hi guest:) yes u are rigth if it will be come back in 10 years later who cares... I like it:) where du you live and how was your operation? was it graft system???? How they remove it I wonder so much?thankss
hey thanks for your experience. Are we all talking about pinguecula and not pterygium?? as they are supposed to covered by insurance as they may grow over torward pupli and obstruct vision etc etc. The pinguecula are'nt usually covered, but maybe they are. I went to see a surgeon yesterday about mine, I have a rather large ping on one eye and a smaller one on the other eye, which is not fully developed (just gets quite red and gritty) Anyway, he told me that the large one was JUST large enough to even consider having surgery (its pretty bloody big if you ask me!) and the other one he would not touch as it will probably turn out worse, (scarring and all) and he also said they do not use the graft technique, thats purely for pterygiums. They use dissolvable stitches. Also he did say that the larger one would most probably heal well if removed and so he was quite positive that that would be nice and smooth and white again. But I have some fine vessels that lead to it that I was concerned about, I asked if they may disapate or improve with the removal and he said who knows they may come out worse!. Really did'nt want to hear that, and its made me nervous. But then again they may be fine and even go, so who knows.
It was'nt all negative and he was the first person I have seen about it, but I am a little gutted and am convinced by what others (here) have said that there is a way to have a successful outcome. I guess if we are in fact all talking about pinguecula and not pterygiums he may not know everything and I should see someone else. I have another option and have enquired so will wait and see. New Zealand is not huge as you know so am feeling a little dispondent as to weather I will find an expert here.
So anyway "guest" yours def was a pinguecula? how big was it? and how did they do it? and any other info you can give me. How does it look now and how bad was it before, veins or anything. Apologies about all the questions. I really am just feeling a bit desperate.
Oh and Kayti, I have emailed you...:)
Sonia :)
quote="Guest"] hey guys i just wanted to share my experience because i know alot of you have questions on it. Well I did not have redness or dryness in my eye (Only had it in one eye) I just wanted to get it removed for cosemetic reasons and i felt it was just getting bigger. I just had surgery last week and it was nothing, it looks so much better now even though its still red and healing but in a few weeks it will be gone. If i were any of you id def get surgery.. i mean even if it does eventually come back which i think it wont if you just dont expose your eye to sunglight (bad UV rays) then you should be fine, and even if it does its a 20 minute procedure if it comes back in 10 years who cares do it again.. aleast you dont have to walk around with a big yellow spot on your eye, and mine was covered by my insurance- :D
It was'nt all negative and he was the first person I have seen about it, but I am a little gutted and am convinced by what others (here) have said that there is a way to have a successful outcome. I guess if we are in fact all talking about pinguecula and not pterygiums he may not know everything and I should see someone else. I have another option and have enquired so will wait and see. New Zealand is not huge as you know so am feeling a little dispondent as to weather I will find an expert here.
So anyway "guest" yours def was a pinguecula? how big was it? and how did they do it? and any other info you can give me. How does it look now and how bad was it before, veins or anything. Apologies about all the questions. I really am just feeling a bit desperate.
Oh and Kayti, I have emailed you...:)
Sonia :)
quote="Guest"] hey guys i just wanted to share my experience because i know alot of you have questions on it. Well I did not have redness or dryness in my eye (Only had it in one eye) I just wanted to get it removed for cosemetic reasons and i felt it was just getting bigger. I just had surgery last week and it was nothing, it looks so much better now even though its still red and healing but in a few weeks it will be gone. If i were any of you id def get surgery.. i mean even if it does eventually come back which i think it wont if you just dont expose your eye to sunglight (bad UV rays) then you should be fine, and even if it does its a 20 minute procedure if it comes back in 10 years who cares do it again.. aleast you dont have to walk around with a big yellow spot on your eye, and mine was covered by my insurance- :D
I am new to this website and wanted to share my experience with you and other people that are searching for answers. Like many of you I had been diagnosed with pingueculas in both eyes about three years ago. As time went on, the one on my right eye started getting bigger and more irritated and it eventually grew into a pterygium!
