I had the Essure procedure done in mid 2011. All seemd fine unti early 2013, when I developed a blurry spot in my vision in one of my eyes. I went to my optomestrist ASAP and during his exam he found scarring on my retina (which was not present at my last exam 2 years prior) and that the entire back of my eyeball was inflamed, filled with fluid and blood vessels were leaking. He said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this in my 40 year career.’
I saw a retinal specialist the next day, where I was diagnosed with multi-focal choroiditis and sub-retinal vascularization. As its been explained to me, in response to an unknown autoimmune issue, that area of my eye became inflamed, and the scarring is a result of that inflammation. Blood vessels around the scars began to leak and due to that leaking, the area filled with fluid. All of this has permanently killed cells in my retina, causing vision loss and distortion. In the last 16 months, my vision in the effected eye went from 20/20 to 20/400 and continues to get worse.
Having 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other is very disorienting. Driving is difficult (and nearly impossible at night or in inclement weather). I can only be on a computer for 15 mins max, and I have had to completly give up reading books, which I have always loved. The eye strain is very difficult to deal with. I have headaches very often, migraines at least 3 times a months, I constantly feel nauseated and many days, my energy is quite low. I have had to give up my carrer as a professional photographer, and do not feel well enought o work full time in any field in any capacity.
I have had loads of blood work done in an effort to identify the source of the autoimmune disease/reaction. All of the tests came back normal, with the exception of ANA, which came back abnormal. I am only just now making the connection between Essure and my eye issue. I believe that Essure has triggered an autoimmune response, and my body is attacking my eye. I have a nickel sensitivity, and had I known that there was nickel in the coils I never would have had the procedure. In fact, the only info I was given by the doc who did the procedure was a pamphlet from Bayer. There were, to my recollection, no risks or side effects listed.
I am in the process of gathering all of my medical records so I can make a case to have the coils removed and have it covered by my health insurance. I have been told that my vision will never return, my hope now is to keep it from getting worse and to keep it from happening to my other eye.