Myopic CNV, Flickering Foster Fuch's Spots Dilemma

[Pankaj_Arora]

Hi All,

Just joined healthunlocked today. I am an indian and i have had n no. of issues with my right eye.

I basically had irregular shape of the right orbit since childhood and unfortunately, i had an accident when i was 4 which led to high myopia.

One of the doctor told my parents in my childhood that he is skeptical whether i can even complete my schooling or not. Well, here i am, 33 years of age, completed my schooling, Bachelors in Engineering, Masters in Technology and working for a high tech firm for the last 9 years.

During all these years, along with the severely high myopia in right eye, left eye also developed high myopia but i was all OK coping up with high diopter glasses till 2011 (i was just 25 then) when i developed myopic CNV in my right eye.

I was scared to death during that time but thanks to Anti-VEGF Avastin Injection 3 times till late 2013, my vision stayed between 20/40 - 20/60 in the right eye while the left, by god's grace stayed at 20/20.

So i continued with my job and continued seeing my Ophthalmologist once in every couple of months, had many Foster Fuch's spots come and go but thankfully, didn't develop another CNV.

One of the drawbacks of this disease is, one tends to develop fear that anything can happen at any time. Because of this fear, even though i had many offers from Big Shot firms for High Tech positions, i thought to stay back at the same place even when the paycheck was just coping up with my needs.

But after so long, last month, i decided to move ahead and try to get rid or ignore this fear of deteriorating eyes and accepted an offer.

And here arrived the fate -> Though i din't develop a CNV as yet but there is a big Foster Fuch's Spot in my right eye and for some reason, the left eye developed an enlarged blind spot. Went through Head and Orbit MRI -> Brain all fine, Orbits have Bilateral Staphyloma which is nothing but irregular shape of the orbits causing thinning of scelera.

Right Eye's Fuch's Spots started flickering like a scotoma and my Ophthalmologist has no clue as he couldn't see any signs of retinal detachment as such. Going for a HFA (Field Test) Tomorrow.

I just want to know if Flickering Fuch's Spots (like scotoma) is a sign of retinal detachment? Also, i need motivation and inputs whether i should go ahead and join the new firm with work of my interest or should i stay back as i or my ophthalmologist is not sure of what lies ahead. Please help.

[rosyG]

welcome! Lots of difficult decisions!! I think it might depend on the two firms- is your present firm understanding when you may need time for appointments and treatment? Would a new firm be so good? Would it be stressful at the new post- that can affect health??

[Pankaj_Arora in reply to rosyG]

Thanks for the Reply rosyG .

I have never told about this to anyone in my current firm. I always believe that unless absolutely needed, we should avoid telling people around us about our limitations because that is usually taken advantage of, especially in the corporate world.

Regarding leaves for treatment etc., i believe that should be fine whether i am in current firm or a new one. Regarding stress levels, it might be slightly higher initially in the new firm but i expect it to become the same in a few months time.

Still in the middle of decision making. Hoping for the best !!

[rosyG in reply to Pankaj_Arora]

So doesn’t seem to be much against going fir the new job!! Stay well

[springcross]

Hi Pankaj_Arora. Sorry to hear about your problems. I think I would not be taking new employment at this time. I would wait to see what happens with my eyes and then make a decision. Hopefully all will be well and another job opening will come along. All the best to you.

[Pankaj_Arora in reply to springcross]

Thanks for the Suggestion springcross .

I just had a field test (HFA 10-2 and 24-2) today and the results for both the right and left eye came very similar to what it was in May'18. So according to the Ophthalmologist, there is no retinal detachment, just the Foster Fuch's Spot causing problems.

He sees no evidence or the cause of Flickering Spot that i am seeing which looks like a constant Scotoma, he says there is a possibility that its psychological and should subside in some time. Hoping for the best !!

[springcross in reply to Pankaj_Arora]

Good news regarding the retinal detachment. I don't know what the Foster Fuch's Spot is so I cannot comment on that, but I wish you all the best and hope that whatever you choose regarding your employment will turn out to be the right decision. Good luck.

[Momo2424]

What is you eye power?

[Pankaj_Arora in reply to Momo2424]

Hi Momo2424 , My left eye is around -16 D (Vision 20/20 with glasses) and Right eye is around -9 D (Vision 20/60 with glasses). Thanks.

[Hidden]

Hi, contact the macular society for advice on your conditions and symptoms. They have expert help.

Find out if your country has workplace legislation that protects disabled people.*

I would check out their employee policy on sickness and disability and be honest with new company. Tell them what has happened, explain how it affects you working now and put a positive spin on the future (there is no diagnosis at this point so could be 'good ' as well as bad), how the impact can be mitigated (eg larger computer screen or whatever), quote any legislation*, ask them ( to put in writing) how they will support you now and in the future. They want your skills as they've offered the job, but if you hide this it may affect how they treat you later. Was there no health questionnaire at interview?

You don't want to take the job if you might lose it due to what you're going through and be in a worse position than how your current employer is likely to respond. But if that's not the case then don't hold yourself back!

Make your decision to change jobs based on their reply compared to how your current employer treats you and any positive legislation that will protect you in the future. Best wishes going forwards.

[Pankaj_Arora in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for a very good suggestion Hidden . There is a health checkup report that every new employer needs to be provided. But what i know is, they basically look whether the employee has any contagious disease etc. (which would affect the offer) and on the eyes wise, as long as one eye is at least 20/40, they don't care.

I did provide my eyes report to the other offer i had some time back (which i eventually didn't join) and they were OK with the report.

But you are right, it is better to explain the problem ,may be not in much detail, but at least in a superficial way so that they understand the probable requirement in the future.

Thanks again. I will make sure i do that.

[Rosalyn-helpline Partner]

Dear Pankaj_Arora,

Please contact us at the Macular Society Advice and Information Service.

We are open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 00 44 1264 350559.

Alternately, you can contact us via:

[e-mail]

Kind regards,

[Pankaj_Arora in reply to Rosalyn-helpline]

Sure. Since i am from India, i would prefer emailing at [e-mail]

Thanks

[Ceri2]

Good luck with all of your difficult decisions. I guess the other way of looking at it is, we probably all have the best sight that we are going to have at the moment, so if we don’t try for the new job etc now, we may never do it. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Pankaj_Arora in reply to Ceri2]

Excellent Point Ceri2 . Its good to be sure and cautious before making any changes but if one doesn't accept the change due to fear of loss, he/she might regret later in that respect as well.

I didn't take any new employment since 2013 with the fear of complications to the eye and nothing happened and now i accepted an offer, complications started which couldn't get diagnosed as such.

I will hopefully be taking your advice that "we all probably have the best eye sight right now rather than later so go for it"

Thanks again. Cheers !!