In January 2007, I had it removed using the "Bare Sclera" techinique because this was the only technique that the opthalmologist who accepted my insurance performed. During this technique they scrape off the pterygium and/or pinguecula without removing the underlying conjunctival tissue. This is an older technique and has a much higher recurrence rate (about 40-60%) than the "Conjunctival Autograft" technique (about 1%), but of course my eye doctor didn't tell me that before.
About six weeks after the surgery, my pterygium came back with a vengeance! It was much worse after the surgery than before!!! I was completely devastated, depressed and I really regretted having the procedure done by this doctor.
After researching all my other options, I contacted Dr. Hovanesian at Harvard Eye in California and he was very understanding of my situation and he agreed to perform conjunctival autografts to remove my pterygium and scar tissue from the last surgery from my right eye and my pinguecula from my left eye (I had both eyes done because I live in Florida and I had to fly out the California for the procedure so I figured I'd get both done while I was visiting his office)
Anyways, I'm thrilled to say that both my eyes are healing wonderfully!!!! He is an EXTREMELY skillful surgeon who I would recommend to anyone! It has been 4 and a half weeks since my surgery and my pinguecula is completey healed and my pterygium is 90% healed and it is getting better everyday!
The most important thing I want to get across to all of you that are considering having surgery is to do some research on the doctor you are consulting with. DON'T just pick them because they are covered by your insurance (like my first doctor). Also, I recommend that you only get the "Conjunctival Autograft" technique done because it is the newest, most effective technique that has the lowest recurrence rate. Unfortunately, because the conjuntival autograft technique is fairly new it can be hard to find a surgeon in your area that performs this technique. (that is why I had to fly out to California) In addition, you don't want to have your surgery performed by a surgeon just learning the technique, you want to find one that is extremely well-practiced and has successfully performed many of these surgeries with no complications and/or recurrences.
Sonia, please do not settle for a surgeon. . . .I know you are very eager to get this problem taken care of but getting it done by a surgeon that doesn't use the best technique could potentially make your problem much worse! I don't recommend going to the surgeon you just consulted with, some of the things he said sound a lot like what my first doctor was telling me! You don't ever want to put your eyes in the hands of someone that told you your eyes or your veins in your eye may be worse after they operate on you!
In January 2007, I had it removed using the "Bare Sclera" techinique because this was the only technique that the opthalmologist who accepted my insurance performed. During this technique they scrape off the pterygium and/or pinguecula without removing the underlying conjunctival tissue. This is an older technique and has a much higher recurrence rate (about 40-60%) than the "Conjunctival Autograft" technique (about 1%), but of course my eye doctor didn't tell me that before.
About six weeks after the surgery, my pterygium came back with a vengeance! It was much worse after the surgery than before!!! I was completely devastated, depressed and I really regretted having the procedure done by this doctor.
After researching all my other options, I contacted Dr. Hovanesian at Harvard Eye in California and he was very understanding of my situation and he agreed to perform conjunctival autografts to remove my pterygium and scar tissue from the last surgery from my right eye and my pinguecula from my left eye (I had both eyes done because I live in Florida and I had to fly out the California for the procedure so I figured I'd get both done while I was visiting his office)
Anyways, I'm thrilled to say that both my eyes are healing wonderfully!!!! He is an EXTREMELY skillful surgeon who I would recommend to anyone! It has been 4 and a half weeks since my surgery and my pinguecula is completey healed and my pterygium is 90% healed and it is getting better everyday!
The most important thing I want to get across to all of you that are considering having surgery is to do some research on the doctor you are consulting with. DON'T just pick them because they are covered by your insurance (like my first doctor). Also, I recommend that you only get the "Conjunctival Autograft" technique done because it is the newest, most effective technique that has the lowest recurrence rate. Unfortunately, because the conjuntival autograft technique is fairly new it can be hard to find a surgeon in your area that performs this technique. (that is why I had to fly out to California) In addition, you don't want to have your surgery performed by a surgeon just learning the technique, you want to find one that is extremely well-practiced and has successfully performed many of these surgeries with no complications and/or recurrences.
