Unsuccessful scleral buckle

I could see 2 tiny black dots in the left eye (for about a year), checked with a retina specialist who said it was early detachment and need to do a scleral buckle and possible TPPV. A week later a scleral buckle(sponge)was done, no TPPV.
Question: Could I have waited for more symptoms before surgery ?
The day after surgery went for check up and did not let the residents check my eye, because their exam of my pre surgery eye 6 times was painful. The surgeon got upset about it and was not nice to me!
Check up 2 weeks later showed that the buckle did not fill the hole. I sometimes see the black spots. They will check 3 weeks later and laser it if needed.
At this stage I like to have a second opinion and not go back to the original surgeon, is that sensible?
Right now the eye is still red, the upper eyelid does not lift to normal, eyesight normal little blurry and how long should I continue the Pred Forte drops.
I am healthy, no other problems, no myopia, age 62.

[Forum-OD-MP]

a second opinion is never, ever a bad idea.

continue the pred forte until someone (old surgeon or new eye doc) tells you to stop.  o not just stop on your own unless they tell you when to stop.

"Question: Could I have waited for more symptoms before surgery ?

well technically, yes.  but retinal detachment is waaaaay easier to "prevent" than it is to "fix".  if you'd have waited and had a full RD you might have had permanent vision loss.

[Felis]

I'm just curious. Why was the exam by the residents painful? I've had my share of eye exams but none of them was painful.

[Ag-i-doc]

painful probably b/c they were using scleral depression.  if you've never had a peripheral retinal exam with scleral depression, its not really that fun.  uncomfortable to say the least.

[Ndas]

The residents had trouble seeing the retinal detachment and so used scleral depression. I do no know the advantage of a buckle versus laser treatment

[ovsa]

About two years ago i was treated for retinal detachment using a scleral buckle and silicone sponge.The operation was successful

Recently I began noticing pain and discomfort in that eye as well as a droppy eyelid,reduced vision and discharge.

Yesterday I discovered that the  silicne sponge had become detached (i think) and is now sitting on the top left side of my eye, under the eyelid, sort of imbeded into the eye.

I visit my ophtomologist and he told me it would have to be removed.

So my questionss) are: How common is this,what causes detachment or is it rejection, what is the procedure like and recovery time, and does removing the sponge increase the chances of repeated detachment etc.

If anybody can shed some light on this for me or direct me to more on-line info (real lfe cases as opposed to clinical studies) I would be grateful.


Thanks so much.