Detached retina after cataract surgery

[Mcoh]

Has anyone had detached retina after  cataract surgery? I had cataract surgery in one eye and one month later had the other eye done. My vision after the surgery was 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other! No glasses. 2 weeks later one eye developed a detached retina and the other retina tears. Had to have a  vitrectomy and gas bubble in one eye and laser in the other. Told by the cataract surgeon that  I was one of the unlucky 1%,  has this ever happened to any one else. Hard to believe this was a coincidence. I think the tears were there before surgery and my retinas were not looked at, just the cataracts were checked!!!

[pickadilly]

I SO AGREE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, WISH I NEVER DID THIS CATARACT SURGERY. ANOTHER CATARACT BEHIND LEFT EYE?? NOW FURTHER SURGERY. AND VITREOUS DETACHMENT. BLOOD IN RIGHT EYE, NOW DOCTOR SAYS CANNOT SEE THROUGH EYE. ANOTHER APPT. WITH SPECIALIST. OH COME ON. GIVE ME A BREAK. GLASSES HURT. LENS DID HURT. WANTED 4000 DOLLARS FOR THE BETTER LENS. THIS ENTIRE SURGERY MY FIRST CUT MAY I SAY HAS BEEN TORTURE, PARTICULARY LOST MY HUSBAND A YEAR AGO. SO NO ONE TO SPEAK WITH ME, OR  HELP.; GLAUCOMA EARLIER YEARS, JUST SO DISGUSTED AND SCARED. I LIVE ALONE NOW AND CERTAINLY CANNOT LOSE MY SIGHT.

[bigspike]

I had two cataract surgeries, one good, one poor with detached retina.  After three reattachment surgeries still no vision, currently with silicon oil waiting to see if they might remove the oil in October. Vision very poor in the eye, I might as well have a patch over it like a pirate.  After talking with many people who had cataract surgery in my area, there are many, many detachments, I believe a lot more than the current research shows. Especially in younger patients and patients with smaller cataracts.  Thank goodness there is still prayer for eye surgery success.  I think there should be serious counseling done before any cataract surgery.

[carolann781]

Yes, even though there is no inherited factor in my case,my parents are 94 & 91 & do not have to wear glasses all the time ..I contracted glaucoma later due to trauma..[Dr, believes] from previous surgeries..
I'm positive mine is from that. In my retinal DR.'s office I met other patients after having Cataract surgery, they too had Retinal detachments..

[Mcoh]

Thanks for your response, were you told it was definitely due to your cataract surgeries?

[carolann781]

I had Retinal Detachments due to my Catract surgeries..at 47 & 49 I had my RD's one year to having my Catract surgeries..
***@****

[Mcoh]

Thank you for your response, however shouldn't a surgeon who does cataract surgery check your retinas before he just says you need to have cataract surgery? He dilated my eyes and said you need to have cataract surgery, no other tests were done. Never asked how long I had worn glasses or if I ever had floaters. I since have found out that people that wear glasses for nearsightedness and have floaters are more susceptible to retina problems.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Retinal detachment is a know risk for cataract surgery.  Risk is very low less than 1/100 unless there were prexisting problems in the retina.

Dr. O.

[flossy93]

I think there's been a lot of discussion here on MedHelp about the gas bubble healing time; you might try searching for other discussions where patients provide an outline of their recovery.  Retinal detachment shows up fairly often as a topic so you might find other helpful info by searching.

Do you remember what the prescription was for your old glasses?

Also, did you have the traditional method of cataract surgery, or did the surgeon use a laser instrument for the first part of the surgery?

It sounds like the retina surgeon said it would be a few more weeks til the bubble cleared, so no need to worry now.  Good luck making it through that time.

[Mcoh]

Yes I wore glasses for many years for distance and did have floaters, thanks for your response. Just waiting for the gas bubble to disappear, can only see blurry vision in that eye now, the retina specialist said it will be another few weeks before I can see out of that eye.

[flossy93]

Did you wear any corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) before the surgery, or was your only vision problem from the cataracts?

I was told by a cataract surgeon that highly nearsighted people are most at risk for retina problems after the surgery, but that it can happen to anyone.

I'm really sorry you had this issue.  I hope your retina detachment and tears will heal completely and you will be back to good post-surgical vision soon.