is 20/40 with glasses. I experience halos, floaters, foggy vision (particularly in bright light) and blurring.
The ophthalmologist who treated the infection said that while there may be some improvement over months/years, I'll always have vision problems. He said he wouldn't consider performing PRK or similar on that eye. The local doctor who's now treating me seems more optimistic. He indicated that he expects significant improvement. He's treating me with FML 0.01% 2x/day and Maxitrol ointment at night. I understand that no one can predict exactly how/whether I'll heal; I just have to be patient. That said, I have the following questions:
1) Is there any benefit (or even potential benefit) to taking Vitamin C? I've read online that some doctors recomment 1000 mg/day to prevent/heal corneal scarring. Is it dangerous or worth a try?
2) My vision in the affected eye is unstable. Throughout the day it's generally blurry when trying to read, but there are times when it's significantly sharper. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to this - it's not related to taking my eyedrops, time of day, lighting or anything else as far as I can tell. What's causing this? Are vision fluctuations a part of the healing process?
3) The ophthalmologist said I could start wearing contacts in mid-Feb. He said there's always some risk to using contact lenses, but seemed to think I could (and should) use them. I'm considering it because I''ve always had better vision with contacts than glasses. Am I at an increased risk of future infection/scarring now that I have a corneal scar?
4) I'm on the computer all day at work. Can that interfere with healing?
Thank you so much for your time and assistance.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1) won't hurt but probably won't help either.
2) It can fluctuate sometimes. Try putting in preservative free artificial tears in every 2 hours for one day and see if this stops the fluctuations. This would tell you that it is from an irregular tear film.
3) You are at increased risk because your eye has demonstrated it is more likely to develop an infection. The scar itself, as long as it is flat, does not place you at increased risk. You must take care to clean your contacts daily and case regularly and never sleep in your contacts if you decide to wear contacts again. Also, if you ever feel pain or discomfort in your eyes, avoid using the contacts and call your ophthalmologist if it doesn't go away in a matter of hours.
HV
2) It can fluctuate sometimes. Try putting in preservative free artificial tears in every 2 hours for one day and see if this stops the fluctuations. This would tell you that it is from an irregular tear film.
3) You are at increased risk because your eye has demonstrated it is more likely to develop an infection. The scar itself, as long as it is flat, does not place you at increased risk. You must take care to clean your contacts daily and case regularly and never sleep in your contacts if you decide to wear contacts again. Also, if you ever feel pain or discomfort in your eyes, avoid using the contacts and call your ophthalmologist if it doesn't go away in a matter of hours.
HV
A related discussion, need help ,,!plzzz was started.
Thank you for your help.
You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Forum
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Eye whitening, iris color change, and eyeball "bling." Eye expert Dr. John Hagan warns of the dangers from these unnecessary surgeries.
Eye expert John Hagan, MD, FACS, FAAO discusses factors to consider and discuss with your eye care team before embarking on cataract surgery.
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
Protect against the leading cause of blindness in older adults
Got dry eyes? Eye drops aren't the only option! Ophthalmologist John C. Hagan III, MD explains other possible treatments.
