The usual unusual eye injury

[firefite1133]

I am going to try and keep this short. I had an injury to my left eye while firefighting. I have a verified torn sphincter muscle keeping my left pupil dilated forever. I have recently tried the prostethetic lens and hate it. I am trying to get back to work and was wondering if there's alternatives to the lens to help with the light sensitivity. Thank You.

[firefite1133]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I have heard the drops burn pretty bad and wear off throughout the day, and in my profession we have calls at night so having a constricted eye at night probably not good. Can those surgical procedures be done on a sphincter that is torn 360 degrees?

[Timothy D McGarity, M.D.]

I'm very sorry for your injury and also want to thank you for your service to the community. Pupil sphincter injury is difficult to treat. Non-surgical measures include artificial pupil contact lens-not working for you. Medicine eye drops may be of no success either, but at least worth asking (constricting drops such as pilocarpine or alphagan). Surgical alternatives include pupil repair with Siepser Knot procedure or Iris Implant (on an FDA compassionate case by case basis as it is not approved in the US yet). I hope this list helps and you need to be evaluated by an Eye MD experienced in Anterior Segment Surgery.

Sincerely,
Timothy D. McGarity, M.D.