4.5 month post Traumatic Eye Injury-Remove Scleral Buckle?

[Kritasim]

I was hit in the face with a door; my right eye ruptured and my lens shattered. First surgery closed rupture and removed shattered lens and "eye gunk"; some of which was part of my iris. My iris is only 220 degrees, or covers from 12:00 to 9:00 (by the clock) of my pupil. Very light sensitive! Does not constrict! Will need weighted contact lens with opaque iris to limit light.

Three weeks later, 2nd surgery removed vitreous sac due to large blood clot in sac preventing vision. During surgery, retina totally detached. Retina was reattached with laser + gas bubble + scleral buckle. Now, 4.5 months later, vision is returning, but I can not focus as I have no lens, also, vision is horribly distorted from other eye because this eye has scleral buckle causing myopia while other eye vision is perfect. Frequent migranes, naseau, vertigo; dealing okay with depression, self esteem issues; seeing counselor (highly recommended!).

I want to remove the scleral buckle so my vision has a better chance of matching undamaged eye with corrective efforts (glasses, contacts). I suppose the worst that could happen upon removal is a redetachment, yes? So, if retina redetaches, can't we just try to use laser + gas bubble only? And resort to scleral buckle as a last ditch effort later? I mean, once removed, it CAN be reapplied, right? Any info, thoughts, warnings? I have found zero info on net regarding a case like mine. If you have suggestions, feel free to click on my nickname above and email me direct links to sites with factual info.

Thanks!

[Ag-i-doc]

i am not a surgeon, but i have never even heard of a buckle being removed.  retinal detachments are serious matters.  you cant just "put it back on" whenever you feel like it.  the ret surgeon i know describes the retina as a "wet paper towel".  meaning it is very fragile and sometimes falls apart despite his best (and very experienced) efforts.

whe a retina detaches you have something like 48-72 hrs max to surgically correct it before the retina dies.  after that, putting it back on will not help.  the vision will be gone.

IMO having "distorted" or "uneven" vision is not a good enough reason to mess with a buckle, even if its possible, which i dont think it is.

[ecb8910]

kritasim
I have no advice but can fully relate to your situation.  In April '05, I had an airbag explode & rupture my left eye.  My lens & lense capsule were removed, I have from 12 until 10 o'clock of my iris left, I had the vitreous taken out, my retina lasered, the gas bubble & the buckle put on.  
My surgeon (supposed to be one of the 10 best in the world) thinks the eye looks great but I'm not as excited.  The vision isn't great -- it's like looking through a foggy window, a porthole because my left peripheral vision is gone.  Plus it's uncomfortable -- not actively painful just annoying enough so that I always notice it.  From his point of view, he saved the eye & I'm lucky to have one, whatever its limitations.  Still, I'm the one living with it.
When I asked my surgeon about the possibility of taking the buckle off, he was hostile & impatient.  I told him that the conjunctiva on the inside corner of my eye near my nose bothers me -- it's swollen & I have a small fluid filled cyst from my eyelid rubbing it every time I blink.  Plus I'd like my eye to feel more normal.  He told me to get my mind off the buckle, that it's my insurance policy.  
I've done research, articles on Medine Plus & in journals like Opthamology Clinics of North America.  Buckles are usually taken off only in the case of a serious problem.  Still, I'm pursuing it.  The only reason my retina detached was the traction created from scar tissue due to my accident.  Since that's been removed, I shouldn't be at further risk.  It's not like I'm diabetic or have a congenitally defective retina.  I'm going to consult with 2 more specialists.    
Any news on you?

[mt_mjt]

A related discussion, Pain ever gone? was started.