 Linda Nacif feels she has been
given a “new start on life.” At the age
of 58, Linda noticed that her eyes appeared to beprotruding
from their sockets and were tearing excessively. She was also
experiencing weight loss, accelerated heart beat, and insomnia;
all symptoms of thyroid overaction. When eye involvement is
associated with thyroid imbalance, this is referred to as Thyroid
Eye Disease
(TED). Linda had an even more uncommon condition associated
with TED, Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis (SLK). This
typically
involves pain, burning, and irritation of the eye resulting
in the development
of inflammation of the conjunctiva beneath the upper eyelid.
Linda said she had “lost her identity” because she
was embarrassed to even look her loved ones in the eye and always
wore dark sunglasses in public. Thinking back on her experience,
Linda
expressed that, “
Having TED and SLK represents more than the loss of vision with
diplopia - it is the loss of identity. The eyes are the doorway
to the heart and allow expressions of tenderness, love and care
for those close to us and mean more than a thousand words. All
of a sudden, with TED, we only have one expression – SCARED!
We fear we will never be able to reflect normal expressions
again.”
| Linda was diagnosed with TED and SLK in 2004 by Dr. Renata
Ochabski, an alum of the Shiley Eye Center. Dr. Ochabski
referred Linda to Shiley's Thyroid Eye Clinic, a unique
multi-disciplinary team of three ophthalmologists who combine
their specialties to best treat TED patients. Dr. David
B. Granet, Director of the Anne and Abraham Ratner Children's
Eye Center, treats misalignment and/or enlargement of eye
muscles through non-surgical and surgical approaches; Dr.
Leah Levi, Chief of Neuro-ophthalmology, addresses the
uncommon involvement of the optic nerve in patients with
thyroid orbitopathy; and Dr. Don O. Kikkawa, Chief of Ophthalmic
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, restores the eyes of
these patients back to their natural position in the orbit,
improving both function and appearance. |
"Thanks to my caring and wonderful doctors at Shiley, I
am me again!" said Linda.
|
Linda arrived at Shiley feeling
anxious and frightened but after meeting the Thyroid
team she became more at ease. She remembers how “down-to-earth” Dr.
Granet was, Dr. Levi's empathy, and Dr. Kikkawa's overwhelming
assurance; she considered them a perfect team. She
appreciated their honesty, understanding, and superior
ability to handle
her problem.
It took about two years for the Thyroid team to get
Linda from diagnosis to recovery. Thanks to Shiley's
Thyroid
team, Linda regained symmetry in both eyes and felt
comfortable in her own skin again. Now she has a new
start on life
and is able to see things she didn't see before! “Thanks
to my caring and wonderful doctors at Shiley, I am me again!” said
Linda. Linda wishes to express her gratitude to the doctors
at the Shiley Eye Center. In her own words, she states, “Thank
you Drs. Levi, Granet, and Kikkawa for always empathizing,
for being so professional, and for giving me back
myself! And thank you for the joy, satisfaction,
and pride upon
witnessing the result of Dr. Kikkawa's successful
operation. I pray
that anyone who suffers from TED and/or SLK gets
to have the opportunity
to get their lives back as I have!”
|
