HD Vision WrapArounds

**turbo-1** · Jun22-08, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by WarPhalange

What would happen if you wore those while watching TV in HD? Would your eyes just melt from the clear picture?

Yes! I had a '65 Jeep CJ5 and I loved JC Whitney. I bought all the fuel-saving devices they offered, and I had to stop every 20 miles or so to siphon the extra gas out of the tank so it wouldn't overflow. That was a pain in the a$$. Had to get rid of the Jeep because it was too small to carry the gas-cans.

**Cherylyn** · Jun22-08, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by turbo-1

If you have been properly diagnosed, you have small nodules growing on your cornea - the outer surface of the eye. They can be surgically removed to re-establish proper curvature and restore good vision. You should talk to your doctor about this.

I'm pretty confident about the diagnosis, it came from a doctor at Doheny Eye Instute here in Los Angeles, he's a corneal specialist, and I had confidence in him.

If you'll bear with me, I'll give you my story, as briefly as I can. Since I've got your 'ear', LOL.

Unfortunately, I belong to a Blue Cross HMO. The whole thing started because my very astute optometrist wrote me a note that said she suspected some kind of Keratitas(sp?) she told me to give the note to my primary physician, which I did, after several months I rec'vd a referral to the ophthalmologist that is part of the HMO. He took a look, said he thought the optometrist was right, and he said it was 'very unusual' and he felt I'd qualify to see the specialist, due to the rarity. After several more months I rec'vd the referral to see Dr. Song at Doheny Eye Institute. He had some impressive equipment, anyway, he immediately diagnosed it as Saltzman's. He said there were several options, the first being steroid eye drops "Alrex". I followed up 3 months later, the nodules looked much better, they were gathering together into one and I had marked improvement, but they didn't disappear. I followed up a few more times, and while there was no more improvement, they didn't get any worse. I was expecting to go on to another option, instead Blue Cross declined the next follow-up, and sent me back to the original ophthalmologist. I liked that doctor, but he was of advanced age, and felt some of the options, like surgery were too extreme, he told me it wouldn't get better, that his goal was to make me comfortable. I didn't get a vote. He retired a few years later, and I rec'vd a letter that a new ophthalmologist was under contract, I've been seeing that one for the past year. I told him I had conflicting opinions on the course of treatment, and asked him what he thought, he literally shrugged. He said to continue the Alrex, and follow up every 3 months. They've taken lots of pictures of my eyes, but haven't told me what to expect, or what my options were, nothing. Until my last visit. I told him the glare problem was worse, I noticed a decline in my vision, and that my eyes felt more strained lately after working on the computer. He told me the nodules looked about the same, that it might be normal fluctuations. However, I did tell him it was getting to be more of a problem, so he said 'let me take a look at the surrounding tissue. Then he said well you 'have a couple of small cataracts' WHAT??? !!?? I said 'isn't that really bad?' 'something very elderly people get?' I'm 48, not young, bit I will need my eyes for many years to come, I'm a Teacher Librarian. He said no, everybody has them, it's like a wrinkle. But you know, I remember the other doctor saying the Alrex might possibly cause cataracts. He also said the nodules are getting closer to the pupil. Then, out of the blue, he said "We might have to consider a corneal transplant'....uh, let's just say I was shocked, since he had been pretty laid back and unconcerned in the past. I told him the Doheny Doctor had said there were options, including surgical removal, he said "oh, I can write another referral, if you'd like' well, needless to say, I very much wanted that, he wrote the referral, and I'm now waiting to see if Blue Cross will approve it.

To his credit the current ophthalmologist, had prescribed Restasis to combat the dry eye associated with Salzman's, and, of course, Blue Cross declined the prescription. The last time I saw him was Friday, and he now had samples, so he gave me a month's supply, I've been using them twice a day like he said. So...there you have it, another HMO nightmare. and here I am, looking into HD Wraparounds...

**Evo** · Jun22-08, 11:49 PM

Here there is a community "fund" that pays for prescriptions for people that aren't covered by their insurance. You might want to check around. Also check with local medical schools that might deal with your problem. Also, most hospitals work with charities and have other options to help pay for what is not covered by insurance. Unfortunately, too many people don't know to even ask about these options.

Good luck!

**turbo-1** · Jun23-08, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by Cherylyn

I'm pretty confident about the diagnosis, it came from a doctor at Doheny Eye Instute here in Los Angeles, he's a corneal specialist, and I had confidence in him.

If you'll bear with me, I'll give you my story, as briefly as I can. Since I've got your 'ear', LOL.

