RETINAL DETACHMENT POST-SURGERY AFTER-EFFECTS

[ramsesiijunior]

Whilst waiting for a bus on Thursday 26th of January, the retina in my right eye started to detach spontaneously (I haven't a clue what might have initiated it, I didn't make a fall the previous YEARS, my head wasn't hit by anything, and as 'sport' I only ride a bicycle to go to work, but I'm nearsighted).
During the course of the bus and subsequent train ride (more than 500 miles...) 'to reach civilization', most of my eyesight became covered by a deep dark green-blue curtain.
I got eye surgery to fix it (scleral buckle, cryocoagulation, no laser, pneumatic retinopexy), Monday 30th of January, 2000 miles away near my home.
Now I want to know if the following post-surgery visual problems are normal, and how long it'll take to return to some useful level, if at all.
I'll ask the same questions the next time I'll go to the doctor for a follow-up.

The iris has shrunk and pupil dilated.
My vision is foggy (it sometimes clears, i.e. when waking-up or riding the bicycle), very blurred (out of focus), too bright (daylight and adjacent areas are nearly completely blotted out), shrunk (objects appear smaller than they really are compared to the left eye), the image is unevenly shifted vertically (less in the upper part of my eye, more so lower down), deformed (lines appear wavy and bent), and the 'white balance' isn't ok (white appears as light blue-green, i.e. lacks some red).
The lack of sharpness and deformation make that I can't read any longer with the right eye.
The shrinking & uneven image shift make that my brain is no longer able to fuse the left and right images into one.

[Forum-OD-MP]

large pupil: probably okay.  very common.
out of focus: probably okay.  your rx has likely changed
too bright: related to pupil size and inflammation...probably okay
smaller object: related to buckle and rx...probably okay
deformed lines: dont know...possibly buckle problem...maybe ok, maybe not

lack of sharpness: related to buckle and rx...probably okay
brain can no longer fuse: related to buckle and rx...probably okay

the only one of those that worries me a little is the "wavy" or "deformed" lines...

[Lu An]

The reason for the larger pupil, smaller iris is because you are most likely on a mydriatic drop.  This drop will dilate your pupil and keep it dilated for as long as you are using it.  All mydriatic drops have a red lid.  Things are too bright because your iris is not able to constrict and control the amount of light that enters your eye due to the mydriatic drop.  Some of the blurred vision is due to the dilation but some is also due to the scleral buckle which basically squishes the eye and makes you more nearsighted.  You will probably need a new glasses prescription after you are healed.  Good luck

[bitterwind]

Your detachment sounds like the one I experienced.  It's called lattice degeneration and is a natural weakness in about 30% of people who are nearsighted, although only 3% of them actually lead to detachment.  As you age (I am 43), there is a pulling, causing the retina to detach. Be sure to have your other eye checked, as I had it in the other eye as well and the doctor did a laser procedure to prevent it from detaching in that eye also.

Like you, I live somewhat away from civilization.  I convinced myself for 4 days that I just had something on my contact lens.  By the time I went to the doctor, the macula had detached, making it much more serious.  For me, the macular detachment has caused the wavy distortion that you mentioned.  This distortion will be permanent.

My pupil is dilated from the surgery, which the retinal specialist says will get better in about a year.  The doctor that is now treating me says it will be permanent, but I have noticed some improvement, so I am hopeful (it all started 6 mos ago).

Your surgery sounds different than mine.  I had a gas bubble placed in my eye after surgery to hold it in place while it healed.  The bubble caused a cataract, which, in my case, caused some of the symptoms you have.  The smaller image (caused by increased nearsightedness), clouded and blurred vision, sensitivity to light, trouble with both eyes competing with each other, inability to read all are the symptoms I have associated with the cataract.  I am not sure if your surgical procedures would have caused a cataract, but be sure to mention it to your doctor.

My retina also re-detached in a small spot, which I was told happens sometimes.  I was careful not to do too much, but was told it was most likely due to inflammation from the surgery going down and pulling the newly repaired area loose again.

I am having my cataract surgery in a couple of days.  They say I should be able to see much better within a day or so...and I should be able to drive again!  Wish me luck.

[ScottV]

I had retinal surgery (torn retina corrected with buckle) Dec 20th 2005. Everything was going fine until 2 weeks ago when I started getting black thread like floaters as well as very tiny black floaters which have reduced the vision in my eye and created a yellow tint. Has anyone else experienced this? Does it eventually subside?

[sister79]

Last week my sister started having black spots/shadowing in her left eye and was diagnosed with a torn retina. She had surgery the next day, scleral buckle to repair the tear. The doctor was and has been very optomistic that she will have a full recovery as the tear did not involve the the macula. It has now been over a week and she is still having the same black spots/shadowing in the eye, with one extra small spot. It did get somewhat better but it never went away. The doctor can't really explain why, because the retina is in place. Has anyone else experienced this? How long should she expect to take to fully get back to normal? Her eye is still swollen with some brusing, and at times she still has alot of pressure, achiness on the left side. (Her eye pressures are normal). She hasn't been able to work in a week due to not feeling up to it and due to her eyesight. Thanks for any input or advice.

[Lu An]

I am sure that during surgery there was laser treatment applied to the eye around the tear.  Laser treatment causes scarring that can sometimes be noticed in the vision.  Eventually she will not notice it as much or at all.   The pressure she feels is the scleral buckle that is encircling her eye.  She will eventually adjust to this as well.  She just needs more time.  The retina specialist I work for prefers his patients to not work for 2 weeks following surgery.  Retina surgery is much more involved than cataract surgery and requires a much longer period of healing.  Patients is going to be required.  It could take 6 to 12 months for her to completely heal.  Good luck.  Lu An, COT

[sister79]

Thanks for your words of encouragement and advice, it helped greatly!

[Country Girl NC]

I had  retinal detachment surgery on March 23rd 2006.My retina was detached at the top part of the eye.The doctor told me the surgery was fairly common and I could probably return to work in a couple days.I had the surgery,the scleral buckle and everything was ok,but no work for a week and my vision in that eye is horrible.I can only see very close range less than a foot away clearly,distant vision is a blur but the doctor says he can fix that with contacts or glasses.My problem is I am having terrible headaches in my eye,especially in the middle of the night,I have to get up and take something for pain and then sit up until the headache eases enough for me to go back to bed.Has anyone else had these kind of headaches.I also can not tolerate bright light in my eye.

[nashbill]

A related discussion, Laser Retinopexy Procedure Aftereffects was started.

[overasinoit]

A related discussion, Retina Detachment Issues was started.