Despite the many vision-saving eye cancer treatments available, sometimes it becomes necessary to remove an eye. For patients facing enucleation surgery, the prospect of losing an eye is scary. Fortunately, most patients can see with their remaining eye and will most likely be able to do all the things they used to do before, including driving a car. With modern eye prosthesis, the loss of the eye is hardly noticeable.
For patients facing enucleation surgery, or those who have already experienced the loss of an eye, the website LostEye.com serves as a fantastic resource, offering both practical information and encouragement.
Jay Adkisson created and edits LostEye.com. He had his eye surgically removed after doctors diagnosed him with choroidal melanoma. Because the tumor was so close to his optic nerve, Jay opted for enucleation. Just three years later, he earned his FAA pilot license. Jay’s testimonial on the LostEye.com home page offers encouragement for anybody facing the loss of an eye.
“Believe it or not, five days later I was back at work at my law practice, and now the fact that I only have one eye is barely an inconvenience, and not even something I notice unless I think about it. My driving isn’t any different (I give myself a little more space for the cars ahead of me), and my life isn’t any different. I haven’t even noticed any significant loss of depth perception. In other words, life has returned to pretty much what it was before I went in for the surgery.”
Jay says his experience led him to create LostEye.com as a way to help other patients.
“I know, and I mean really know – personally – how stressful losing an eye can be. Thus, I have created this completely free, noncommercial website for the information and support of those who have recently lost an eye, or who may lose an eye due to surgery, disease, etc.”
LostEye.com features a wide range of information for those facing enucleation surgery, as well as those who have already lost an eye. There is an entire page devoted to what patients can expect in the days leading up to surgery and during their recovery. You will find information on how to protect the remaining good eye and how to cope with the fear of losing an eye. There are also pages devoted to driving with one eye, prosthetic eyes, and a discussion on depth perception.
But it’s not just the information available that makes LostEye.com such a good resource. It also hosts an online community through a robust discussion forum. Here, patients facing the loss of an eye can connect with people who have already gone through the experience. They can ask questions, receive encouragement and exchange information. The opportunity to connect with others who have walked the same path helps patients realize they aren’t alone.
LostEye.com provides both information and encouragement and is a resource anybody dealing with the loss of an eye will find valuable.