Unfortunately, I belong to a Blue Cross HMO. The whole thing started because my very astute optometrist wrote me a note that said she suspected some kind of Keratitas(sp?) she told me to give the note to my primary physician, which I did, after several months I rec'vd a referral to the ophthalmologist that is part of the HMO. He took a look, said he thought the optometrist was right, and he said it was 'very unusual' and he felt I'd qualify to see the specialist, due to the rarity. After several more months I rec'vd the referral to see Dr. Song at Doheny Eye Institute. He had some impressive equipment, anyway, he immediately diagnosed it as Saltzman's. He said there were several options, the first being steroid eye drops "Alrex". I followed up 3 months later, the nodules looked much better, they were gathering together into one and I had marked improvement, but they didn't disappear. I followed up a few more times, and while there was no more improvement, they didn't get any worse. I was expecting to go on to another option, instead Blue Cross declined the next follow-up, and sent me back to the original ophthalmologist. I liked that doctor, but he was of advanced age, and felt some of the options, like surgery were too extreme, he told me it wouldn't get better, that his goal was to make me comfortable. I didn't get a vote. He retired a few years later, and I rec'vd a letter that a new ophthalmologist was under contract, I've been seeing that one for the past year. I told him I had conflicting opinions on the course of treatment, and asked him what he thought, he literally shrugged. He said to continue the Alrex, and follow up every 3 months. They've taken lots of pictures of my eyes, but haven't told me what to expect, or what my options were, nothing. Until my last visit. I told him the glare problem was worse, I noticed a decline in my vision, and that my eyes felt more strained lately after working on the computer. He told me the nodules looked about the same, that it might be normal fluctuations. However, I did tell him it was getting to be more of a problem, so he said 'let me take a look at the surrounding tissue. Then he said well you 'have a couple of small cataracts' WHAT??? !!?? I said 'isn't that really bad?' 'something very elderly people get?' I'm 48, not young, bit I will need my eyes for many years to come, I'm a Teacher Librarian. He said no, everybody has them, it's like a wrinkle. But you know, I remember the other doctor saying the Alrex might possibly cause cataracts. He also said the nodules are getting closer to the pupil. Then, out of the blue, he said "We might have to consider a corneal transplant'....uh, let's just say I was shocked, since he had been pretty laid back and unconcerned in the past. I told him the Doheny Doctor had said there were options, including surgical removal, he said "oh, I can write another referral, if you'd like' well, needless to say, I very much wanted that, he wrote the referral, and I'm now waiting to see if Blue Cross will approve it.

To his credit the current ophthalmologist, had prescribed Restasis to combat the dry eye associated with Salzman's, and, of course, Blue Cross declined the prescription. The last time I saw him was Friday, and he now had samples, so he gave me a month's supply, I've been using them twice a day like he said. So...there you have it, another HMO nightmare. and here I am, looking into HD Wraparounds...

Cherylyn, your diagnosis (if accurate) has a reliable surgical remedy. It's probably only mildly more complex than that of a patient who who needs surgical re-shaping of their cornea for purely visual correction, but your case has to be individually evaluated by an ophthalmologist. Dry eye and associated side effects associated with your condition can bring on other problems that can result in vision loss, and your doctor should evaluate your condition seriously in regard to such possibilities. Please see another ophthalmologist for a second opinion, and ask him/her to interact with your insurance company. Loss of sight is a very serious issue with medical insurance companies, and they may well be willing to cover the cost of surgery if the procedure is properly prescribed and the diagnosis is properly documented and coded. (Don't get me started on medical coding!!) I wish you the best. Please seek further help. Best regards and best wishes.

**Cherylyn** · Jun23-08, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by turbo-1

Cherylyn, your diagnosis (if accurate) has a reliable surgical remedy. It's probably only mildly more complex than that of a patient who who needs surgical re-shaping of their cornea for purely visual correction, but your case has to be individually evaluated by an ophthalmologist. Dry eye and associated side effects associated with your condition can bring on other problems that can result in vision loss, and your doctor should evaluate your condition seriously in regard to such possibilities. Please see another ophthalmologist for a second opinion, and ask him/her to interact with your insurance company. Loss of sight is a very serious issue with medical insurance companies, and they may well be willing to cover the cost of surgery if the procedure is properly prescribed and the diagnosis is properly documented and coded. (Don't get me started on medical coding!!) I wish you the best. Please seek further help. Best regards and best wishes.

I will do that, thank you so much, to think that this can be corrected is encouraging. Thank you so much.

