Good thoughts and pixie dust for my sister, please

[Caropooh]

My sister is flying down here(Seattle) from Sitka, Alaska today to see a retina specialist. She has been having problems with seeing black lines in her vision. She thought they were just "floaters" which I guess are pretty common. When she went to see the eye doctor in Sitka he said it looks like her retina is tearing away. Since he doesn't have the knowledge to deal with something like this he refered her to the specialist. He said treatment could range from doing laser surgery to nothing at all.
If you could send some pixie dust her way, she sure would appreciate it!
I found this on the specialists web site that I think says what is happening.
http://www.retina-macula.com/eyecare.htm#rettear

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If the retina is tearing away, I can't imagine that nothing is an option! Yikes! My DH's family has had 3 detached retinas--his brother, father, and niece. The niece was born visually impaired, so that's why she's had her problems. My FIL totally lost the vision in his eye and my BIL lost part of his vision. It's important to recognize the signs quickly, which is why my BIL didn't lose all his vision.

My DH gets checked every year (he's very near sighted). Last year he had a different problem that we thought at first was detached retina. He went to a retina specialist and we were glad that it wasn't detached retina. He has an annoying condition and will probably always have a line across his vision, but it wasn't serious and does not mean the loss of vision. Maybe something like this is going on with your sister.

Good luck to her! Vision problems are very scary.

 

[lowie]

hugs for you and your sis.. my mother had a similar problem and thought her retina detached as it is thin to begin with. turns out she was having the aura from a migraine headache.

i wouldn't accept a doctor that says to do nothing, seek out another opinion and maybe one from a neurologist if they find nothing wrong with her retina.

i would imagine that if her retina tore or was damaged that the 'floaters' would not come and go, but i'm not a doctor!

if you need retinal doctor referrals check out the 'foundation for fighting blindness' website at www.blindness.org

 

[Caropooh]

Thanks to both of you!
I was a little surprised by the "do nothing" also. I will say this was just the regular eye doctor and not the specialist. I guess we'll see what the specialist says tomorrow.
I don't want to even think of what surgery may entail. Right now she is only going to be down here until Sunday. It could mean more trips down here to Seattle which could add up quickly. She used air miles for this trip, otherwise the fare was going to be around 500.00, I think. Living in Sitka you don't have alot of options for medical needs.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If she has detached retina, she needs to stay put and have the problem taken care of. There is no traveling back and forth! Sounds like this dr in Alaska doesn't know his eye from his...well, nevermind. Get the specialist involved and he/she should be able to help. Eye problems are nothing to mess with. I wish that I wasn't drawing a blank what my DH's problem is. This site looks good an explanation about detached retina. http://www.theretinasource.com/conditions/retinal_detachment.htm

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Here is what my DH has http://www.theretinasource.com/conditions/vein_occlusion.htm

It's called Retinal Vein Occlusion.

 

[Serena]

sure thing. I hope she gets the help she needs.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

How did it go with your sister?

 

[Caropooh]

My sister returned to Sitka yesterday.
We took her to the Retina Specialiist on Wednesday. After 2 1/2 hours and numerous tests,(including injecting dye in her arm that eventually went into her eyes) he said it appears she had a mini-stroke behind her eye. The bleeding should stop eventually. She is to go back to her eye doctor in Sitka in 3-4 weeks for a check-up. If 6 months or so from now she is still seeing the lines, then she'll need to come back down here. She has no insurance, so she had to pay 500.00 up front for him to tell her that it should go away in time.
We appreciate the thoughts and info you all passed along!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Sorry about the expense, but it's good that she has most of her vision. That's priceless! Hopefully it will clear up on it's own. Thanks for the update.