Friends, I saw my eye doctor yesterday and the news isn’t good. There is scarring behind my iris causing adhesions, which restricts the movement of my pupil. I am in the early stages of Iris Bombe, which is how I lost my other eye. The ophthalmologist cannot predict when this sudden spike in uncontrolled pressure will happen. Could be any day now. Could be years from now. We just don’t know.
What we do know though is there is also good news! My optic nerve was not damaged! Despite the intense swelling, blood flow was not cut off. This was my eye doctor’s greatest concern when he saw me in the emergency room two weeks ago. Also in good news, my new eyedrops regiment is keeping the pressure at a comfortable level. My pressure at yesterday’s appointment was 14 mmHg, which is a huge improvement from the readings of between 45 and 60 taken at the height of the emergency. His ideal number for me is 10 mmHg. So I’m happy to say I’m within range and not in pain.
Additional good news is that the swelling and inflammation around my eye has significantly gone down. My eye is no longer bulging, the third eyelid has return to where it should be, I can blink normally, and best yet I can do full yawns as of yesterday! My eye doctor stopped mid sentence to cheer when he saw me yawn. And here I thought I was being rude, yawning at all the info he was telling us. He is hopeful that as things continue to settle down, I will see additional improvement in my comfort and range of motion.
The ophthalmologist also noted that the retinal detachment may also be resolving itself. As it does, my bouts of temporary blindness may decrease. I didn’t want to worry you, but remember those pictures of me playing in the snow on Wednesday? I couldn’t see. I awoke that morning blind. Yet that wasn’t stopping me from enjoying life! I trotted around, tail wagging, like nothing was amiss. Mom and Dad guided me with their voices, as I happily sniffed out my ball to squeak and made snow angels to my heart’s contentment. After an afternoon nap, I awoke to discover I could see again! Mom was making lunch, and I came running and tracked her hand perfectly as she gave me my favorite treat of kale. As my eye doctor explained, the fluid in my eye is still shifting as the swelling decreases, so these episodes may continue. Yet he is optimistic that combined with my optic nerve not being damaged, I am headed in the right direction here.
As for the original cause of this emergency visit, “retrobulbar abscess/infection following trephination for Aspergillosis therapy,” we also had a phone conversation with my internal medicine specialist. It is obvious that I can never have that treatment again for the nasal fungal infection. Yet she is concerned that not enough of the anti-fungal cream entered my nasal cavity, and what did was flushed during the procedure to remove the cream that pooled up behind my eye. However, if left unchecked the fungal infection can cause severe damage, and eventually enter my brain. I am now on an oral anti-fungal medication. It won’t cure the problem. However, hopefully it will keep it manageable so it won’t escalate. Again, as with the eye, we cannot predict what the future holds for my nose. We can only hope and pray for the best.
In summary, my vision is going away, whether due to Iris Bombe or glaucoma caused by the medicine to keep the condition at bay. However, I have my vision today! So I will continue to watch sunrises, and when the day comes that I can’t, I will enjoy feeling the sun on my face. I am my happy-go-lucky self, and as long as that continues, Mom and Dad will follow my lead!
