QUESTION:
“…[name hidden] has undergone treatment for Glaucoma since 1989. He had a Cataract surgery in both eyes in 2000. In 2001 He had a Retinal Detachment in his Right eye in [month hidden] 2001, after a fall in the subway in [month hidden] 2001. It was fixed by [name hidden]. After that he ended with Trigeminal Neuralgia in the right side of his eye area and suffered for almost 8 years and was unable to use any Glaucoma drops in the right eye and his almost lost his peripheral vision due to that. He underwent a Riyzotomy in his right cheek area to stop the Trigeminal Neuralgia by [name hidden] . But in 2011 on [month hidden] he ended with a Retinal Detachment in his Left eye and [name hidden] and his colleagues fixed it with Gas bubble, but it ripped within 2 days, he had to undergo an Emergency Vitrectomy with Scleral Buckle and silicone Oil on the Left eye, but ended with pseudomonas after surgery. He had another one again on [date hidden] and in that surgery it was poorly done and he has lost his photo cells and there is a fold in his Retina, and again suffered from pseudomonas for almost 2 months and we went back and found that the Retinal was still detached and his vision was getting really poor. We told the Doctor we have decided to leave his practice and Moved to CA in 2012.
We lived in SFO when [name hidden] and he explained about everything. then we moved into LA in [month hidden] of 2013 and seeing [name hidden]. His pressure increased to 32 to 40 in his left eye due to Silicone Oil. We went to[name hidden] in S.Pasadena and he removed the Silicone Oil [date hidden]. But his eye sight has not returned to normal. We are using all the medications like Timoptic Occudose in both eyes, Lumigan in both eyes, Alphagan 2 times in Rt Eye, Simbrinza in his left eye, Dorzolomide in his Right eye 2 times plus Prediselone in his left eye. Even though we have used all these drop when we visited Green Bay, WI he had a glass like looking through his left eye one night in June so we rushed him to Aurora Bay clinic in Green Bay Wi, [name hidden] saw him he is a retinal specialist he said the Retinal is still attached but his pressure is very high. So we would like to come and meet with you ASAP. It is very important to me to have the consulting ASAP.
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ANSWER:
Dear ******,
I’m very sorry to hear about your husband’s difficult situation. Unfortunately, it is my experience that canaloplasty does not work well in someone who has undergone multiple retinal surgeries. Although it may be possible to perform canaloplasty I would likely advise against it or at least caution that additional surgery such as a tube placement would likely be necessary. As such, I’d recommend he see one of my respected colleagues in the area who have more experience with placing tubes: either Dr. Vikas Chopra at the UCLA/Doheny Eye Institute in Arcadia or Dr. Michael Kapamajian in Whittier would be excellent choices. I’m sorry that canaloplasty is likely not his best surgical option.
Warm regards,
David Richardson, MD
Patient-Focused Ophthalmologist
San Marino Eye
2020 Huntington Drive
San Marino, CA 91108
626.289.7856
Patient-Focused Websites:
New-Glaucoma-Treatments.com
About-Eyes.com
Date:July 1, 2014
Posted in: Canaloplasty and Other Conditions, Canaloplasty and Other Surgeries, Canaloplasty Safety and Efficacy