POKESC17 Posted January 22, 2011 Posted January 22, 2011 I just wanted to pass on some information so that if anyone ever has this happen to them they will have a road map. I was diagnosed back in August with 4th nerve palsy (vertical phoria) in my right eye. I was immediately DNIF'd. Got to visit Brooke's again and even the Chief Ophthalmologist at Willford Hall. Needless to say I didn't get great news from either. Brooke's told me the chances of fixing my eyes were pretty small but if the double vision that I got in the left gaze could be corrected without glasses then they would recommend the waiver. Willford Hall just kind of laughed and said I had three options. 1. surgery (didn't recommend it because it was very invasive and under no circumstances would it fix me enough to fly again) 2. Glasses (again didn't recommend this because it would just make things worse in the long run). 3. Do ABSOLUTELY nothing. This was actually the option they recommended. The actual words were to just suffer until I couldn't stand it. I didn't like either of these answers so I requested a second opinion(actually this would have been a 4th opinion just the first that wasn't military). Flight Doc said hell yes and we set to work looking for an Ophthalmologist that had experience with my situation. As luck would have it the University of Oklahoma has an institute called the Dean McGee Eye institute. These guys operate on the cutting edge of eye surgery. Met with a Dr. Bradley Farris and with in five minutes of hearing my story and looking at my files he laughed, said those doctors were still working with procedures that were 10 to 20 years old and the he said "I can fix you". Yesterday I had a 30 minute outpatient surgery in which he adjusted muscles to correct my right eye. So far everything seems normal. I still have slight double vision but he said this would take up to two weeks for this to correct and should go away but I could require one more surgery for fine tuning. Still no guarantee that I will get the waiver and return to the cockpit but things are definitely looking up. If anyone ever has medical issues and your not getting what you think is the best help you can get go see a civilian. Do your research and find someone who is a leader in that field. While I'm not knocking military doctors (especially flight doc's since without the help of my flight doc I would probably still be trying to get things done) the cavalier attitude that the eye doc's took with me and pretty much just writing me off has shaken what little confidence I had in them. Ok rant off. I will post an update after my checkup and visit to brooke's/wright pat. If anyone has any question just PM me and I'll give you specifics.
POKESC17 Posted February 5, 2011 Author Posted February 5, 2011 What was the original problem you had? Started getting constant headaches that were getting more frequent and more intense (almost to migraine levels)and the thing that finally pushed me to going in was constant double vision in the left gaze. After I saw the Doc and the Optometrist I was diagnosed with Vertical Phoria, Something I was apparently born with at started showing itself as I got older.
POKESC17 Posted February 6, 2011 Author Posted February 6, 2011 Any word on the waiver? Not until after my follow up Post Op in March and then a visit to Wright-Pat.
theat6bisasham Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 Not until after my follow up Post Op in March and then a visit to Wright-Pat. FYI - another great place that can do miracles with eyes and double vision is University of Miami Eye Clinic. Take a guy from DQ for double vision to 100% in a similar 30 min operation and couple weeks recovery. never trust .mil doctors...get with a specialist who charges alot of money..they usually charge alot because they are WORTH alot :)
POKESC17 Posted February 25, 2011 Author Posted February 25, 2011 FYI - another great place that can do miracles with eyes and double vision is University of Miami Eye Clinic. Take a guy from DQ for double vision to 100% in a similar 30 min operation and couple weeks recovery. never trust .mil doctors...get with a specialist who charges alot of money..they usually charge alot because they are WORTH alot :) University of Miami was the other place that kept popping up while I was doing my research. Glad to here it went positive for you. Now just to get the waiver approved.
Ramathorn Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Any word yet? I'm just curious because I may be in a similar situation with the whole double vision if I look as far to my left as I can thing.
POKESC17 Posted April 30, 2011 Author Posted April 30, 2011 My waiver is sitting at AMC as of Thursday. It was submitted to the ACS guys at Wright-Pat to see if they wanted to evaluate me. Considering they wanted to see me before I had surgery, I can't imagine they will just say he is good to go. Obviously no guarantee that it will get approved but my flight doc seems very optimistic after talking to the civilian Doc. Whether or not the waiver gets approved, the fact that I no longer have headaches or double vision make this worth it. If you do end up going down this road be prepared to push for a civilian Doctor. Air Force Docs don't have a clue when it comes to this. At least those at Willford Hall, the supposed experts.
Karl Hungus Posted May 7, 2011 Posted May 7, 2011 At least those at Willford Hall, the supposed experts. Military docs, the supposed experts, are military docs for a reason. Most of the time it's not because of an extreme desire to serve their country...
POKESC17 Posted May 7, 2011 Author Posted May 7, 2011 Military docs, the supposed experts, are military docs for a reason. Most of the time it's not because of an extreme desire to serve their country... 2. Just kind of amazing that you can go down the road to BAMC and they are putting kids back together including saving their eyesight but a doc that does a lot of work down at BAMC still thinks that the way to solve a condition like mine is by using technology and techniques that are 20-25 years old. Read a medical journal or something. Oh well I'm fixed now so it's just a matter of getting through the waiver process now.
Guest goducks Posted May 8, 2011 Posted May 8, 2011 (edited) 2. Just kind of amazing that you can go down the road to BAMC and they are putting kids back together including saving their eyesight but a doc that does a lot of work down at BAMC still thinks that the way to solve a condition like mine is by using technology and techniques that are 20-25 years old. Read a medical journal or something. Oh well I'm fixed now so it's just a matter of getting through the waiver process now. You're probably right- I'm not exposed to that environment. However, docs are best at those things they do frequently and congenital fourth nerve palsies aren't your typical battle wound. That's why a place like Dean McGee is the way to go. Edited May 8, 2011 by goducks Didn't want to sound like an A-hole.
POKESC17 Posted May 8, 2011 Author Posted May 8, 2011 You're probably right- I'm not exposed to that environment. However, docs are best at those things they do frequently and congenital fourth nerve palsies aren't your typical battle wound. That's why a place like Dean McGee is the way to go. True.
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