Sonia, please do not settle for a surgeon. . . .I know you are very eager to get this problem taken care of but getting it done by a surgeon that doesn't use the best technique could potentially make your problem much worse! I don't recommend going to the surgeon you just consulted with, some of the things he said sound a lot like what my first doctor was telling me! You don't ever want to put your eyes in the hands of someone that told you your eyes or your veins in your eye may be worse after they operate on you!
thank you very much for that. I am so glad you are happy and pleased with your eyes. thats excellent. I have actually spoken to the nurse of the surgeon that I was recommended to first, that I SHOULD have seen first. I feel far better after talking to her about the proceedure. He is supposed to be very good and an expert in his field. I told her what the other guy said and that I felt terrible. She also said he does use the graft technique if he thinks its needed. She says he gets excellent results. And would give me the best possible advice. I feel good about him and should have listened to my intuition before. Anyway I see him in July so all will be revealed. So hopefully he will be able to do something with mine, even if they are considered small....the other guy said that he had used the graft technique a couple of times in Australia and he did'nt see that healing times or results were any better. I don't feel confident about him so won't go back there. I agree, if he says my veins could be worse after, thats not a good thing and does;nt show he is all together confident. I am in New Zealand and Harvard is a little far away, and would cost me HEAPS. Otherwise I would go straight there.
I feel good about this coming appointment and will let you know. :)
Evidently did you have any prominent vessels that disappeared?
I feel good about this coming appointment and will let you know. :)
Evidently did you have any prominent vessels that disappeared?
Sonia, the new doctor you saw sounds a lot better! I know, Harvard eye is way too far for you to travel and I'm very happy you found a skilled surgeon you feel comfortable with! To answer your question, yes I did have prominent vessels in both eye before my surgeries. . . they didn't disappear after my first surgery, they actually got much worse because the first doctor didn't remove any of the abnormal vessels by removing the abnormal conjunctival tissue like my second doctor did when he performed the conjunctival autograft. I am thrilled to say that ALL of the prominent and abnormal blood vessels in both eyes are completely gone and like the others who have had the conjunctival autograft technique my eyes look like nothing was ever wrong with them!
Please be aware that one of the most challenging parts of recovery is the emotional aspect. After my second surgery (by a skilled surgeon) my eyes (especially my right eye that had the pterygium removed) looked horrible at first and over the course of several weeks eventually started looking more a more normal. Everyone heals at different rates so thats why its hard for doctors to give you an exact time when you should be fully recovered. My surgeon at Harvard eye said that it usually takes 2-3 months for a complete and full recovery. So I wish you the best of luck during your surgery and during your recovery, just keep a positive attitude and think that in a couple of months you will be completely relieved of this problem and not have to stress about it anymore. Good Luck, please keep me posted on your progress.
Please be aware that one of the most challenging parts of recovery is the emotional aspect. After my second surgery (by a skilled surgeon) my eyes (especially my right eye that had the pterygium removed) looked horrible at first and over the course of several weeks eventually started looking more a more normal. Everyone heals at different rates so thats why its hard for doctors to give you an exact time when you should be fully recovered. My surgeon at Harvard eye said that it usually takes 2-3 months for a complete and full recovery. So I wish you the best of luck during your surgery and during your recovery, just keep a positive attitude and think that in a couple of months you will be completely relieved of this problem and not have to stress about it anymore. Good Luck, please keep me posted on your progress.
Hello Again Katie. Great to hear you are happy with the results of the operation.
Would you mind telling us how you are doing now, after about two months.
Hope you are happy and thank you so much for keeping us posted.
Selina
Would you mind telling us how you are doing now, after about two months.
Hope you are happy and thank you so much for keeping us posted.
