Are my headaches long term effect of scleral buckle?

[WTFheadaches]

In the last 6 months I have started getting unbearable pain that starts in my left eye socket (above/behind eyeball) and then becomes more painful. It seems like there might be pressure in my ear and/or sinus and in my head above my eye but the pain is primarily in the area of my eye.

I have been starting the "rule out" process of doctor appointments (opthamologist says everything looks okay, went to my primary, CT scan that found a mucousal polyp, E/N/T that said he felt sinuses were not the issue and referred me to a neurologist to research migraines, and allergy tests....haven't gotten to the neurologist or chiropractor yet...that's the next step).

I have now returned to researching long-term effects of retinal surgery and the scleral buckle to find out if it could be causing the headaches OR if the buckle or surgery could be a trigger for migraines. I had surgery in 2001 during which the gel was removed from my eye ball, laser was used to seal the retina repair (like push pins as described to me), and a scleral buckle was used to "squeeze" my eye ball (as described my the doctor). I also had a gas bubble in my eyeball to assist with the healing/sealing process. At a later date my opthamologist used more of the lazer procedure (push pins) while I was awake. Everything turned out okay I guess. I have an astigmatism due to the surgery but my eye sight hasn't changed much.

Finally...my question. Is there any coorelation between headaches/eye pain/migraines and the retina surgery that described or with a scleral buckle. I'm thinking long term effects. Any suggestions?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Possible causes related to the surgery, none very likely:

1)   A scleral buckle can induce some myopia.  You mentioned astigmatism due to surgery-How much?  Anisometropia--difference in refraction between to eyes can cause eye strain, imbalance and headaches.  Doubt this is the cause since pain started 7+ years after surgery.

2)  Rarely, a scleral buckle, if it was 360 degrees, can cause pain from mild anterior segment ischemia.  There is usually redness and signs of inflammation in the front of the eye.  Also doubt this since it is an early postoperative complication.

3)  An infection of the scleral buckle can cause pain.  The eye is usually red.  Most scleral buckle infection occurs shortly after surgery.  It is possible to get infected much later due to a systemic septicemia from another area in the body.

4)  Erosion of the scleral buckle into the eye.  I have not seen this in over 30 years.  It occurred with older types of scleral buckles.

4)  It is fairly safe to remove a scleral buckle after 9 months to a year after surgery.

5)  It is unlikely that scleral buckle is causing the problem.

Also, rule out temporal arteritis--a blood test in most cases.