Hi

[Anri]

Hi all

I am a 30year old female living in Australia, was born in South Africa. I am one of identical twins, and were born with anopthalmia in one eye. My parents didn't choose to get medical help when I was little, they wanted me to grow up and make my own choices about it. It has never bothered me, but I keep finding myself thinking about it more and would like to talk to surgeons who have met someone like me and had success. I don't know where to start, have never met anyone like me before. I do have a happy life with 3 beautiful boys and would just like to explore my options. Can anyone give me names and places of medical team they have worked with?
Thank you
Anri
anri1980@hotmail.com

[ShaniNJ]

The best thing to do is seek out several competent oculoplastic surgeon and get their opinions. Do you currently wear a prosthesis? Do I understand that your twin also has anophthalmia? Are your sons affected at all?

OK, here's some advice that might get you some help: log onto www.LostEye.com, a website for people who have monocular vision for any reason, and go to 'Discussion Forum' on the top right. You can either post in 'Introduction of New Members' or 'General Discussion'. There are members in Australia who might have suggestions for you. Also, you can look on www.asoprs.org, the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Even if you don't visit any of these doctors, their websites might provide some useful info.

Your parents' attitude was socially progressive but not really medically sound, in that once the face and ocular orbits begin to grow and then stop growing, I don't believe there's much that can be done to address asymmetry. My son was born without his left eye, and the approach nowadays is to get a conformer or hydrogel implant into the empty socket ASAP after the birth, to stimulate the bony orbit to expand and the lids to stretch. This allows the anophthalmic orbit to "catch up" so that ultimately a convincing prosthesis may be placed.

Anyway, good luck to you and Happy Holidays! Try LostEye...

[cathallz]

Hello everyone I am Cathy. I am very concious about my eyes so I always take more care of eyes than any other organ.
:)

[deansusan82]

Hi everyone, thanks for accepting me in this forum. I hope to learn more and understand about anophthalmia.

[olegsmail]

Hi all.
In our family on 03.11.2011 a baby-girl was born with anophthalmia on both sides.We are located in Vinnitsa, Ukraine.

[lisamarg]

Hi everyone, Im a journalism and i work for magazines. Its very interesting place where we can share our thoughts.