[Anonymous]

#1053566

Hi Karen
Welcome to the Graves support board. I had a three
wall orbital decmpresssion surgery on both eyes.The
first surgery was in 11/96 and 1/97. In my case
these surgeries had to be done on an emergency basis.
So please do not wait too long. I originally had the
double vision which had lasted for only two hours in
the a.m. and would clear up. Also my eyes never had
any bulging whatsoever because they are deep set and
there was no protrusion.

As far as eye pressure
I think the normal range is 17-20 IOP. Your eye pressure from what you posted seems a little elevated because the blood flow in the optic nerve is being compressed from your eye muscles that is why your eye doctor has suggested this procedure for you. There is two types of decompression surgery. There is an optic nerve sheath decompression and the orbital wall decompression. Ask your doctor which of the two you are receiving. If you need to ask any further questions please do not hesitate to e-mail me.

Best of luck, health and happiness
Dee

[Anonymous]

#1156524

Have any of you had orbital decompression? I will have OD plus eye muscle surgery later this month and would like to know what to expect in the way of aftermath and recovery. Are there restrictions afterwards, how long before the bruising went away, did you have to stay in bed????
Rae has told me of her experiences but I would like to hear from some others. This will be just the first surgery in a series for me as I have severe double vision.

Thanks and a Happy Healthy New Year to all. And by the way thanks to Jan and Bobbi for answering my daughter’s questions about RAI.

Sue

[Anonymous]

#1156525

I had OD on 11/10/97 and am very glad I did. I have not had GD very
long so I believe my surgery may have had less severe symptoms after
surgery. My bruising lasted about 2-3 weeks. The right side of my face
is Novacaine-like numb which may be permanent or may be better in 6
months. My vision has not improved, but the surgery was basically to
prevent further vision loss, not regain the lost vision.

I stayed in bed the first day with ice packs on my eyes that helped with
bruising. My dr. did not give me any restrictions. I do not have any
double vision.

e-mail if you want any other information.

[Anonymous]

#1156526

Hi, Sue!

I had orbital decompression in 1993, followed by strabismus surgery
and two eyelid retractions. My decompression surgery involved an
overnight stay in the hospital, and no restrictions were placed on
me by my doctors. Obviously, I did everything in moderation, took
my painkillers when I needed to, and rested. In other words, I
listened to my own body.

I think the pain and bruising are quite different for each
decompression patient. The doctors can enter through your nose,
your eyes, or through your sinuses (which was how my surgery was
done). Each procedure involves some different outcomes, and each
patient has a different tolerance/susceptibility for pain, bruising,
etc. In my case, the facial parts around my nose, upper lip, and
front teeth were numb for months – a blessing in disguise (no pain).
Bruising was minimal, and the swelling lasted a few weeks. I was off
of work for summer break, so I didn’t worry about returning to work
and I took cat naps in the afternoon when I needed them. I used
painkillers for less than a week, and cold compresses on my eyes felt
pretty darn good for the first couple of days. Also, I taped gauze
under my nose for the first day or so to catch the drainage. All in
all, I was surprised at how well my body recovered. Within a week
after surgery I was back doing all the normal chores around our place,
vacuuming, riding lawnmower, gardening, etc. The numbness gradually
went away, and today I only feel a slight numbness in my front teeth
(and only when I think about it). If age has anything to do with it,
I was 33 years old at the time of surgery.

Orbital decompression did the job for me. Just prior to surgery my
exophthalmometry measurements (involving proptosis) were 25 and 26 mm
for the right and left eyes, respectively. My most recent measurements
were done in June of 1996, at which time they were 20 mm for each eye.

Please feel free to email me with questions or concerns. Best of luck
with your upcoming surgery!

Wishing you health and happines, Debby

[Anonymous]

#1156527

I am going to have orbital decompression in about a month.
I’ve noticed that I am not seeing green as well as I used to.
When you refer to your vision loss not being recovered,
are you referring to the peripheral vision or colors?

[Author]

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