Injection again

Have to get injected today after not having one at all for 2015.
Dr Lai noticed there is fluid accumulated and advice to commence a 6-weeks injection series

Today injection procedure is fast and I left the hospital at 1140. But of course the cost is RM1249. 90 an increase after GST.

Experience blurring on that eye for 2 hours at least as I drove back. 3 bubbles in the eye but gone by 1800.
Now I still have redness in my eye and it is teary. Hope it goes away by tomorrow.

Food fight against AMD

The title of a blog by a group people dedicated to fighting AMD. But it seems that the blog had entries until 2011.http://www.macularinsights.com/my-blog/

The articles about the food and vitamins are interesting.

Will my Left Eye goes too?

That's what worries me, will my left eye be affected by AMD? Dr Lai said there is a small risk but how small is the small risk? 90% or 1% or 10%.

Is there any body who can enlighten me on this?

Can It improve

Not sure whether the right eye's vision is deteriorating but I know it is not improving.

Image from http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/
l_CxxTnOyJw/hqdefault.jpg

Found that it is difficult for me to slice things because the knife that I am holding with the right hand hide the left eye vision of the right side of the knife thus preventing me from seeing the slice that I make.

Found a site about AMD http://www.getwellslidell.com/?p=786

Not Improving

It's been 2 weeks after the 3rd Avastin injection. I do not see any improvement in the right eye.
It is a little uncomfortable to see in the dark as I can see a white patch in the right eye.
Sometimes when the left eye is blocked like if there is a car in front of me and I want to look ahead with the right eye, I can't see some area.
Fine features are a little bit to see, and mentally I don't really like to see.
Will the right eye improved? I had a feeling it won't so I guess I had to live with a partially blind eye.

Bubble Gone

The bubble had gone, no more black dot that floats in my eye.
But I do not see any improvement in my right eye. Looks like there is nothing the Avastin can do to the swelling in the retina.

Losing Vision Gaining Insight

I was googling to get a picture of bubble for the previous and stumbled upon a beautiful blog titled Losing Vision Gaining Insight by Belinda Brasley who shared her experience and outlook of life after having trouble with her eyesight. 
I hope she will continue writing and sharing her views and experiences through this blog

Bubble in The Eye

The bubble (viewed as a round spot) can still be seen floating in my right eye.

image from
http://losingvisiongaininginsight.files.wordpress.com/

However, the size of the spot is getting smaller.
I was not bother much about it because the blurness of the AMD is worse than this.
I do not see any improvement in my vision, hopefully it will not get any worse too.

Avastin Injection #3

I had my third Avastin Injection today.
The previous injection had not done any improvement to my condition. The swelling is still thick and I had only 50% vision in my right eye.
To make matter worse, I had to pay for this injection as my insurance limit had been reached due to my cholecystectomy last month. This injection costs me RM1270.00
We (my wife and I) had arrived at GMC at 9:30 am and only got to see Dr Lai at 12:00 noon and only been injected at 3:50 pm.
This time I also had a gas bubble injected into my eye and now I am seeing a dark round thing resting at the bottom of my vision. Hopefully it will clear away by tomorrow.
Next appointment is August 2nd as Dr Lai will be away for some time.
I hope there will be an improvement in the eye.

A Personal Account of Wet AMD

Here's another video about a personal account of one Lee who had wet AMD. His story will be an inspiration to me as he said that he had managed to control the disease after undergoing treatment of Lucentis injection.

Explaining Wet AMD - Video

Watched a video about the progression of wet AMD.
Found it to be informative as it contains animation of how wet AMD can be formed progressively from a dry AMD

Here's the video

Avastin or Lucentis

It had been 5 days since the #2 Avastin injection. I still did not see any improvement in the vision of my right eye. The redness caused by the injection had subsided since yesterday.

Avastin had been used in place of Lucentis in most cases in treatment of AMD as Avastin is cheaper than Lucentis.

This article (http://www.medpagetoday.com/Ophthalmology/GeneralOphthalmology/32445)  by Kristina Flore in Medpage Today argued that Lucentis and Avastin are equally good in treating Wet AMD.

