Ptosis......no more ptosis crutches

[Chris Ryser]

A real expierience to have an eyelid hanging over a quarter of the pupil. You have to pull up at your eyebrow to lift it so you can see clearly, or eventually have a ptisis crutch mounted on your glasses.

I have been such a case until yesterday afternoon, when I got rolled into the day surgery operating room.

Face got washed by the nurse. The surgeon who is an ophthalmologist and specialised in plastic eye surgery, professor at the McGill university had 2 interns assisting, for a 1 eyelid fix. There were also 4 medical students watching. It was a whole lecture session and immensly interesting for myself.

A couple of needle punctures for the local anaestesy did the trick and then several layers of the skin lifted. The most interesting part was when the right point was found where to lift. I had to open the eyes, then put into a sitting position and the whole gang was at my feet having to give a judgment if it was high enough or not.

It was not, so ly down again and some more scraping in my eyelid. Then sit up again and look straight forward and judge the height again. The women assistant a good looking doctor from India insisted that it was a fraction too high and back down I went again and there was some more scraping.

The I got pulled up again into the sitting position for the third time and the general judgement was that it was dead on.

Back down again, and the big chief told the male assistant to close it up. This took mabout 10 minutes using a thread so fine it looked like half the diameter of a hair whenever the eyelid got lifted a bit.

Then I got rolled into the recovery room, hooked up to all sort of gadgets which I dont think I needed after a local anasthesy. But it was the rule.

It was one of the most pleasant expieriences of recent times, I could see well without the bothersome droopy eyelid one had to lift slightly to get the same effect. The eyelid is still swollen for next few days and also a little dark blueish and I look as if I was punched by my wife.

I have made a few ptosis crutches in the old days but am really glad I can do without myself, but probably it would have come to that point if modern surgery would not be possible.

[Fezz]

Great news Chris! I wish you a speedy recovery!

I have had the dis-pleasure of making a few crutches in the past. I haven't had to make one in 10+ years! No, I do not miss doing it either!


:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

[Dave Nelson]

A ptosis what?
Just kidding. A few years back we got a call from an ophthalmologist in Vancouver, 50 miles away, who was calling optical stores accross the grater Vancouver area looking for someone to do a ptosis crutch. We were the 20th store they had tried, the second one who had even heard of a ptosis crutch, and the first one that could actually do one. The patient, who had an underlying medical reason why the couldn't have the surgery, drove 100 miles round trip to get the crutch done up.

[EyeFitWell]

My mother went through her ptosis surgery about a year ago, both eyes. For some reason, they gave her enough numbing agent to kill a horse, but it didn't take on her. So, while she's really glad for the results (free face-lift she calls it, b/c the insurance paid), she didn't so much enjoy being able to feel the entire surgery. Pretty interesting stuff all in all, and certainly a happy alternative to the crutch! :-)

[Jacqui]

Good for you Chris !! I'm glad surgery went well, do everything the doctors tell you.

P.S. I made 3 crutches last week for people that can't have surgery.

[chip anderson]

I have made ptosis crutches for patient's after several lid surgeries have failed to correct the problem. I hope your surgery continues to do well, mine did. But as a tool they aren't going to go away entirely. This is something basic every Optician should be able to do.

Chip

[Jacqui]

This is something basic every Optician should be able to do.

Chip

But many have no idea how. :( :(

[Fezz]

But many have no idea how. :( :(

Sadly.........many don't even know what they are!

:cheers::angry::cheers::shiner:

[Now I See]

A real expierience to have an eyelid hanging over a quarter of the pupil. You have to pull up at your eyebrow to lift it so you can see clearly, or eventually have a ptisis crutch mounted on your glasses.

I have been such a case until yesterday afternoon, when I got rolled into the day surgery operating room.

Face got washed by the nurse. The surgeon who is an ophthalmologist and specialised in plastic eye surgery, professor at the McGill university had 2 interns assisting, for a 1 eyelid fix. There were also 4 medical students watching. It was a whole lecture session and immensly interesting for myself.

A couple of needle punctures for the local anaestesy did the trick and then several layers of the skin lifted. The most interesting part was when the right point was found where to lift. I had to open the eyes, then put into a sitting position and the whole gang was at my feet having to give a judgment if it was high enough or not.

It was not, so ly down again and some more scraping in my eyelid. Then sit up again and look straight forward and judge the height again. The women assistant a good looking doctor from India insisted that it was a fraction too high and back down I went again and there was some more scraping.

The I got pulled up again into the sitting position for the third time and the general judgement was that it was dead on.

Back down again, and the big chief told the male assistant to close it up. This took mabout 10 minutes using a thread so fine it looked like half the diameter of a hair whenever the eyelid got lifted a bit.

Then I got rolled into the recovery room, hooked up to all sort of gadgets which I dont think I needed after a local anasthesy. But it was the rule.

