Dr Hagan, is this possible?

[dukey]

OK, this is going to sound crazy, but I'll give it a try anyway.

A few months ago, I developed a small spot of atrophy in my left eye, a few degrees off from my fovea. It was obvious on an Amsler grid and was confirmed on a new fundus photograph as a small patch of chorioretinal atrophy. This is really the only area in my left eye currently. Anyway, in the last couple of days, it has shrunken to the point where I cannot easily find it on amsler grid and it seems to have all but gone. Before, when I looked at this paragraph as I typed it, there would be a small but obvious scotoma where the spot was and thus words would be missing above and left of my field of view, but now I do not see it.

Now I know this sounds mental, but I have checked it, double checked it and triple checked it (you know me!) and, at the very least, it has gotten significantly smaller. At best, it has gone. What is going on here? I know that there is very limited capactiy for the retina to regenerate itself, especially in a degenerative condition such as high myopia but I know what I am seeing. I have other ares in my right eye and they are still there but these generally are bigger. The only thing I am taking currently is AREDS with lutein (for 2 months, full dose) and fish oil (for 2 weeks only, 3 x a day). I do exercise very heavily and swim upwards of 2000 yards a day. That is basically it. Feel free to call me crazy and tell me I am imagining it.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No there are no exercises to speed up neuroadaptation.

JCH MD

[don99]

I am 5 weeks past by cataract surgery in my dominant rt eye and had a Restor IOL implanted.   I am adapting to the new lens but slowly.  I am interested in neuroadaptation and especially how can I speed it up.  Are there eye/brain exercises that will facitate by adaptation to the muitifocal IOL?  For example, will closing by good left eye and trying to focus more with the rt eye both near and far, speed up my neuroadaptation?

Don Valcheff
email:  ***@****

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[kg17]

I'll vote for neuroadaptation.  I've got numerous small "scotomas" in both eyes as well.  I've noticed - being a bit compulsive myself - that when I'm fatigued or sleepy, the "spots" do not fill in well - the occipital cortex isn't as efficient.

What's your latest update with the 5-mx?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Good luck Dukey, I've done a number of triathalons in the past including two Half-Iron Man distances. Great exercise.

JCH MD

[nickppatel]

aren't you on that new med yet?  Or still waiting for it to arrive? Either way I'm happy for you.

[dukey]

haha yeh! Currently training for a triathlon so keeps my mind away from my eyes.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Or swim with it as the case may be.

JCH MD

[dukey]

Yeh I was thinking neuroadaptation myself. Seems to make the most sense too me. In anycase, I'll run with it.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Well be glad your vision is heading in the righ direction. Could be due to neuroadaptation or improved retinal function.

Discuss with your eye MD.

JCH MD