Damaged eyes?

[Kiessling]

As for the drops, they are just an anti-inflammatory

Unfortunately you are dead wrong. Those are Steroid drops, and one of the strongest ones at that. I have no intention of educating you about the inherent dangers of steroid medication and locally applicated steroids in the eye as this would take the thread too far off topic.

BUT ... please ... it is about time that you learn something from your mistakes. You are using medicaments you don't really know in just the same irresponsible manner as you use your lasers.

There is a reason we do have experts at our disposal. Doctors in this case. Use them. They do know more than you do. Listen to their advice.

bernhard


EDIT: too slow. What he said

 

[k00zk0]

I edited my first post, and why would you claim that I'm using them irresponsibly? The doctor told me I should use them.. I simply said what it says on the package that they MAY be used that way; I never said that its smart to do so.

If they're so dangerous why didn't the doctor even tell me anything about it? It doesn't say on the dropper that they are an immunosupressant and steroid...

I think I'll stop using them as I wear contact lenses and I don't want an infection any time soon...

 

[Kiessling]

I edited my first post, and why would you claim that I'm using them irresponsibly?
The doctor told me I should use them..
I think I'll stop using them as I wear contact lenses and I don't want an infection any time soon...

Does this answer the question in the first line?

Also ... you recommended those to other people without actually knowing what they are? Is that responsibility?

If they're so dangerous why didn't the doctor even tell me anything about it?

Maybe because HE knows how to use them and thought you'd heed his professional advice? Maybe because you didn't ask?


Don't get me wrong ... I don't want to single you out and attack you ... but this stuff is far too important to ignore such blatant misinformation and bad advice.

bernhard

 

[k00zk0]

I edited my first post because theres a chance people would stop there and go and get those drops. It was misinformation but I never said that its totally safe, I said it should be.

I don't want to nitpick words, and I don't want to start arguments, I was writing what I thought at the time, and now after learning I edited. I want to help people by telling them what happened to me. I'm not trying to act as a replacement to a real doctor.

As everyone here has already said, if this happens to you, please see an opthamologist ASAP, he'll know what to do.

 

[Kiessling]

Don't worry, your good intentions have never been questioned at all.

 

[LuxLuthor]

k00zk0, Kiessling is technically correct and accurate in what he has said, and he is trying to have this thread be accurate as well as everyone benefitting from the accidental mistakes you made, and were generous enough to share with us.

Part of the difficulty if I remember back to when I was your age is we tended to "shoot from the hip" (even with good intentions), rather than realize that how we advise others for example, about topical corticosteroids, may have consequences.

Your doctor certainly verified during your exam that you did not have an infection or he would not have prescribed them. I would have anticipated that he also told you not to wear your contacts while using these drops, and you may not have heard everything he said, given the fear most people would have had.

Between using the steroid or your contacts, the steroid is far more important following a burn injury to your retina than contacts. Your decision to choose not to use the drops (or vitamins) is another unwise step. These things are not being said to make you feel defensive, but more to help you and others out.

Good Luck!

 

[k00zk0]

I understand what Kiessling is doing and I edited my post already to get rid of false information. I told the doctor I was wearing contacts, he even acknowledged that fact that they were off for testing and got me lenses to hold infront of my eye so I could look at a grid and tell him how much of my vision I was missing. He didn't tell me not to wear my lenses, he just said it was an anti-inflammatory and it "may work its way back there and help". Yes, this was an opthamologist. I don't think it's my fault that I was informed incorrectly by him now...

He also didn't tell me how often to use the drops, and after a bit of reading these steroids work 2.5 to 3 days after you apply them. It's recommended to use them once every three days. On the packaging it says they can be used every half hour or more depending on situation.

Not all info is always correct and people should always check what they read and hear with a few more sources; that includes what k00zk0 writes on a forum...

EDIT: As for "shooting from the hip", I'm smarter than that. I was not told of any danger whatsoever by the doctor, and the drops do not say they are a steroid, nor an immunosupressant. I wouldn't have wrote what I wrote if they had said that. I had two sources of information, neither of which said anything bad. That's why I "shot from the hip" as you say and wrote that they're okay. I don't give potentially unsafe info without checking first...

I'm normally one to look up info on every substance in a drug but I guess "Anti-inflammatory" on the bottle was enough for me this time. It was a mistake and I acknowledge that I made it.

 

[Robban]

There are some people which have problems looking at the dot of a 30mW green laser on the wall, it actually "hurts" their eyes.

*raises hand* I even find it uncomfortable to look at the dot from a 5mW greenie on a white wall. I have one 5mW and one 21mW, they have only been turned on for a handful of minutes when they were new. Now they're just collecting dust, I just don't want to take the chance.