Selina
I havent actually seen him yet, but I am HOPING he will say, yes we can do it and it will all be ok. Mine arent considered bad, so its hard. But I am miffed, even if they are small surely they can do it and use the graft technique just as they would big ones? I am anxious to see this guy and can't stop thinking about it. Its not till mid July. It will be AMAZING if I could just have normal whites again. People don't notice anything until I point it out, but I do, and far as I'm concerned thats all that matters. I undertand the recovery process, but everyday must be just that little bit better, and actually seeing them heal must be so rewarding. I'm really only concerned about the results at the end. I just want a positive outcome guarenteed by surgeon, but I don't know if they will do what Dr ...Harvard guy is capable of. He sounds like genius. I wonder if he will answer some questions if I send him a brief email.
And you say your eyes look like nothing was ever wrong with them!! thats so excellent. How excited must you be! I am envious, (but exceptionally glad for you. :) ) and excited for you. 'TSG7' Its great having you to chat to...All rides on weather this other surgeon can actually do it. But thats the thing they are only pinguecula not the Pterygiums so I am wondering if they have to be rather large for them to treat them or will a skilled surgeon be able to do it whatever your status is.
How advanced or large was your Pinguecula?
And you say your eyes look like nothing was ever wrong with them!! thats so excellent. How excited must you be! I am envious, (but exceptionally glad for you. :) ) and excited for you. 'TSG7' Its great having you to chat to...All rides on weather this other surgeon can actually do it. But thats the thing they are only pinguecula not the Pterygiums so I am wondering if they have to be rather large for them to treat them or will a skilled surgeon be able to do it whatever your status is.
How advanced or large was your Pinguecula?
I have just emailed 'Harvard' requesting contact information for Dr Hovanesian.
So am HOPING I can get some information from him.
Just thought I would share! I seem to talk a lot even on line!
I am doing well with all these posts, :-)
So am HOPING I can get some information from him.
Just thought I would share! I seem to talk a lot even on line!
I am doing well with all these posts, :-)
My Pinguecula really wasn't that bad at all. Actually I had only scheduled to have my pterygium removed but when I flew all the way out there and felt comfortable with the surgeon I asked him if he could go ahead and remove my small pinguecula in my other eye too while I was out there. He agreed. Truthfully, I think the fact that you have small pingueculas is a good thing! It means that there is a smaller incision and a much shorter recovery time! My left eye (the one with the pinguecula removed) recovered a lot faster than my right eye (which is still not 100% but will keep getting better with time).
It sounds like you have the right mind set going into surgery . . .although it may take several weeks to heal the end result of have normal looking white eyes is all that matters :-) It is very rewarding to see daily improvements in healing! Emailing Harvard Eye is a great idea to get some of your questions answered. I emailed one of the surgery counselors all my questions and once she asked Dr. Hovanesian the answers she replied back to me in a couple of days!
Sonia, it's really great chatting with you to! I really understand all the anxiety and anticipation you are going through! Please know that you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!
Keep me posted!
It sounds like you have the right mind set going into surgery . . .although it may take several weeks to heal the end result of have normal looking white eyes is all that matters :-) It is very rewarding to see daily improvements in healing! Emailing Harvard Eye is a great idea to get some of your questions answered. I emailed one of the surgery counselors all my questions and once she asked Dr. Hovanesian the answers she replied back to me in a couple of days!
Sonia, it's really great chatting with you to! I really understand all the anxiety and anticipation you are going through! Please know that you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!
Keep me posted!
Was meant to say thanks for that last post. thought i did. :) Have been trying to keep my mind off the eyes so don't obsese over them like my mum so worryingly said. The truth is I was and getting very bad anxiey problems. So have been having a break and trying not to think about them until my next appointment in July.
Heard from Harvard, wrote Dr H a long letter outlining, he replied saying that he would need to see some pics to see if the surgery could in fact be performed. Have a doco that explains how to take them but am not convinced I wil get a good clear result. Anyway thats next step for them so will.
Hope everyone is well and happy. :)
Heard from Harvard, wrote Dr H a long letter outlining, he replied saying that he would need to see some pics to see if the surgery could in fact be performed. Have a doco that explains how to take them but am not convinced I wil get a good clear result. Anyway thats next step for them so will.
