[Jill-O]

I just had some laser surgery yesterday. Several months ago (maybe even longer, I loose track of time), I had "mild" laser surgery that was fast.

Yesterday, it took so long and so many blasts. Had to have this numbing shot in my lower eye lid that basically felt like one of my horses was standing on my eye.

This morning, my eyelid (upper) is very swollen, my eye is watering and is still fairly dialated. Not sure if this is normal???

I will be calling my eye doctor this morning and will not be going into the office for my client appointment as I look like a cyclops

When the doctor's office people were talking about what I was having done, I thought they called it PCR? But I am probably confused.

They took pictures including after dye was injected, prior to the surgery. It's probably the 4th set of pictures he's gotten of my eyes since I started seeing him around a year ago.

Any insight into if it's "normal" for my eyelid to be swollen and the eye still watering this morning (surgery around 11am yesterday). Am using ice pack and tylenol, per what the doctor said to do yesterday. But he told me I would look "normal" (what an aspiration) this morning and my eye is all ugly looking.

Thanks,
Jill ... who looks like this today --->

[xMenace]

Sounds like panretinal photocoagulation.

I'd question the need for freezing. The only need I know of is indirect laser where doc is looking in and zapping with a headset. Some opthos think everyone needs it. I only had freezing twice in an estimated 15 sittings. Once I was on the OR table and the other they couldn't do because the needle almost dropped me.

You had a lense touching your eye? It can be quite irritating. Take some headache pills before going in next time.

[Jill-O]

Yes, the lense was touching my eye. It was also for the kind i had before, but that one was so short compared to this time.

It actually looks like the white part of my eye is puffy in one place

AND, I get to have Lefty done next Wednesday

[Jill-O]

Does anyone know if it's "normal" for my eye lid to still be so swollen and eye all watery? It's been 2 days now. Doctor said keep putting ice on it and to take tylenol + aleive starting today. BUT he had intially said I'd be okay for client appointments on Tuesday and I wasn't, and not today either.

[xMenace]

I'd check back. It's likely just very irritated. I don't think an infection would set in so quickly. I really don't know. Mine were always good the same day or next.

[Jan B]

Jill,

I don't know anything about it, but wanted to send you good wishes and a hug.

[davef]

Originally Posted by Jan B

Jill,

I don't know anything about it, but wanted to send you good wishes and a hug.

Here's a hug from me too

[Jill-O]

Thanks folks.

It's a little better now than this morning. It's mostly the eyelid.

When I talked to the doctor yesterday afternoon, he had said to go heavy on the icing yesterday and today and to take some tylenol with alieve today, which does help a lot. I took that at 7am and it did greatly reduce the swelling and ache.

I'm thinking it just bothered me more than most people? It looks like I got stung by a bee on my upper eyelind (but the injection goes in the lower lid -- wierd).

Hopefully "Lefty" will go easier. My right eye is the worst so hoping that the left eye won't need quite as much. It seemed like a really long time getting the blasts from the laser on Monday.

Thanks again for the input. You guys are great

[notme]

Thanks for updating us Jill. How frustrating. My eyes are my biggest concern with Diabetes. Sounds like yours is extremely irritated.

Try not to worry about your second eye. Seems like one is always tougher than the other. I had foot surgery and my doctor said my first foot was amazing. He said he had never seen such incredible healing. My second foot was not so smart. Slow healing and nine months later still has some swelling.

Hang in there and keep us posted.

[peej07]

Ahhh the memories, and not so plesant at that. It all sounds very familiar just hang in there and you'll be back to normal in no time flat.

[Mich]

Hi Jill,

Glad to hear you're eye is feeling a little better.

My reaction to laser was a day or two of feeling like I had sunburned eyes (like sand was in them.)

Laser was my first ever eye treatment and I was such a weenie that he had to go slowly with me. He didn't use the lens that touched my eye, just held it in front of my eye and wore the laser on his head. He looked silly, by the way. In each eye, he did about 500 zaps the first time, and finished up with about another 1000 my next visit since I was not as frightened by then.

I found that too much ice at a time made my eyelids swell. I kept the ice cube, wrapped in a clean washcloth beside my chair and applied it intermittently, when I felt I needed it. I didn't like the feeling of freezing my eyeball, I just applied it for the soothing effect, then removed it.

By the third day, my only side effect was a light show every time I closed my eyes. That gradually went away. Laser did tend to alter my peripheral vision a bit, but not much.

Wishing you a fast recovery,

Mich

[Jill-O]

Thanks, everyone

It's Friday morning now and my eye looks pretty much back to normal

[davef]

Jill,

That's great news, thanks for letting us know.