I hope your vision recovers and that you've learned a lesson you will never forget.

 

[stephenmadpotato]

I was not told of any danger whatsoever by the doctor, and the drops do not say they are a steroid, nor an immunosupressant..

Immunosupressants are drugs used to to stop the body from attacking transplants such as lungs. What the heck are you talking about.

 

[k00zk0]

Dexamethasone is an imunosupressant.

 

[Norm]

In the early days of transplants steroids were the main for of Immunosupressant.
Norm

 

[Gazoo]

Wow. It is 40X more potent then hhydrocortisone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexamethasone

 

[knot]

Unfortunately you are dead wrong. Those are Steroid drops, and one of the strongest ones at that. I have no intention of educating you about the inherent dangers of steroid medication and locally applicated steroids in the eye as this would take the thread too far off topic.

Cortisol is a steroid as well but it's used for a wide variety of treatments including for insect bites and such to relieve itching. However, Dexamethasone is many times stronger than cortisol.

Dexamethasone is a potent synthetic member of the glucocorticoid class of steroid hormones. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant.

 

[knot]

The study was prompted by concerns that lasers now in the field might violate the Geneva Conventions outlawing weapons designed to blind an enemy.

LOL - a bullet through the eye however, is completely allowed.




I lived in an apartment complex many years ago and there was this odd 50+ year old man (tenant) that would stand in the parking area and stare at the sun on a daily basis. I spoke to the managers about him and they said there is nothing anyone can do, he's mentally ill. Somehow he made it outside on his own to do his daily ritual.

 

[Kiessling]

I think we should steer this thread back on topic and leave the steroids for now Thanx. bernhard

 

[jhosaki]

Weird, I also heard a story about somebody who would stare at the sun. Being in the laser business, I was chatting with my optometrist about retinal burns and the like. She mentioned that she had a patient who came in with a large blind spot in his central vision. When she imaged his retinas she found huge burns in his macula. (The middle section of your vision... If this is plural would it be maculae?)

She couldn't figure out how such a thing could even happen, until he told her that every day, for 20 minutes, he would stare directly at the sun to "exercise his eyes".

...What a thing do do. I wonder if he exercises his taste buds by rinsing his mouth with sulphuric acid.

 

[stephenmadpotato]

...What a thing do do. I wonder if he exercises his taste buds by rinsing his mouth with sulphuric acid.

AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

 

[flashlightsnlasers]

I would strongly recommend that the cpf member who had the unfortunate accident with the dpss green laser see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible get a referral from your optometrist and see who is recommended,I would try to get in touch with a retinal specialist since they deal with a lot of macular diseases "macular Degeneration"etc,he or she will know what to monitor,question for you is..did your optometrist dilate your pupil in the effected eye before performing an observation in the retinascope"the device with the chin rest and the light that went left to right,"sclerotic scatter and direct illumination are techniques often used but much more accurate with dilation drops administered first since it opens the pupil to allow for less angle closure and a wider angle to view,I have worked as an optician for 2 optometrists for 24 years and have seen it all I would just like to pass this on to you,I am also an avid flashlight enthusiast collector with a few lasers the largest being an 80 mw envee which I handle like a loaded gun when showing it off in the basement beamed at the longests distance with nothing in the way..these things are great but are really dangerous too I wish you luck and feel free to post I will post a response,get a referral and get checked out,good luck.​

 

[Aseras]

You guys need to be more careful. There's a reason for all the warning labels.

That said after damage is done, you need to see a eye doctor ( opthamaolgist ) who needs to look at your retina via a slit lamp to check for damage. it will appear as slight discolorations for minimal exposure, right up to a large bloody area and a possible hemmorage for a serious laser exposure.

You need to do this quickly because if steriods are not given with the first day or so, the body reacts and actually can attack the eye. Another worry is sympathetic opthamalia for serisous damage. Your body can attack your good eye too. Steriods need to be given to stop the bodies natural reaction and prevent scar tissue from forming. Blood clots are bad in the retina since they will cause further nerve damage.

For damage that doesn't go away within an hour or so, expect it to last for at least a week, slowly gaining back some colors, and hopefully after a month nearly a full recovery. If you start getting colors back consider yourself lucky and hopefully you'll make a complete recovery.

 

[stephenmadpotato]

RE: Damaged Eyes?

Hey guys,
My sights doing really really well. I see perfectly fine. I just see a slight spot that is white when I blink my right eye really fast. This was of course done when I had my left eye shut so I knew my brain wasn't compensating. All and all I lucked out big time. Let this be a warning to all. DO NOT SCREW WITH THESE LASERS, or they will bite you back in the ***.
-Stephen