I should have sought another opinion long ago, I'm usually pretty assertive about important issues like my vision, I just got caught up in the complexity of it all I guess. Now that the school year has ended I'll have time to find another ophthalmologist, and take on Blue Cross. I'm sure the surgery would be less costly to BC than continuing to see the ophthalmologist every 3 months and prescribe the Alrex the rest of my life. Anyway, again, thank you, you have no idea how hard it has been for me to get information or insight. There's not much help on the net either. Funny how things work, I happened upon this site while looking at HD Wraparounds, go figure

**Cherylyn** · Jun23-08, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by Evo

Here there is a community "fund" that pays for prescriptions for people that aren't covered by their insurance. You might want to check around. Also check with local medical schools that might deal with your problem. Also, most hospitals work with charities and have other options to help pay for what is not covered by insurance. Unfortunately, too many people don't know to even ask about these options.

Good luck!

Thank you, that is good to know. I will pay on my own if necessary, but without insurance I'm sure I could only go so far on a teacher's salary. I'll give Doheny a call, since I've never asked them, just to see if they might have some advise for me along those lines.

Hey, you guys have been so nice and helpful, I'll bookmark this site, and let you know the outcome, if that's okay. I'm into books, we need a final chapter.

Bye for now!

**Ivan Seeking** · Jun23-08, 02:22 AM

Please do visit again.

**Mr Noblet** · Jul4-08, 03:13 PM

The night vision glasses that come free with these seem just as outrageous as the HD glasses.

**Cherylyn** · Dec4-08, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by Cherylyn

Thank you, that is good to know. I will pay on my own if necessary, but without insurance I'm sure I could only go so far on a teacher's salary. I'll give Doheny a call, since I've never asked them, just to see if they might have some advise for me along those lines.

Hey, you guys have been so nice and helpful, I'll bookmark this site, and let you know the outcome, if that's okay. I'm into books, we need a final chapter.

Bye for now!

Hi, Back! I saw the corneal specialist @Doheny Eye Institute in August, he said it was time to cut the nodules out, but before he proceded with surgical removal, he told me to see the laser specialist for consultation, that he might be able to remove the lesions through PTK(Phototheraputic Keratectomy). I rec'vd a thorough work up, this doctor said he thought I was a good candidate for the surgery. He prescribed a stronger eye drop, "Prednisolone" and an antibiotic, some low level type, since he discovered I had clogged oil ducts under my lower eye lids. He said he'd like to get me in good shape for surgery. Then, of course, it went to Blue Cross for authorization. Doheny HATES HMO's, that's understandable, since they have so many requirements, but after all, that's why I have insurance, so the doctor sent a letter, and I took the meds in the meantime, I feel like my vision has improved with the stronger eye drops, but it improved with the milder drops at first too, so I don't expect the improvement to be permenant without the surgery.

Well, miracle of miracle, I rec'vd authorization from Blue Cross today, I'm very happy, although, I wish it hadn't taken so long, and been so difficult. I actually think my vision will get better, the sensativity to light has been the most difficult issue for me, bright sunlight is excrutiating to me.

According to the authorization letter, my preliminary diagnosis: 371.46, nodular cornea degen.
service to be performed: Phototheraputic Keratectomy

Turbo 1: Special thanks to you, I felt more confident about speaking with the doctor at Doheny, and you were right, there is an effective treatment. I don't know about the 'coding, and documentation of the diagnosis" but I hope they got it right, because I'm clueless about such matters, and Blue Cross restricted approval to 1 visit. Come to think of it, I have 2 eyes, I thought they'd do the procedure to one eye at a time.... LOL, whatever, step by step I guess.

Thanks again to all of you.

**Anticitizen** · Jan11-09, 12:23 AM

Congrats, Cherylyn! Blue Cross has saved money by preventing stress-induced heart failure from you having to worry about your vision :)

**Anticitizen** · Jan13-09, 02:00 AM

I'd like to add that I find this to be a valid product, and that the problem is in the sales pitch and terminology (there's nothing 'HD' about it). Glasses like these (which are nothing new) simply reduce contrast (and by extension glare) and normalize what's being viewed so a bright region on, say, the leftmost part of your field of vision doesn't make you miss the pedestrian on your right. The sun visor in your car does the same thing but clumsier.

**vettemaster93** · Jan21-10, 07:26 PM

These HD Sunglasses are nothing more than a re-release of an old product from the past. Does anyone remember about 10 years or so ago the "BLUBLOCKERS" which all they do is removes a blue color out of the light spectrum using layers of filters in the glasses from an atricle from a Eye Doctor that I just read. Its amazing how an old product never dies it just gets reinvented.

**Pengwuino** · Jan21-10, 07:46 PM

One lady in the ad claims they look like designer glasses, when really they look down right silly.

... and the distinction is?