My Eyes
I haven't wanted to mention this. I haven't wanted to believe it. My eyes seem to be deteriorating. Over the past 2 weeks, the pain and strain I have felt in my eyes, since the surgery, has steadily increased. Initially, I lumped it in with the other pain, but as the other pain has gotten less, the eye pain has gotten more. I have had stabbing pains in the backs of my eyes. My eyesight is dimming. I read three or four books a week, and have for over 20 years. I have been partially disabled that long, so reading and writing are my life. I have been writing a new book. My eyes look very damaged. There are black circles around them. Though I am 50-something, I had no lines whatsoever around my eyes, before the surgery. Now there are black puffies under my eyes with lines in the puffies. There are vertical lines running down from my inner eye, beside my nose on each side. I believe this is partly due to loose skin because the surgeon removed a bunch of my nasal structure. The irises of my eyes are drooping, and look opaque. In the eyes, I look like I am dying. I have never looked this bad before. These effects have just become pronounced in the past 2 weeks. I know there is no advice anyone can give me, except to get an eye exam. I just had one in October, so I will be able to know if I am losing my sight fast. This is just...there are no words.

I would go see an eye doctor as soon as possible, if nothing just to relieve your mind. I have had the same problems. Seems to come and go. Could be lack of sleep coupled with stress, allergies, and infection. I get the same symptoms and it seems to be worse when my nose is infected or when I'm tired. I would see the eye doctor but not worry too much. If you feel like go to ER because you will get faster answer.

persist, Thank you for this--a reprieve. Maybe I am not going blind, just going through a hard time. I think I will wait a little bit, and see if things clear up. If not, I will get the exam. The ENT's I now see advise against the ER. They tell me it is a waste of time for ENT issues. In fact, one met me on Christmas Eve, in an empty patient room of a hospital to spare me the ER. His words to me were, "Whatever you do, don't go there. They can't help you." I do feel better about my situation, knowing you are having these symptom, too. I think it is less likely something really bad. Thanks. I am hoping we both get better soon. kris

Sometimes I think its good to get answers fast but you are right, many times you just waste time at the ER. I would make an appointment anyway if you feel that you are worried. However I know the nose affects the eye,throat,lungs and ears. Its amazing how much the nose affects so many other parts of the body. We will get better. By months 5-8 we will know how much better. I think we both can say that compared to 2 -3 wks ago there has been some improvment. Worse comes worse the implants will help. I was thinking of trying to use ear plugs, the wax you buy at stores to put in ear when you go swimming, to put my nose instead of cotton at night (night seems to be the worse). You can tear off a piece. ITs moldable and clear so undetectable and canbe used as a filler. Has anyone out there tried this?

not sure if this helps but my eyes do burn alot, not stabbing pain but just a vague burn I think its realated to dryness and they are bloodshot alot. I do find drinking alot of water seems to help, doesn't fix the issue but it does help. if the pain is really really bad you might want to see a cranifacial doctor and see if he has any ideas. Other than that maybe he's right it's just time of the year, weather etc. It may not last. Hope you feel better.

The eye strain may be related to stress. It may put your mind at ease to go and get your eyes checked.

There is a clear neural connection between the front mucosal tissues of the nose, like the anterior inferior turbinates and the tear glands in the eyes. Both are activated and innervated by the naso-ciliary root which belongs to the trigeminal brunch. That's why when the nose is stimulated, for example like when you sneeze your eyes often tear too, and vice versa - when you cry your nose will run too. An under active mucosa, like the dry mucosa remaining in ENS will obviously not stimulate the eyes like it used too. Perhaps you notice that when your nasal dryness improves so does your eye dryness. It's nothing much to be concerned about, but it's prudent to restore the normal amount of moisture in the eyes with tear replacements drops. There are very good products today that unlike the old ones they do not dry the eyes in long term use. They are based again on hyaluronic acid, which is a natural lubricator which the body secretes in the joints and other places. It is essential to make sure that the eyes aren't too dry, because prolonged dryness can block the opening of the tear duct and this in turn will increase the internal pressure in the eye which might cause glaucoma. In my personal experience this eye dryness does improve over the years, but I still use drops at least every morning as a preventive measure. A good way to keep the eyes healthy and to reduce the blood shot appearance is to simply rinse the eyes in icy cold water. This strengthens the capillaries that appear in the eye and if this is repeated over a long period it will reduce their size in the eyes which will look clearer and healthier.

I have decided to wait until I see the ENT in a couple of weeks--unless it gets scary bad. He might have a specific referral. Or the problem might have passed by then. I was glad the ER came up because I wanted to pass on that information. I had been all geared up to go there several times, weeks ago, but couldn't get there because I was in such horrible shape. I had considered calling an ambulance but embarrassment stopped me. Then I saw the ENT I am now seeing, and he told me the ER would not have done me any good at all. He said they do not even have the instrument to see into the sinuses. This is the ER at OSU Medical Center, a good teaching hospital. The ENT I saw on Christmas Eve said the same thing. I think what it boils down to is that they aren't specialists in the ER; they are generalists. I cannot believe what this surgery has done to my face and eyes. It has taken some months for my face to fall apart. I have a completely different face. My facial bone structure is ruined. He took out so much bone around my nose and eyes. I looked young and attractive before. Now I look old and ugly. There are several sets of bags under my eyes, folded skin between my eyes and nose. My eyes look droopy and small. My whole face droops. My forehead has lines and bunches on it from tension. I had no lines or bumps at all before. I went from a pretty woman to an old bag. The surgery was completely unnecessary. I had never had a sinus symptom in my life. The doctor found some polyps on a scan and said, "Let's take those out." Maybe he said, "Let's take you out."

TE, I knew instinctively to put water on my eyes. I have been dousing them with cold water 10-20 times a day.

persist, I think your ear plug idea is great except for one thing. You would have to throw out the used pieces. They would have mold and bacteria on them. You have to be careful not to aspirate them. I discovered that the surgeon scooped out the bulb of my nose. It's empty. It vibrates when I talk. Between the vibration and my voice hurting my ears, and my lack of breath, I can rarely talk, anymore. But anyway, I have had success with cramming wet cotton into the empty nose bulb. It keeps my nose from getting as dry. I suspect that it helps the little scrap of septum he left in there from drying out so much. You could put the wax in there, tightly, and you would be less likely to aspirate it.

persist, eye drops never worked that well for me, have you found anythign? a damp cloth over the eyes is the only thing but I'd look silly wearing one and blind 8)

No, I've been concentrating on this damn ENS and I've still got chronic sinusitis which this operation was supposed clear up. The operatrion only added ENS to my life which really messed me up. Right now I'm trying neublized antibiotics to avoid the the side effects of oral antibiotics. I'm hoping it will cure the chronic sinusisits.

Kris, Please go see an opthamologist. I am worried for you. Dawn

Dawn, I have had improvement in the past few days. I think I will see an opthalmologist, but I will probably wait to see if my new ENT recommends someone--in 2 weeks. Unless things get worse--then I will go sooner. I was reading about you working as a dental hygienist with this condition. That is hard work, and very social. You've got mettle. Thank you so much for your concern. Kris

Dawn, I am having a bad eye day, again, and I made an appt. with an opthalmoloist for the 29th.