Hi,

My name is Mary. I had Lasik surgary 01/2001 and an enhancement 06/2001. I did a search and found your group the first week of May 2002.

The end of April I was experiencing super dry
and itching eyes. Initially, I thought I had what posts had described as Dry Eye Syndrome.
I emailed Dr. Holly for his opinion and decided to get some drops.

Shortly after communicating with him I noticed
my vision had a yellowish tint on the far left
portion of my vision, on my left eye (when I blocked the vision in my right eye)... one day later I noticed a green tint that appeared like
a half circle vertically in my vision and over
where the yellow had been was blurred.

I then had found posts coversing with Dr. Leuk.
I decided to email him. He suggested that I get
a detailed retina exam and field of vision.

I made an appointment and did as he suggested.
During the exam and dilation the Dr. discovered
Histoplasmosis - POHS (Hist Spots). The Dr. thought there may have been a possibility that I had some tears in my retina. The Dr. wanted me to contact him immediately if I noticed a flashing light, like fireworks... many black dots like pepper (excessive floaters), or a veil or curtain come over my vision.

These spots came from a fungas that I had at some point in time which had left scares on my retina.

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. This fungus is found throughout the world, but is endemic in the Mississippi and Ohio River Valley areas in the United States. This fungus is found in soil where bird and bat droppings have accumulated including chicken coops, caves and in old buildings. People who live or work on farms, landscapers, construction workers, and others who work outdoors can be exposed. The fungal spores become airborne when the soil is disrupted and are inhaled into the lungs. It usually produces only mild flu or cold like symptoms, so the person may be totally unaware that he or she has been exposed to Histoplasmosis. In older patients OHS may occasionally be misdiagnosed as macular degeneration.

A link describing it is at: http://www.lowvision.org/histoplasmosis_maculopathy.htm

The Dr. indicated that he wanted to get an opinion from a retina specialist. I had a couple
of spots that were bleeding. One near my optic nerve. What happens is that after the fungus scars the retina... new abnormal blood vessels develope. From what I have been told and read..
when your immune system is low and your are experiencing excessive stress.. it allows the Histo spots to aggrevate the situation activating
the Histoplasmosis.

I went to the Retina Specialist here were the findings:

They did an fluorescein angiography... where they shot yellow dye in my veins and took pictures of both my eyes. (didn't hurt, although the light was bright to take the pics).

The Dr indicated normally there would be 4 options:

* Laser to seal the abnormal blood vessels - He doesn't advise this, because the clossness of the spot to my optic nerve. The laser could cause damage to other nerve senses.

* A procedure I think that was called PDT is where they shoot medicine in your veins and then use the laser to have the medicine seal the hemorage. He felt this would have to high of a risk to blind me since the area was so close
to the optic nerve.

* Monitor it using a Amsler grid at home for 2 weeks. If there is any change...

I am to contact him and outpatient surgery will be preformed. - This is what he wants to do initially. Then return and be checked in 2 weeks. If it has progressed surgery will be preformed.

* Have outpatient surgery preformed to pull out the abnormal blood vessels. I think this is what they were going to do. It may have been to pull out the tissue damage.

Thus far I it appears that the blurriness is decreasing slightly. I have been taking Bilberry,
using the drops Dr. Holly sent, Vitamins C,D,A,E,B, a multiple, Flax seed oil... warm clothes my eye and essential oils to try to build up the cells and my body to beat this thing. A good link for what viatamins, etc to take is:

http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/consconditions/uveitiscc.html

I will let you all know how it goes in a couple weeks.

I would like to thank Dr. Holly and Dr. Leuk for all the time they have taken to try to help me...
They are truely what I have always felt the medical profession is about (and then some). I
would have ended up blind if not for their help.