Hope everyone is well and happy. :)
Sonia,
I agree with your mother, it is good to keep your mind off your eyes as best you can and focus on all the positives in your life. Believe me, I know how hard it is to ignore your eye problem at times but the less you stress about it now, the easy the surgery and the recovery will be! Take care!
I agree with your mother, it is good to keep your mind off your eyes as best you can and focus on all the positives in your life. Believe me, I know how hard it is to ignore your eye problem at times but the less you stress about it now, the easy the surgery and the recovery will be! Take care!
Yes I know, but my anxiety has been over weather the sugery can be done really.
I just want some options and it scares to me to think that there is not I guess. But I will keep truckin along until I get a solid positive result ....hope you are well. :)
I just want some options and it scares to me to think that there is not I guess. But I will keep truckin along until I get a solid positive result ....hope you are well. :)
Hi guys,
Just wanted to share that I had meeting with surgeon today and he said he can do both of my eyes for me! and was brilliant to talk to. And does the up-to-date graft technique with great results apparently. Came out feeling very excited and nervous, heaps better than my first one, thats for sure. He spent along time going thru options and questions with me (i had heaps as you can imagine) interestingly enough he said he had never come across a pinguecula that had come back, so that is very good news. I even discussed how I have a couple of veins branching to my biggest one and how they really bothered me, he was very honest and said after close inspection that they were actually meant to be there, and would possibly come back as the eye may need them there. But they also may not, he is going to get rid of them anyway to see. I am taking all sorts of circulatory and vessel supplementation to strengthen my veins ets before the surgery. (as i have vericous veins from dad, may be why my eye has them) to try and reduce chances of them coming back. Even so at least the dreaded 'p's will be gone! and they won't hurt and swell as much. I am expecting a significent recovery period and he said they will be back to normal 'normal' in about 3 months, but I will see positive changes daily. I am realistic in the fact that I will look like I got beaten up for a while, but it will be worth it. I hope its not TOO bad though, How to go to work, supermarket etc? scary.
Anyway there is hope for all, I will def be around to chat and talk about the experience. Not sure when I'm going to schedule yet, but will let you know.
Am finally feeling happier with the prospect of healthier eyes!
quote="sonn001"]Yes I know, but my anxiety has been over weather the sugery can be done really.
I just want some options and it scares to me to think that there is not I guess. But I will keep truckin along until I get a solid positive result ....hope you are well. :)
TSG7 wrote:
Just wanted to share that I had meeting with surgeon today and he said he can do both of my eyes for me! and was brilliant to talk to. And does the up-to-date graft technique with great results apparently. Came out feeling very excited and nervous, heaps better than my first one, thats for sure. He spent along time going thru options and questions with me (i had heaps as you can imagine) interestingly enough he said he had never come across a pinguecula that had come back, so that is very good news. I even discussed how I have a couple of veins branching to my biggest one and how they really bothered me, he was very honest and said after close inspection that they were actually meant to be there, and would possibly come back as the eye may need them there. But they also may not, he is going to get rid of them anyway to see. I am taking all sorts of circulatory and vessel supplementation to strengthen my veins ets before the surgery. (as i have vericous veins from dad, may be why my eye has them) to try and reduce chances of them coming back. Even so at least the dreaded 'p's will be gone! and they won't hurt and swell as much. I am expecting a significent recovery period and he said they will be back to normal 'normal' in about 3 months, but I will see positive changes daily. I am realistic in the fact that I will look like I got beaten up for a while, but it will be worth it. I hope its not TOO bad though, How to go to work, supermarket etc? scary.
Anyway there is hope for all, I will def be around to chat and talk about the experience. Not sure when I'm going to schedule yet, but will let you know.
Am finally feeling happier with the prospect of healthier eyes!
quote="sonn001"]Yes I know, but my anxiety has been over weather the sugery can be done really.
I just want some options and it scares to me to think that there is not I guess. But I will keep truckin along until I get a solid positive result ....hope you are well. :)
TSG7 wrote:
Sonia,
I agree with your mother, it is good to keep your mind off your eyes as best you can and focus on all the positives in your life. Believe me, I know how hard it is to ignore your eye problem at times but the less you stress about it now, the easy the surgery and the recovery will be! Take care!
