Exceeding Expectations in Treating Diabetic Eye Disease
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After living with total blindness for six weeks, Adam Hull says he will never take his vision for granted. Adam, 24, has diabetes and, over the last several months, has experienced just how profoundly the disease can affect eyesight. Adam also realized he was lucky to be in the capable hands of retina specialist Mark W. Johnson, M.D.
When he came to the U-M Kellogg Eye Center, Adam was already blind in his right eye, despite treatment elsewhere. The cause was an especially severe form of diabetic retinopathy, a disease in which unwanted blood vessels grow on the retina. Continued growth of these abnormal vessels can cause bleeding and retinal detachment, leading to severe vision loss or even total blindness.
Now vessels were growing aggressively in Adam’s left eye, even after laser treatments. There was also edema, or swelling, in the macula (the central portion of the retina) that was beginning to affect vision. Dr. Johnson proposed an “aggressive” course of laser treatments to reduce swelling and stop blood vessel growth, followed by surgery, if necessary, to relieve traction on the retina.
With his parents at his side, Adam agreed to begin treatment. “From the start, the thing we loved about Dr. Johnson is that he is very straightforward and explains everything clearly,” says Adam. “We knew exactly what he wanted to have happen and what the difficulties might be.”
Despite laser treatment, the abnormal vessels continued their rampant proliferation, macular swelling increased, and vision declined. Adam was now legally blind. Dr. Johnson felt certain that continued laser treatment had the best chance of controlling blood vessel growth, and was hopeful that swelling would resolve after surgery. He asked Adam to continue the treatments.
Again, Adam trusted Dr. Johnson’s recommendation. “These were the longest months of my life,” he says, adding that his parents and girlfriend provided constant support. And his sister gave him a special gift—a Labrador retriever named Ben, who became another source of comfort.
After completing extensive laser treatments, Dr. Johnson was ready to perform a vitrectomy to remove the gel-like fluid in the eye. In a complex surgery lasting over four hours, he carefully dissected off the retina the vitreous gel, abnormal vessels, and scar tissue that were pulling on the macula. After surgery Adam’s vision began to improve, but his troubles were not yet over. Recurrent hemorrhaging in the eye led to total vision loss. However, ever since a second surgery to wash out the blood, Adam’s vision has steadily improved.
Dr. Johnson is not one to overstate his successes. “We performed extensive surgery at just the right time and were lucky enough to restore near-normal vision,” he says. “This outcome exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
But Adam uses stronger terms. “It’s awesome,” he says. “Dr. Johnson changed my life. He is the reason I’m seeing again.”
Today Adam’s vision in his left eye is 20/25. He has returned to work, and is reading and driving again. Ben continues to be a faithful friend, and Adam is delighted to see every mischievous move made by his 73-pound puppy.
If you have diabetes, be sure to have regular eye examinations. Learn more about diabetic retinopathy under Eye Conditions at www.kellogg.umich.edu.
