Glaucoma Drops
Glaucoma Disease » Glaucoma Drops » Dr. Cohn? Hemorrage after Pchmate & Drops?

Dr. Cohn? Hemorrage after Pchmate & Drops?

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -eyegu…@aol.com wrote: >>just had a full eye exam with full dilation and my first corneal >>thickness measurement, by a Pachmate device.  I was happy that the >>cornea is thick,with the suggestion that my eye pressure can be >>considered four points below the IOP measurement. >>An hour after I left the office, I felt pain in the outer right eye > and >>there was sbleeding. > Corneal pachymetry machines all work by touching a probe to the cornea > gently to determine the corneal thickness using ultrasound.  There is > no contact with the probe and the conjunctiva, the membrane over the > white of the eye that has blood vessels.  It is therefore impossible > for the pachymeter to have caused a subconjunctival hemorrhage.  If the > probe accidentally grazed the conjunctiva (by technician error) or if > you rubbed the eye this could have occurred.  Also, yes, medications > that thin the blood could be implicated, as could anything that raises > blood pressure a bit (straining at lifting something, constipation, > holding your breath, sneezing, coughing, etc.)…and…sometimes these > things JUST HAPPEN.  It is absolutely nothing to worry about. > Subconjunctival hemorrhages always go away on their own and never hurt > the eye.  Take care, > Rick Cohn, MD

Dear Dr. Rick Cohn ("Eye Guy") Thanks for the concurring opinion..I was confident that you would be informative and reassuring. I now believe that these things really can "JUST HAPPEN."    Thank you! You’ve been so helpful each time. Again, I wish that you practiced in NJ  >"< Is there a way to make a small contribution to your practice, in appreciation? Just let me know.. With appreciation, Carolyn — A contented malcontent. http://www.equalizers.org

Response:

That’s very sweet, Carolyn…it’s my pleasure to help out.  As for my practice, the only contribution I usually accept is baked goods, especially those with chocolate!  I’m not sure how brownies would keep in the mail.  Of course, if you ever wanted to make a charitable contribution in my name, I would be grateful.  I just found a wonderful website called "charitynavigator.org" which rates charities, I guess by how well they fund raise and by how they distrubute their money. Unfortunately, the Glaucoma Research Foundation was rated quite low. Several guide dog foundations were rated well, getting 3 out of 4 stars.  I think giving toward the training of guide dogs is a very noble cause.  Anyway, it was very nice of you to offer, and anything you do would be very much appreciated. Take Care, Rick Cohn, MD

Response:

I have had ocular hypertension for about 25 years, treated with drops.I just had a full eye exam with full dilation and my first corneal thickness measurement, by a Pachmate device.  I was happy that the cornea is thick,with the suggestion that my eye pressure can be considered four points below the IOP measurement. An hour after I left the office, I felt pain in the outer right eye and there was sbleeding. The pain resolved soon, and  the blood residue is gradually getting absorbed.  When I called my glaucoma doc, he said to use an antibiotic drop and see him after the weekend.  The eye then looked OK to him; it was not scratched. He asked if I have hypettension ( am on Dyazide & BP is not high) or was on Motrin, aspirin,etc., or had rubbed it.(No.) Since the event came spontaneously, I wonder if there could be any connection to the pupil dilators or the Pachmate, which I believe touches the eye. I did have a similar unexplained event in the left eye a year or twoago, which resolved. At that time, the same Dr. just said to use sterile water on the eye. Any thoughts, for future reference. If it could be the Pachmate, I think the experience shouild be made know to hte manufacturer. Thanks! Carolyn — A contented malcontent. http://www.equalizers.org

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Carolyn Schwebel wrote: > I have had ocular hypertension for about 25 years, treated with drops.I > just had a full eye exam with full dilation and my first corneal > thickness measurement, by a Pachmate device.  I was happy that the > cornea is thick,with the suggestion that my eye pressure can be > considered four points below the IOP measurement. > An hour after I left the office, I felt pain in the outer right eye and > there was sbleeding. The pain resolved soon, and  the blood residue is > gradually getting absorbed.  When I called my glaucoma doc, he said to > use an antibiotic drop and see him after the weekend.  The eye then > looked OK to him; it was not scratched. > He asked if I have hypettension ( am on Dyazide & BP is not high) or was > on Motrin, aspirin,etc., or had rubbed it.(No.) Since the event came > spontaneously, I wonder if there could be any connection to the pupil > dilators or the Pachmate, which I believe touches the eye. > I did have a similar unexplained event in the left eye a year or twoago, > which resolved. At that time, the same Dr. just said to use sterile > water on the eye. > Any thoughts, for future reference. If it could be the Pachmate, I think > the experience shouild be made know to hte manufacturer. > Thanks! > Carolyn

Corneal pachymetry machines all work by touching a probe to the cornea gently to determine the corneal thickness using ultrasound.  There is no contact with the probe and the conjunctiva, the membrane over the white of the eye that has blood vessels.  It is therefore impossible for the pachymeter to have caused a subconjunctival hemorrhage.  If the probe accidentally grazed the conjunctiva (by technician error) or if you rubbed the eye this could have occurred.  Also, yes, medications that thin the blood could be implicated, as could anything that raises blood pressure a bit (straining at lifting something, constipation, holding your breath, sneezing, coughing, etc.)…and…sometimes these things JUST HAPPEN.  It is absolutely nothing to worry about. Subconjunctival hemorrhages always go away on their own and never hurt the eye.  Take care, Rick Cohn, MD

Response:

Related Posts

Write a comment