An update following my bandage lense removal on day 4 following bilateral Lasek wavefront. Just prior to my lense removal I had noticed a slight worsening of the gritty feeling in my right eye and mentioned to the Optomotrist in Liverpool where they where being removed. She told me when the lenses are removed it would probably smart as the oxygen gets on to the eye. She had a look to see if the lenses were moving and not stuck, which she said they were ok. Oh boy smart was not the word!. As soon as the right was removed straight away the eye was painful and watering like mad. She checked both eyes with a stain and said the fronts were Ok vision in both was very good and would experience some issues as the "epithelium "tags" would rub off with eye movement. Well I had brought my sunglasses with me and walked outside and my right eye started going rapidly downhill. I was driving and dont know how I managed to get home effectively with one eye. My right vision had now gone to a blur, useless. The pain level was becoming unbearable soothed only by the modified "blink" solution which I believe has some pain relief in it. The next 24hrs were the longest experienced, for anyone who has had eye pain will appreciate! You cant do anything like hold or touch it, only "scream." I rang the emergency number they gave me and a lady rang me back suggesting advice and stay still in darkened room. The view was some of the tissue on the front of the eye had been "dislodged"

I didnt feel comfortable with the advice only and wanted to see someone as the pain and los of vision was scary. This was when a major factor was brought home to me. After a further telecon with Liverpool, as it was Sunday, there was apparently "no laser trained optomotrist at any of the branches!" Decided to go to the Liverpool Eye Hospital St Pauls and the consultant there who agreed to see me was excellent. Yes they were most unhappy that they were picking up the pieces when they said there should have been someone available to deal with this, but they gave me fantastic primary care. After a thorough exam, she identified two issues; Firstly I had grown a small ulcer infection around 1mm size on the top edge of my iris and secondly "all the epithelium layer that was in place behind the bandage lense had come away and therefore the reason for the extreme pain/ sensitivity.

The rest of the Sunday was painful, but at least some of the worry had eased as I had been examined. I still had concerns about my vision so decided to ring the help line again that evening. The lady rang me back and explained the vision would improve, was surprised about the infection but would speak to Manchester in the morning to fit me in. SHe advised it was probable the culture would not find anything beccause at the time I was already taking antibiotic drops but there action would be to dose with a wider ranging antibiotic in addition to the hospital treatment.

Monday 5th March and culture results negative, condition still the same, but at least no worse on the infection front. Manchester did a further check and took the case notes. I became a little concerned when the person looking at me was taking more into account of what the eye hospital had said than there own opinion. I explained to the person I was told that I was supposed to recieve further antibiotics and she went away for authorisation as she couldnt prescribe herself.

I was intending a planned 4 business trip to Poland but it would have gone against their advice and therefore I decided to cancel, last minute

So now Wednesday and this morning after a further day of no change and continued painkillers, I woke up to find improvement, I can see again!! Ok the vision has deteriorated a little as the day has moved on, but I am so pleased I'm back on the mend agai.

So lessons learned?
1) Choose a company who can cover the what if something goes wrong scenario and that means 24/7 emergency access and if necessary consultation.
2) If having Lasek, assume the bandage lenses may be stuck even if it is thought they are not, so there is lubricant applied before removal, in case all that good work is undone.
3) Trust your instincts, if you feel something is not right, there is a good chance it isnt and not worth taking a risk leaving. I could easily have been away in a foreign country with a rapidly growing infection assuming this was "normal"
4)If you need to rest, make sure you do as the longer you do the faster you will heal!

I hope this helps anybody with similar issues.

Regards



I was given a crash antibiotic course to get hold of the infection and they took a culture sample. SHe asked me to return the following morning and they would provide me the results and the case notes to take on to Optical Express in Manchester, the nearest surgical clinic.