[oahz]

#1059592

every disappointed.

on the subject of whether the decompression surgery is accurate, she said frankly it’s “random”.

from the research that i’ve done online, by decompressing the lateral wall alone one can archive reduction of 6mm.

so basically my eye can go back anywhere from 0mm to 6mm randomly, when all i need is a 1.5mm reduction.

scary.

on whether the lower lid will reposition itself after OD thereby averting the need for the addition lid surgery, she said there is no way to know before OD.

she said the medial wall decompression will involve more risk involving the nose while lateral wall decompression will have risk on the brain.

[catstuart7]

#1176018

Oahz, I haven’t been keeping up, but why are you wanting to do OD for only 1.5mm? Doesn’t sound too bad? Still I know it’s a very personal decision for everyone. Sorry to hear the surgeon didn’t have any satisfying answers – I wouldn’t like those either.

[oahz]

#1176019

that 1.5mm is causing my left eye not to close at night and it is unilateral.

[snelsen]

#1176020

Hi, they have the orbital CT in front of the in the operating room, which shows all the anatomy of the eye. It shows the degree of fibrosis of the six eye muscles, identifies the optic nerve,and much more. But probably random is a reasonable thing to say. The goal is to lessen the degree of proptosis, and that is accomplished by “making more room” for the eye to go back where it was, and/or at least to be less proptotic. You really don’t know the final result until 2,3 months after the surgery. IT takes a long time for swelling to recede, healing to occur, any oozing to resolve.

Re your statement from your online research, I think it is not realistic or relevant to read that decompressing the lateral wall alone can reduce by 6mm.

The decisions on which walls to decompress are dependent of the degree of fibrosis of the muscles (they occupy space, which is why the eye might be pushed one way or the other.) So, if your medial eye muscle is very fibroses, they would need to decompress the medial wall to make more room for that muscle. If a surgeon can accomplish what they need to do, recede the eye, AND make it even, with pupil in the middle, they will do it with as few walls and with as minimal risk as possible. If the pupil is out of place, they may have to tweak both sides.
Yes, there are more nerves, including the optic nerve on the medial side.

In my own experience, I have found that measuring the degree of proptosis is rather arbitrary. Depends on where each person places the equipment to try to measure it. I have had a resident, fellow and attending measure proptosis in the same visit, and they have obtained three different readings, that is my experience.

True about the lower lid. OD’s are done first, and lid surgery comes afterwards. To those of us with extremely bulging eyes, 1.5mm sounds very minimal. But I’d be pursuing and OD, too, if my pupil was changed, and I could not close my eye at night. I cannot close either eye at night, and I am considering an OD on one eye for that reason. But I have already had eyelid surgery, out of order of the general plan. That was a mistake, but necessary at the time because of optic neuropathy.

And yes, it is scary to think of having an OD. It always is. I don’t think anyone wants to do this, but the degree of damage to our eyes, makes it a good choice for good reasons.

I’d get a copy of the appt. with the surgeon so you can read what she said. It is so hard to remember stuff. Now that you have seen her, you know more,and can ask more questions. What is your next step?

I really feel for you and understand how distressing it is to not have your eye close at night, and to have your pupil in a different place. It really does sound like an OD would help you.
Shirley

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