My mother just had retinal detachment repair surgery. She had had floaters and flashes for over a year, but last week she began seeing a black shadow on the corner of her eye, and it grew within a couple of days. She immediately had surgery, within 3 days of when she started seeing it, and never had the vision in her right eye fully blocked. The doctor said that she was right on time, because the most sensitive nerves were not damaged. She had pneumatic retinopexy (gas bubble) performed and scleral buckle applied to her right eye. The day after the operation she did not see the black shadow anymore, but she saw a white veil over her right eye (sensing light), and bubbles kind of floating in a watery substance.
Over the days she's begun to see shadows on the top part of her eye, sensing movements, but she still sees the white, bubbly veil on the bottom part. I assume her eye is already replacing the gas bubble with the newly generated vitreous, but I'd like to know if this makes sense.
She's growing impatient and I'm wondering what an average recovery time is for a patient like her and when could she be expected to regain vision. She is in her early 50's and very healthy. We are aware that her prescription may change, but I would just like to know the average expected times for recovery are (like when is that veil supposed to dissolve, and when is she supposed to regain reading vision, etc.) based on other doctor/patient experiences.
I would appreciate any information that would help me set her mind at ease.
Thank you.