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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hi Everyone:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>A while back I inquired about ophthal,ologists who
understood ROP and its complications glaucoma and phthisis bulbi shrunken eye.
Many individuals had suggetions and would like to thank the people that
responded. Just to give a brief synopsis about myself. I am blind due to ROP and
have had a history of glaucoma from age 8. The glaucoma has cone on infreqently
as a child teenager and adult. Threee months ago, I felt the same presuure, and
contacted the ophthal,ologist I usually see but was told that this individual
saw onoy pediatric patients not adults. I then went to the emergency room at the
new york eye and ear infirmary and was told that my eyes were shrinking and was
prescribed saline dros for dryness and an ointment. I then had an appointment
with an ophthal,ologist at the eye institute who told I had phthisis bulbi which
means my eyes were shrinking and prescribed me two drops to deal with the paina
and was told to come back ina month. The person did indicate that enuleation is
suggested if drops don't help. I then asked suggestions from the aernet listserv
and I think this one and were suggested ophthal,p;pgists. In May, I went to
Cornell and saw a specialist who dealt with ROP who told me the same diagnosis
and suggested for me to see an occuplast to consider putting a prosthetic eye
over each eye and continue taking the drops. AFter doing much research, I found
out that my ophthal,ologist did see adult patients and made an appointment wit
his associate DR. Mars, June 1. 2011. I saw always Dr. Abramson. I was told
today that because I had a history of glaucoma the oressure became very high and
so the circulation in thboth eyes were poor and the pressure dropped and the
pain was caused because the eyes were shrinking. This diagnosis is phthisis
bulbi. I was given a different drop to deal with the pain and an ointment to
deal with pain from the outer surface of the eye. I was also told that many
ophthal,ologists do not understand ROP and it s complications. The
ophthal,p;pgist did not suggest putting prosthetic over the eyes and indicated
that enucleation of the eyes was the last resort if the pain became wo severe. I
am so relieved that I managed to see an associate oof the ophthal,p.ogist I
havew been seeing. I would just caution vision teachers to make sure that they
know there students eye conditions and make sure that they see an
ophthal,p;pgist that inderstands the specifiic eye condition and complications.
I will only just say from Aril through June was quite a nightmare for me to go
from one ophthal,ologist to another untl I saw an associate of the
ophtal,p;pgist I usually se. My ophthal,ologist was on vacation for a few weeks.
I am writing to thank everyone for there help and suggestions and hope my
experience does encourage all vision professionals to make sure that students or
clients see the ophthal,ologist that understands their eye conditgion. I am a
vision teacher myself and work with 14 students who have additional disabilities
in addition to being blind or visually impaired. I did teach braille to a child
last year and would be open to doin g so next year if I am contactd about
providing vision services. I work as an independent related service prpoviding
providing vision eduction services in new york city. I am grateful to Do,inican
college for the training I received asa certified TVI and that I am using my
skills and gainfully employed, considering that blind people have a seventy
percent unemployment rate. Thanks for all the assistance and if anyone could
forward my message to aernet it would be greatly appreciated since I an mo
longer a member of the listserv.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sara Rooz TVI in NYC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Independent Related Service Provider Vision
Education Services in New York City</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>