Comments for iCare Blog

Comment on Recurrent Corneal Erosion by Francesca

Francesca — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:54:20 +0000

Thank you for the most empathetic description I’ve read. I’m still suffering three years after my initial injury…which was treated with agressive antibiotics every 30 minutes for 48 hours.

I am post menapausal and the incidents occur exclusively between 2-6 am.

I had episodes within an hour of getting up and applying ointment at 2 am, with a tear-duct blocker installed, and my worst attack (5 day recovery) was with the contact patch.

I’m now trying nightly applications of sesame oil on the lid, 0mega-3 supplements, increased water consumption, a humidifyer and a EyeEco patch. My theory is to enhance lipid in my lid and retain moisture at night.

I’d love to learn what HAS worked for other sufferers. I understand success rates for surgeries are very low and would love to see those data.

Comment on Streff Syndrome by Dr Doug Cook

Dr Doug Cook — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:05:35 +0000

My best answer is “possibly.” There is a lot of information that needs to be asked and tests to be run. I would recommend a visit with a functional optometrist that has experience with this condition. You can find these specialists in a directory maintained by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development at this website http://covd.org/

Comment on Flashes & Floaters by Dr Doug Cook

Dr Doug Cook — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:02:31 +0000

A vitrectomy is a procedure that removes the vitreous – taking the floaters along with it. It is replaced with a sterile solution. This procedure has a risk of itself producing a retinal detachment. The chances of this complication can be as high as 10%. Most retinal specialists we have worked with greatly discourage people from this procedure if their visual acuity is 20/40 or better. The risk of complications is usually not worth the minor nuisance value of floaters. I tell patients floaters behave like bad neighbors, they show up when you would not rather deal with them. The strategy of coping with both is the same – ignore them and they eventually go away.

Comment on Flashes & Floaters by sophie gunn

sophie gunn — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:15:26 +0000

My daughter sees floaters all the time, even when she closes her eyes. She reports having been seeing these floaters “forever”, and she is only 6 years old. Two different exams of her eyes have shown that there is nothing wrong physically with her eyes/retinas…but is there anything to do to stop these floaters blocking her vision?

Comment on Streff Syndrome by sophie gunn

sophie gunn — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:10:46 +0000

my daughter was diagnosed with Streff Syndrome. She is 6 years old, which I understand is young for this type of diagnosis. i don’t see the correlation between her double and blurred vision to stress in her life so far. Unless she is extremely sensitive to everything around her and not able to cope with “normal” stress. She leaves in a loving family.

Comment on Streff Syndrome by Dr. Gurtisen

Dr. Gurtisen — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:37:16 +0000

How does Streff Synd. relate to non malingering, Bilateral, collapsing, peripheral vision and clear central vision under high conditions of high stress and anxiety? Thanks for your comment

Comment on Soft Contact Lens Care by Shady Grove Eye Vision Care

Shady Grove Eye Vision Care — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:47:50 +0000

Lenses should be replaced as discussed with the doctor. Lenses schedules are implemented at the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration, as they have studied the lens and approved a wearing schedule that makes wearing of the contact lens compatible with maintaining good eye health and hygiene. Wear longer than recommended schedule puts you at risk for certain eye infections, inflammations and even corneal blindness.

Comment on Streff Syndrome by David Kisling, O.D.

David Kisling, O.D. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:46:05 +0000

Just because of the demographics I am always concerned about sexual abuse when I see patients with functional vision loss. I have never had any luck getting parents to take their children to a therapist which adds to concerns of abuse. However, most kids I have seen do not show any behavioral signs of abuse which always adds to the mystery. It always seems difficult to really determine if the stress is visual or psychological. I do use low base in and any tint that will improve acuity. We frequently match tints for someone who has had an Irlen evaluation and even though it is the same only in appearance it has always worked.

Comment on Streff Syndrome by Dr Doug Cook

Dr Doug Cook — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:27:35 +0000

I agree with the functional label too. I prefer this term in fact and use it in the office most of the time but avoided it during this article construction. I will update the text to reflect. I also see the near VA usually depressed as well. Thanks for your feedback.

Comment on Streff Syndrome by Kevin Cline

Kevin Cline — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:43:56 +0000

Doug,

Here are a few comments: I alwasys thought of Streff Syndrome as a functional type of amblyopia. I think of Psychogenic Amblyopia the amblyopia that can result from stress due to emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. I have seen this type of amblyopia and it requires an appropriate referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Streff syndrome I always looked at as being due to stress as you have said but particularly due to nearpoint stress i.e. stress on the visual system due to having to due the socially compulsive biologically unacceptable task called reading or any extended nearpoint task.

Concerning diagnostic pattern–I also see near acuity worse than distance.

I do agree that you have to rule out organic pathology at the time of the initial diagnosis or see back in one month and if not improved refer out to pediatric ophthalmologist.