It was one of the most pleasant expieriences of recent times, I could see well without the bothersome droopy eyelid one had to lift slightly to get the same effect. The eyelid is still swollen for next few days and also a little dark blueish and I look as if I was punched by my wife.

I have made a few ptosis crutches in the old days but am really glad I can do without myself, but probably it would have come to that point if modern surgery would not be possible.

I'm glad all went well, Chris! :)

Sadly.........many don't even know what they are!

:cheers::angry::cheers::shiner:

I know what one is.....but.....

...This is something basic every Optician should be able to do.

Chip

I gotta admit :o I have never done one. Is the crutch soldered on the back of the eyewire?

[Barry Santini]

Chip, I don't think fabricating and fitting a ptosis crutch can reasonably be considered "simple", IMHO.

Barry

[Chris Ryser]

Chip, I don't think fabricating and fitting a ptosis crutch can reasonably be considered "simple",

Nothing is simple if you have not learned it. However if you can solder and bend a piece of metal, cover it with a nylon tube or even with a part of a temple tip it becomes not such an impossible task.
It gets a little tougher if you have to mount one on a plastic frame.

We learned it during our apprentiship.

[Johns]

But many have no idea how. :( :(

I definitely know what they are, but have absolutely no clue how they are made.

I've been trying to sell them, but these darned ophthalmologists keep pushing surgery!!

I'm never going to make it in this business...:hammer:

[Fezz]

I've been trying to sell them, but these darned ophthalmologists keep pushing surgery!!

I'm never going to make it in this business...:hammer:

Don't worry, you can come back to the bridge anytime!

[chip anderson]

No one has mentioned it but ptosis crutch can be added to zyl frame. Bend wire like you want it, heat it and shove it into frame.
How come the young "educated" opticians don't know stuff like this?

Chip

[Chris Ryser]

How come the young "educated" opticians don't know stuff like this?
Chip

They probably tell the patients that they can get the same effect by getting the most expensive progressive in a designer frame......................... when they hear the price the eyelid starts working again.......shock therapy. :hammer:

[Dave Nelson]

Rather than lament the lack of skills the younger genration have, it pays to realize that ptosis crutch is being done about 99% less today than it was back in the 'day.
Not every auto-mechanic can fix a buggy wheel Chipster.:bbg:

[DragonLensmanWV]

Glad your surgery went well Chris. I had a customer come in that had that done, but the surgeon removed a bit too much tissue and now she can't get her eyelid all the way closed. So she has to wait awhile and he can see if he can add some slack back. It's not too much of a problem except at night her eyes dry up.

[Johns]

Rather than lament the lack of skills the younger genration have, it pays to realize that ptosis crutch is being done about 99% less today than it was back in the 'day.
Not every auto-mechanic can fix a buggy wheel Chipster.:bbg:

Yeah, but when they do need it, by golly he's going to clean up!

[hcjilson]

Chris,
I was wondering why you were still using Quebec as your address. That explains it......wish you a speedy recovery...and quick trip South!
Harry

[chip anderson]

He can if he's a Mechanic. He can't if he's a parts changer.

[Now I See]

How come the young "educated" opticians don't know stuff like this?

Chip

:) Now, take it easy on us "newbies" :) Some of us young "whipper-snappers" went through the apprenticeship program, we were trained on the "new-fangled" equipment - all push-button, ya know :D

Seriously, though...I've said it before, I'm a self-proclaimed "gerber-baby"...got alot to learn, but I'm willing and able...and appreciate all of you here who are willing to share your knowledge! :)

[Johns]

:) Now, take it easy on us "newbies" :)

You have to keep in mind that what's remarkable about Chip is that he had to figure out the crutch thing all on his own. You see, he was making them before they had invented glasses, so it was quite a challenge!:D :bbg:

[DragonLensmanWV]

You have to keep in mind that what's remarkable about Chip is that he had to figure out the crutch thing all on his own. You see, he was making them before they had invented glasses, so it was quite a challenge!:D :bbg:

I'll tell you what a challenge is. My grandfather invented the hole in the straw. Before that, you had to suck it up the outside!
:D:bbg::cheers:

[sharpstick777]

It was one of the most pleasant expieriences of recent times.

Chris, I think we need to hang out the next time we are in Vegas...

I have made a few ptosis crutches in the old days but am really glad I can do without myself, but probably it would have come to that point if modern surgery would not be possible.

The only mention I have ever seen was on my ABO exam ages and ages ago. The Dr I work for had never even heard of one.

Sharpstick

[Fezz]

I see this as one of the many downfalls of Universal Healthcare!

As a Canadian, this kind of surgery is taken care of. Here in the States, you will be hard pressed to get coverage for this. It is hard to convince an insurance company that it is not just a poorly veiled attempt at getting *cosmetic surgery* covered!

Ultra-talented Opticians, such as I, will lose very lucrative income from the drying up of the ptosis crutch meal ticket!

;):cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::D