Understanding Wet Macular Degeneration

Since I contracted this disease, I had done some search in the internet and there are some good sites that provide good explanation of Wet Macular Degeneration.

This site http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amd.htm by All About Vision provide information on the types of AMD, the symptom, causes and treatment. It is a worthwhile site to visit to give you a good understanding of this disease

Another good site that provides comprehensive information about AMD is http://www.patient.co.uk/health/age-related-macular-degeneration by Patient.co.uk.

WebMD had a three-pages information on AMD at this site http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/macular-degeneration/age-related-macular-degeneration-overview and you can listen to it too.

Avastin Injection #2

My right eye getting worse. Now there is a dark patch of an L shape. My vision is down, I can't read

image from http://elderlydrivingassessments.com/
images/individ/snellen-large.gif

any lines in the Snellen chart.
Seen Dr Lai last Friday. He didn't say much but I can tell that my condition is bad.
Did an OCT and there is a big swelling.
So Dr Lai suggested that I had an Avastin injection.
I have to stay for 8 hours to claim my insurance.

Today is already 3 days since the friday, I didn't see any improvement. So, hope and pray that I get a better vision in the right eye.

Oh no My Eye

Wake up in the morning and did my usual check on my right eye and alas! the patch of blurriness had increased.
Waked up my wife and told her about it.
Decided to phone GMC to make an appointment but was told today is Dr Lai's operation day (which means that he will not be seeing any patient in his clinic)
Asked to see Dr Jonathan Choon and an appointment made for 2 pm.
Discharged myself from Pantai Hospital (I had a Cholecystectomy on the 7-May-2013) - probably because of the operation that my right eye is bleeding again.
Arrived at GMC at 2 pm but only managed to see Dr Jonathan

Dr Jonathan Choon of GMC

 at 4 pm. 
After examining my right eye, Dr Jonathan confirmed that there is a bleeding and ordered me to have an OCT and also take a photograph of my retina.
Dr Jonathan did not prescribed any treatment just give me some counseling and suggested that a followup to be done next friday. 
I was a bit disappointed as I expected Dr Jonathan to do something instead of just letting the condition be as it is for the next 8 days.

Avastin #1 Injection

Dr Lai suggested that I had an injection into my eyes for there is still some fluid in the retina.
So, today we check in the hospital at 9:00 am and I was admitted as a day care case in a 6 bedded room.
It is not fun to be in the ward but luckily the other patients are friendly.
Only called to the clinic at 5:00 pm
I was nervous but nevertheless I trusted Dr Lai to give the best treatment.
The injection went smoothly, I only feel a slight prick in my eyes but I was able to see the fluid flowing into the eye.

image from http://jirehdesign.com/images/tmc_eye_illustrations/avastinInj.jpg

I managed to drive back to Bukit Mertajam in the condition where my right eye had become blurred.

Dr Lai Yoon Kee

Dr Lai Yoon Kee, Ophthalmologist
 & Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon

Make an appointment to see Dr Lai Yoon Kee

OCT image from
http://www.sydneyeyedoctors.com/
images/ped.jpg

Did a fluorescein angiogram and optical coherence tomography.

AMD First Detected

Amsler grid from http://www.snec.com.sg/eye-conditions-and-treatments/
PublishingImages/
Age-Related%20Macular%20Degeneration%20-%20Amsler%20Chart.jpg

It was just before midnight yesterday that I first detected that I had a problem with my right eye. Seeing the edge of the computer screen to be wavy, I then try to 'look' into the eye and alas, there is a small patch in the shape of a heart.
My first worry is glaucoma since my optometrist had cautioned me about my high eye pressures.
Today, I had an appointment with a ophthalmologist, one Dr Khoo of Perdana Eye Clinic in Perda, Bukit MErtajam.
It is confirmed that I may have a serious eye problem after looking at the Amsler grid
and Dr Khoo suggested that I go to Gleneagle Medical Centre (GMC) to consult on Dr Lai Yoon Kee.