What's this in my RPE after Eyleas injections?

[ironbrain]

Had CNV/AMD in left eye 2016, didn't know if I could hold still for injections, hence no central vision in that eye.

CNV/AMD started in right eye in January 2018. No choice about going for injections. Had injections until March 2020 when oedema stopped. The small bump in my RPE, as in the first of my "photos" remained and was still there until this new event. The hospital did not know what it was (although the smaller bumps further out may be drusen, I have not been diagnosed with dry AMD).

After just one injection of Eylea, this new oedema disappeared. You can see in May though (when I had my third loading injection) that there is again another bump in my RPE. You can see its size had decreased by June. I was offered an injection then, or a check-up in four weeks (and phone in if there was bad deterioration). I elected for the latter. However, as you see, when I went in last Tuesday, this "bump" was bigger again. They gave me another injection, but still say they don't know what it is.

The letter I go from them Thursday says "slight increase in parafoveal SHEM".

"parafovea" or "perifoveal"? SHEM – something "epiretinal membrane"?

[thom3patty]

I have macula odema and I take eylea injections if I wait too long between injections I get that bump ( swelling) but am doing well having moved from 4 weeks apart to 12 weeks it did take a couple years to get this far but worth it

[ironbrain in reply to thom3patty]

I believe the average time between "outbreaks" is somewhere around 550 days. The top OCT in my post was the case from about April 2020 until about October 2021. But it's not a completely new outbreak, but something relating to that bump, I feel sure, and the hospital seems to agree.

Hope your luck holds.

[tallyho]

Hi ironbrainI don’t think there are ophthalmologists on this platform, the RNIB have an eye health team though that you could speak too they have ophthalmologists you can chat to there. Hope that helps. Just wondering has your vision changed at all over your treatment?

[ironbrain in reply to tallyho]

Thanks for that, tallyho.

Prior to mid-February, the acuity in my right eye could be as "good" as 6/7.5 with glasses. I don't know where it was with the oedema – I could scarcely read LCDs or use the computer. Now it's about 6/30 (so, with the haze – vision impaired).

Ever since the CNV/AMD started in my right eye, I've had problems seeing in an area off to my right. I'm guessing that it was the bump under the left of the fovea that's been there all the time until February. Now, all the right side of my vision is weak. I've tended to think that my vision clears a bit after the blurring of an injection subsides ... and then goes back to its general level – but perhaps it's just psychological.

[tallyho in reply to ironbrain]

I get better vision for a about 2 weeks then it tapers off too. As said RNIB eye health team are great with answering questions on eyes. Wish you the best

[Rosalyn-helpline Partner]

Hello ironbrain,

It may be worth contacting your ophthalmologist via their secretary and clarifying what they have written in your letter, and the potential implications of this.

Kind regards,

Macular Society Advice and Information Service

[ironbrain]

Thank you, Rosalyn

I expect I can wait 3 weeks, when hopefully I will have another appointment, for them to "decode" their letter.

SHEM = sub-haematomic epithelial membrane ????