Researchers from the University of Liverpool have found that approximately half of patients who have an eye removed due to intraocular melanoma experience `phantom eye syndrome.’
Health Psychologist Laura Hope-Stone lead the study based at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre, Royal Liverpool University Hospital which is lead by Prof Heimann.
Researchers assessed 179 patients whose eye had been removed as a result of intraocular melanoma. Most see only patterns or colours, but some feel they see people and scenes. They found that more than a third of the patients experienced phantom eye symptoms every day. In most patients, the symptoms ceased spontaneously. More than one-in-four reported that they sometimes feel that they can even see what is actually happening around them. A similar number feel pain in the non-existent eye.
The researchers found that a fifth of patients find these sensations pleasurable, but a similar number are disturbed by them.
Prof Heimann, said: “These results are important because now we can tell patients not to be alarmed if they experience visual sensations or pain afterwards...We can also warn them that, unfortunately, removing an eye does not guarantee that there will be no pain weeks or months afterwards.”
The research is published in the American Academy of Ophthalmology and can be accessed by clicking HERE.
The full article published for the University of Liverpool newsletter can be found HERE.
Health Psychologist Laura Hope-Stone lead the study based at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre, Royal Liverpool University Hospital which is lead by Prof Heimann.
Researchers assessed 179 patients whose eye had been removed as a result of intraocular melanoma. Most see only patterns or colours, but some feel they see people and scenes. They found that more than a third of the patients experienced phantom eye symptoms every day. In most patients, the symptoms ceased spontaneously. More than one-in-four reported that they sometimes feel that they can even see what is actually happening around them. A similar number feel pain in the non-existent eye.
The researchers found that a fifth of patients find these sensations pleasurable, but a similar number are disturbed by them.
Prof Heimann, said: “These results are important because now we can tell patients not to be alarmed if they experience visual sensations or pain afterwards...We can also warn them that, unfortunately, removing an eye does not guarantee that there will be no pain weeks or months afterwards.”
The research is published in the American Academy of Ophthalmology and can be accessed by clicking HERE.
The full article published for the University of Liverpool newsletter can be found HERE.
