CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/40618
rare cause of vision loss. It is more com- mon with increasing age, especially in those over 80. It is also more common in people with hypertension, diabetes, a hypercoagulable state, obesity, glaucoma, and in smokers. I have none of these risk factors. Dr. Mincey, an ophthalmologist who specializes in retinal diseases, told me that sometimes, in younger patients, it just happens; we cannot find a cause. Maybe it has to do with the anatomy of the eyes and the blood vessels as they enter and exit the eye. Will my vision return or will it get worse? In one large study, nearly half of people who presented like me stayed the same or improved, while about a third be- came legally blind! What other complica- tions can I expect? New blood vessels can form in the eye which can lead to hemor- rhage, retinal detachment and glaucoma. Also, it isn't clear if CRVO is associated with increased mortality or not; in one study young people with baseline CRVO died twice as often after adjusting for known risk factors. When Dr. Mincey saw me in his office, he dilated my pupils, examined me, and did several high tech tests. One is a fluo- rescein angiogram. After placing an IV in my hand, dye was injected. For me, this showed delayed filling and helped show where my eye wasn't getting good blood flow. It also turned my urine fluorescent yellow! After this test Dr. Mincey reviewed treatment options, the best of which is an injection of Avastin into my eye every month for three months. My eye was numbed with anesthetic drops, then cleaned with Betadine. A spec- ulum was inserted to keep my eye open, then Dr. Mincey injected my eye. After flushing my eye with water, I was done. It hurt, but I've felt worse. A month later, I went back for my sec- ond eyeball injection. My vision has im- proved from 20/80 to 20/40. The edema is much improved. Most of the benefit of the Avastin comes with the first injection, with diminishing returns after that. I'm very optimistic and am happy to see as well as I do right now. CV Dr. Salzberg teaches and sees patients (out of his good eye) at the Southern Regional AHEC Family Medicine Center. Experience LIFE 4900 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC (910) 429-7220 www.sjp.org LIFE services include, but are not limited to • Adult day health services, including recreational and social programs • Primary and specialty medical care • Prescription and over-the-counter medications • Occupational, physical, and speech therapies • Transportation • Caregiver and family support LIFE is a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which can assist elders to live safely at home or with their loved ones with help from a team of health care professionals St. Joseph of the Pines is the leading provider of senior living and health services serving the Sandhills region of North Carolina since 1948. Save up to $ 9000 YMCA of the Sandhills is having a September Membership Sale YMCA memberships are individual, family or household, month-to-month, with no contracts. Fayetteville YMCA, 2717 Ft Bragg Rd. | Hope Mills YMCA, 3910 Ellison St. Call 426-YMCA (9622) or visit ymcaofthesandhills.org CityViewNC.com | 65