[lakeview]

#1018676

Hi everyone
I finally got the green light today to have strabismus surgery = it should happen within the next three months. I am a little nervous and needing encouragement.
Would love to hear some positive experiences.
Thanks
Lakeview

[Bobbi]

#1066397

Hopefully, Jake will jump in here to give you info about his experiences with strabismus surgeries. You can possibly search the archives, too. He has contributed lots of information about the various eye surgeries. One of them, early, early on was entitled something like Eye Surgery 101.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that getting the green light for the surgery is great news! I have heard from people who have had this procedure done that this particular surgery is pretty easy, and definitely helpful.

[mamabear]

#1066398

I don’t mean to but in here but I have to ask this…
What exactly is Strabismus? My ex husband has this surgery after trying many different things including prisms in his glasses is what i think he said. This man is my 1st child’s dad so I like to keep track of things that happen to him. Fortunately any information I give him he is grateful for.
Thanks for any info

[Bobbi]

#1066399

"Strabismus" is the technical term for double vision.

[snelsen]

#1066400

I would like to weigh in on strabismus surgery. This is little different that what Bobbi said.
Stabismus usually occurs in infants and kids. Not double vision, but "lazy eye." One eye becomes stronger, and the brain tells the other eye, or the lazy eye, not to try to align for vision. Amblyopia is the term usually associated with this disorder. You usually see a child with one eye wandering in another direction.

Pediatric surgeons do the strabismus surgery. We have to wait until we are in the cold phase for this surgery so the measurements are consistent over a long period of time. That is why, when we have our fibrosed eye muscle, and continue with double vision, we are referred to pediatric surgeons, for they are the ones who do strabismus surgery. It is common to patch the strong eye, to make the weak eye "work" to strengthen the muscles and direct the brain differently.

It is my experience that only pediatric surgeons do strabismus surgery. Many do only kids. Out of that group, some of them see adults, usually TED patients.

As surgeries go, it is an "easy" surgery, and done for TED patients to detach and re attache the insertion of the affected eye muscles. Kids have a general anesthesia, TED patients can have a local with sedation. The whole purpose is the wonderful goal of getting rid of double vision. I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO HAVE THIS DONE!!!

[Ski]

#1066401

TED patients usually need strabismus surgery because the scarred muscle tissue remains larger than it should naturally be, which makes the muscles pull incorrectly and so one eye typically either moves slower than the other eye, or simply can’t make the full range of motion to get to certain points of view. I haven’t needed to have it, but people I’ve spoken to have been pleased with the results. There are different ways to correct the mis-alignment, and it is very individual, depending on exactly what’s happening with your eyes. I don’t recall each and every one, off the top of my head. I understand that the progression of surgeries, in order to end up with the best possible result, is (1) orbital decompression, if necessary, (2) strabismus, and then finally (3) eyelids.

[lakeview]

#1066402

thanks for your responses. I am excited about the surgery – no date yet – but i feel i will finally have my life back.
How lucky we are that we live in this era where medicine and surgery is so advanced!!

[Jake_George]

#1066403

Sorry I missed this thread. I have had 7 strabismus surgeries all told over a period of almost 4 years. It is a simple surgery and the results are immediate.

I worred myself to death over the surgery and when it was done I was amazed at how quick, painless and immediate the loss of double vision was.

I was out of work one day. I had the surgery done on a Friday and back to work on Monday. I had to use antibiotic eye drops for a week. And you will end up with the coolest red eye. I had one done at Halloween and Everybody wanted to know where I got the cool eyes. I rocked that Halloween…

Feel free to ask any questions.

[mamabear]

#1066404

jake, is it hereditary? Is it an autoimmune disease? My ex had this and I want to know if it is something I have to watch my ds with .

[Bobbi]

#1066405

We’re told there is a genetic ‘predisposition’ to autoimmune disease — but not necessarily what type. What that means, as far as I’ve been able to understand, is that someone who has relatives who have autoimmune issues (rheumatoid arthritis, Graves, TED, lupus, etc.) has a slightly higher percentage of developing an autoimmune disease than the rest of the normal population without that family history.

[Kimberly]

#1066406

Jake George wrote:I was out of work one day. I had the surgery done on a Friday and back to work on Monday. I had to use antibiotic eye drops for a week. And you will end up with the coolest red eye. I had one done at Halloween and Everybody wanted to know where I got the cool eyes. I rocked that Halloween…

Jake – LOVE your attitude! Way to kick TED in the pants and continue to enjoy your life! ” title=”Very Happy” />

[Jake_George]

#1066407

Kim,

Prior to my decompressions, I worked a haunted house and I worked an eye machine that had like ten eyes that followed the people as they walked through.

During a break one of the other workers asked how I was able to get my eyes to bug out of my head. I opened my eye lids as far as they would go, which was pretty far, and said," Whats wrong with my eyes?" I acted like it just happened. The poor guy freaked until I started to laugh and explained Thyroid Eye Disease to him. The next night I played the part of Hell Raiser with the coolest horns that weighed about 30 pounds and wicked looking eyes…

[lakeview]

#1066408

Jake…. why 7 surgeries……? I have heard of having a couple but 7…… my doctor has told me there is 60% chance of it working the first time … what happened in your case?
Thanks
Lakeview PS… too bad I am not having it done at Halloween… my surgery is set for June

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