AGE 49, EARLY ONSET AMD AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

by Rebecca
(Jacksonville, Florida )

I am 49 and currently legally blind (20/200) in my right eye due to chronic macular edema.

I was a very high myope from birth (-12) in both eyes. I had Radial Keratotomy in 1980 on both eyes. My vision was improved to 20/30 uncorrected in both eyes, although I was negative in the right eye and plus in the left.

I have enjoyed fairly good vision with normal age changes for 25 years. Two years ago, I rapidly lost my night vision and developed marked dry AMD in both eyes. Six months ago, my dry AMD in my right eye morphed to wet AMD suddenly.

I have lost my fine detail vision and have no useful vision at all in my right eye.

Since January 2010, I have had six Avastin injections, one steroid injection and one cold laser/Avastin treatment. The swelling improves for a day or two, then regresses back to no useful vision except for light and motion detection only.

My retinal specialist states that it appears that my condition is from the congenital abnormalities of my eye structure and is probably irreversible.

I am 20/40 (variable) corrected in my left eye, with mild cataracts and drusen, mild dry AMD. I am worried that my left eye will follow the sudden disease progression of my right eye and that I will be completely legally blind and lose my independence in the near future.

So far, I have lost my ability to drive at night or in low visibility and must use some assistance tools to read. I cannot see faces across a room.

Working on a computer or reading for any length of time is very difficult as I have focusing problems and get headaches.

I was also diagnosed with several auto immune diseases last year and am taking aspirin, NSAIDS and an immuno-suppressant drug (Imuran).

My doctors do not think there is a link between my UCTD (lupus like) and the sudden onset of my eye problems. However, it seems coincidental that the macular edema came on so suddenly 3 months after starting the "big gun" Imuran.

I would like to receive feedback from other pathological myopia/wet AMD patients and Auto Immune disease patients who use immuno-suppressant drugs and have macular edema.

I would also welcome any input from retinal specialists.