He says that we will leave the sutures in until they cause issues, and eventually one will break.  I’ll just go to a local surgeon to have them removed.  Here’s a boring image of my topography.

Everything feels fine – still using Restasis for dryness and as an anti-inflammatory -  It’s almost allergy season, so I will start my daily Zyrtec soon.

Dr. Holland re-iterated that my graft is looking good and should last the rest of my life.

The image below shows me participating in the Montpelier Archaeology Team in Virginia as a metal detector expert.  Despite dusty conditions and wind, I never had a single issue with my eyes.

photo by David Ball

I’ve been so busy at work lately that I’ve not been able to breathe…. but when I saw this article, I just had to share it with my readers especially since I work in this industry (user interface.)  I’m sure the low vision audience already knows this – but the others may find it very informative.

“… I started using a screen reader to see (I suppose I should say “experience”) how a blind user navigates a website..”

Read the entire post here.

After having the most recent set of sutures out, the shape of my eye shifted (as predicted) so I needed new lenses.  This presents a challenge for fitters, but one thing has made the difference… The “auto-refractor”…a device that helps contacts fitters get “close” quickly using a computerized measurement.  If your eye care provider is not using one, ask about it.

Using that piece of equipment has helped my fitter get closer to my vision needs than she seems to be able to do with manual adjustments.  Then, after the device has spit out its numbers, she refines it to the last degree by hand.  My numbers shift rather radically over time.  I previously went to see my fitter within a few days of the suture removal, and then again today (3 weeks later.)   My vision had shifted even more – so next time I will wait longer before making a fitting appointment.

I did have one nagging quality issue with the lenses – two of them got little notches around the rim for no apparent reason.  It created a mild itch, and when I looked up under the light, I could see it.  Luckily, the manufacturer will stand behind them.  This has me inclined to have an additional backup on hand.  Otherwise I’m thrilled.

A new set of lenses is on order now, to be to me after the first of the year.

Happy Holidays!

My eye pressure was 18, totally normal.  The graft was crystal clear.  No problems.  I complained about my dry eye at night and he suggested I change to a gel based lubricant and gave me some samples.  I’ve used them before and not liked their goopiness.

The topology (right) showed that it was time to remove two more sutures, so I was numbed up and Dr. Holland started the process.  It seemed to take longer than usual to cut and pull them out.  I was stone-still during this process.  Anyway, after the numbing drops wore off, it was pretty sore – yowch!  The sutures seemed to be a bit stubborn.  I think that the longer they’re in, the more they integrate into the tissue of your eye.  I took some Tylenol and started my weekend a bit early

Anyway, the usual Vigamox antibiotic dose for 3 days and go back in 4 months.

Now I will make an appointment to get fit for contacts to match my new Rx (suture removal changed my astigmatism levels.)

postscript:  Eye was completely normal the next day.  No discomfort at all. And I think my vision has improved a bit, especially with my glasses.

“In glitz pageants, you will see the use of hairpieces, heavy make-up, deep spray tans, fake teeth (called flippers), false eyelashes, and colored contacts worn by the majority of the contestants.”

She went on to say that mothers are putting these lenses on kids under 8 years old.  And some kids are even losing their sight.  Many are bought in discount shops or… wait for it…. gas stations.

“So, we’ve seen these kids go through a lot of torture primping: spray tans, shellacked locks, pinned-on wigs, waxed eyebrows, glued-on eyelashes and shoved-in flippers. But tonight stacks the deck: Colored contact lenses. “Maybe I’m a little bit too young to have contacts,” Desiree tearfully notes as her coach, Miss Chambrie, attempts to stick the purely cosmetic lenses into the kid’s eyes with her French-manicured talons.”

Stop the madness.  This is child endangerment.  

With my new eyesight, I’ve enjoyed autumn this year more than usual.  I’ve spent days outside on weekends with my hobby and taken in every minute detail.

It’s so much more than sharpness – it’s color saturation that comes with the new eyes.

Blog Theme Update

It’s also been a long time since I’ve updated the blog’s look.  So I hope you like the new theme I’ve chosen moving us into the cooler months.

First of all, I am still wearing the soft, custom lens on my grafted eye. I’m still very pleased with it. I went ahead and ordered a couple of pair of them which should keep me going until my next appointment with Dr. Holland. If he removes sutures, my prescription is likely to change some – so I don’t want to have expensive lenses I just throw away (these lenses last 3 months.)  My vision is about the same as it was in July.  Not pin-prick-perfect, but very close.   With my right eye working with the grafted one, I have great vision.

I’m so happy with the night driving. We took a trip to Atlanta last week and I did a lot of night driving then. It was wonderful to be able to just drive on and get the trip done while others snoozed in the car.  We were going to dragon*con, and while we were there I noticed that many of the attendees in costume were wearing those weird colored contact lenses.  I shuddered to think about the damage they could do being in there for 18+ hours a day.

My allergies have been a bit of an issue, but nothing like last year. I’m taking daily allergy meds and my eyes don’t get very itchy anymore.  I take a daily Zyrtec as I’ve mentioned before.

I’m still compulsive about protecting my graft and it’s paid off recently. The other day an extension cord in my garage came down and whacked me on my safety glasses covering the grafted eye! Anytime I’m doing yard, garage or basement work, I wear something.  I think it would have hit me in the eye directly!

I don’t have that much news beyond this.

Keep the comments and questions coming – I’m happy to try to answer them.

image by Tjerk Zweers used under creative commons CC:Attribution 2.0 Generic.

photo (CC) Kate Ter Haar

My newest set of soft lenses are amazing.  Comfortable (16 hours+) and I can see pretty well.  Not quite as crisp as the RGP, but the comfort trade-off is worth it.  My overall vision is amazing.

I’ve ordered a few of these lenses ($50 per pair) which are custom crafted for my topography.  I’m not wanting to order too many because the shape of my eye will probably change a bit more if sutures come out, etc.