Worried about eye flashes

[pjutter]

It's been almost 3 weeks since I had laser surgery for partial retinal detachment.  I'm supposed to go back to the eye doctor on Wednesday, but I think I'm going to show up Monday morning instead.  This is because I think I've seen a few flashes of light in that eye.  I know that flashes of light are common (like floaters), but I don't remember ever having seen them before (though it's possible I saw them without noticing them).  I read that "sudden onset of a lot of flashes" is really a bad indication.  What's a lot?  Should I be trying to find eye help over the weekend?

FYI:  I had one post-op visit one week after the laser surgery.  The eye doctor said things looked good and that the scarring was at about 80% of its capacity to hold.  I still suspect something could have gone wrong since though.  Not sure how alarming flashes are in general.

Thanks for any help,
Phyllis

[aimee37]

I WOULD CALL YOU DOC AND TELL HIM OR HER OF THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE HAVING. I HAVE FLASHES EVERY DAY. BUT I CANNT RUN TO THE DOC EVERY TIME I HAVE ONE. BUTI CALL AND LET HER KNOW ABOUT THEM. SHE TELLS ME IF THE GET WORSE TO CALL HER RIGHT AWAY.

[aimee37]

As it turns out, my eye is fine. :-) I had a dilated exam again yesterday, and there was no progression of the detachment.  Yay!!!  The flashes are apparently an anomaly from the detachment.  Awfully disturbing the first time I noticed them.  They say I'll probably see that on and off over time and it will dissipate some times or get stirred up others.  Weird, but okay so long as it's not a problem!

Hopefully the laser surgery will prevent any further detachment.  It's been 3 weeks now and they say the scars as strong as they will ever be.  

Thanks for this great forum!
Phyllis

[aimee37]

Okay will do.  Thanks for you input....

[Forum-OD-MP]

this is very tough to gauge in a forum like this.  but to be conservative, any 'new' symptoms like flashes should be investigated.  you probably need to be seen before your appt on wed.  whether it can wait till monday or not is a very tough call.  one that i certainly cannot make over the internet.

why dont you call the surgeon's office and ask their nurse?  or call the answering service and get their nurse/doc to call you back and talk to you about it?  thats the most conservative thing...assume the worst.