Hi Sonia!
I'm so glad that you finally found a doctor who you feel comfortable with! From my experience. I think 3 months is a really honest estimate of how long it takes for your eyes to completely recover and look 100% normal again after the autograft surgery. As far as looking bad after surgery, I wasn't expecting it to look as bad as it did, but I just wore sunglasses everywhere I went for the 2-3 weeks to hide it. At first I felt self-conscious about wearing sunglasses indoors but as it turned out, nobody really cares and if they did ask why I was wearing sunglasses, I simply told them I recently had eye surgery and they understood. Also after my surgery I took a week off from work for my eyes to rest and I kept strain on my eyes light for a month after surgery to give them plenty of rest so they could recover as quick and safe as possible. It's been 9 weeks since my pterygium was removed from my right eye and my pinguecula was removed from my left eye and I'm happy to say that my eyes look wonderful! I have no sign of recurrence, no irritation or no redness in either eye. So eventhough the recovery may be longer than you might like at times just keep in mind that a couple of months after surgery you will be done with this problem once and for all:)
Please keep me updated on you progress!
I'm so glad that you finally found a doctor who you feel comfortable with! From my experience. I think 3 months is a really honest estimate of how long it takes for your eyes to completely recover and look 100% normal again after the autograft surgery. As far as looking bad after surgery, I wasn't expecting it to look as bad as it did, but I just wore sunglasses everywhere I went for the 2-3 weeks to hide it. At first I felt self-conscious about wearing sunglasses indoors but as it turned out, nobody really cares and if they did ask why I was wearing sunglasses, I simply told them I recently had eye surgery and they understood. Also after my surgery I took a week off from work for my eyes to rest and I kept strain on my eyes light for a month after surgery to give them plenty of rest so they could recover as quick and safe as possible. It's been 9 weeks since my pterygium was removed from my right eye and my pinguecula was removed from my left eye and I'm happy to say that my eyes look wonderful! I have no sign of recurrence, no irritation or no redness in either eye. So eventhough the recovery may be longer than you might like at times just keep in mind that a couple of months after surgery you will be done with this problem once and for all:)
Please keep me updated on you progress!
TSG7 wrote:
Hi Sonia!
TSG7
Yes I am expecting very red eyes for a while, but am taking a couple of weeks off work and have been preparing my body for it so am confident, but nervous about the actual proceedure, even though he says will only take about half an hour for both! insane.
He did say you will be able to see a vague bit in the inside where the graft will be, theres often a little join, what do yours look like? and do you have any pics at all??
I have seen a pic of a pterygium that he has removed and it looks very good. You can however see a slight edge where the graft is, right in the inside of the eye to be expected I guess but just wanted to ask how the detailing on yours look.
Have you an email or do you prefer me to post up here. :)
Talk to you soon. Sonia :)
I'm so glad that you finally found a doctor who you feel comfortable with! From my experience. I think 3 months is a really honest estimate of how long it takes for your eyes to completely recover and look 100% normal again after the autograft surgery. As far as looking bad after surgery, I wasn't expecting it to look as bad as it did, but I just wore sunglasses everywhere I went for the 2-3 weeks to hide it. At first I felt self-conscious about wearing sunglasses indoors but as it turned out, nobody really cares and if they did ask why I was wearing sunglasses, I simply told them I recently had eye surgery and they understood. Also after my surgery I took a week off from work for my eyes to rest and I kept strain on my eyes light for a month after surgery to give them plenty of rest so they could recover as quick and safe as possible. It's been 9 weeks since my pterygium was removed from my right eye and my pinguecula was removed from my left eye and I'm happy to say that my eyes look wonderful! I have no sign of recurrence, no irritation or no redness in either eye. So eventhough the recovery may be longer than you might like at times just keep in mind that a couple of months after surgery you will be done with this problem once and for all:)
Please keep me updated on you progress!