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Are multiple retina reattachment surgeries likely to have good results?
I am a 74-year-old female retired computer programmer. 10 to 15 years ago I had cataract surgery on both eyes. 3 or 4 years after that, I had a small retina tear in the right eye, which my regular opth quickly lasered and watched every 6 months.
Last Christmas season (late Dec 2015), I developed a retina detachment in that eye. The opth quickly sent me to a specialist. By the time I was in surgery 4 days later, I had a small window of vision in the bottom outside corner of about 10%. When the specialist saw me 24-hours post-op, he said the retina was reattaching nicely, and I could stop being face-down for the gas bubble.
At each of the follow-up visits (1-month, 2-month, 3-month), everything still looked good. Then,. shortly after the 3-month visit, I started losing vision again. The scar tissue was pulling on the retina.
The doctor did a second reattachment surgery, using silicone oil this time. After 6 months, He pronounced the retina satisfactorily healed and scheduled surgery to remove the oil.
Two weeks later, scar tissue started pulling the retina away again, so back in to surgery for a third reattachment.
At the 1-day post-op visit, I reported scratchiness in the operated eye. The doctor told me the stitches appeared to be irritating the eyelid, and had me use the Pred drops 6 times a day along with an erythromycin ointment (I'm allergic to Sulfa) until the scratchiness resolved (which it did in about 4 days), along with other drops at 4- and 12-hour intervals. He said the reattachment looked good in that eye.
(My opinion) I appear to be in the 9% that do not successfully reattach. After each surgery, I have less vision than previously. At this point, 1 week post surgery, I still cannot see the E at the top of the chart. The doctor says I should start getting vision back as the internal swelling goes down. My other eye is still good.
Intra-Ocular Pressure is good, about 18 in the right and about 17 in the left eye. My iris has been unresponsive since the first surgery.
I am not scheduled to see the surgeon again for another 3 weeks. I can see light and basic colors in the bad (right) eye, but no real visual definition. I am using Pred drops 2x a day until they run out.
Is there a point at which I should see the surgeon earlier than scheduled (for possibly another surgery)? How long should I wait to see if any real vision returns? Until my scheduled appointment?
Last Christmas season (late Dec 2015), I developed a retina detachment in that eye. The opth quickly sent me to a specialist. By the time I was in surgery 4 days later, I had a small window of vision in the bottom outside corner of about 10%. When the specialist saw me 24-hours post-op, he said the retina was reattaching nicely, and I could stop being face-down for the gas bubble.
At each of the follow-up visits (1-month, 2-month, 3-month), everything still looked good. Then,. shortly after the 3-month visit, I started losing vision again. The scar tissue was pulling on the retina.
The doctor did a second reattachment surgery, using silicone oil this time. After 6 months, He pronounced the retina satisfactorily healed and scheduled surgery to remove the oil.
Two weeks later, scar tissue started pulling the retina away again, so back in to surgery for a third reattachment.
At the 1-day post-op visit, I reported scratchiness in the operated eye. The doctor told me the stitches appeared to be irritating the eyelid, and had me use the Pred drops 6 times a day along with an erythromycin ointment (I'm allergic to Sulfa) until the scratchiness resolved (which it did in about 4 days), along with other drops at 4- and 12-hour intervals. He said the reattachment looked good in that eye.
(My opinion) I appear to be in the 9% that do not successfully reattach. After each surgery, I have less vision than previously. At this point, 1 week post surgery, I still cannot see the E at the top of the chart. The doctor says I should start getting vision back as the internal swelling goes down. My other eye is still good.
Intra-Ocular Pressure is good, about 18 in the right and about 17 in the left eye. My iris has been unresponsive since the first surgery.
I am not scheduled to see the surgeon again for another 3 weeks. I can see light and basic colors in the bad (right) eye, but no real visual definition. I am using Pred drops 2x a day until they run out.
Is there a point at which I should see the surgeon earlier than scheduled (for possibly another surgery)? How long should I wait to see if any real vision returns? Until my scheduled appointment?
Its not possible to tell if "good vision" will return or not. I would call the surgeon's office tomorrow and ask about an earlier visit.
2 Comments
ok. Thank you.
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