Dialated Pupil after RD Surgery

[ChrisChris1]

I had cryosurgery, laser repair and insertion of a gas bubble for a detached retina 3 weeks ago.  My vision seems to be coming back very well a bit every day, and the bubble is about 1/2 the size it was originally.  I still have a bunch of floaters and "black pepper" spots which move in the eye, which I think is a part of the healing process. One annoying thing is that my pupil stays about 3/4 of the way dilated and doesn't seem to change.  I am still using one drop three times a day of Alcon 1% Prednisolone drops.  Could this be causing the dilation, or is this problem just a part of the healing process?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Hello ChrisChris     We have had several postings recently by people that have had retinal-vitreous surgery and have had unequal pupils thereafter. This is a well know complication of the type of surgery you had. The laser, the cryoprobe or a scleral buckle can unavoidably injure the pupil constrictor (its less robust than the dilator).

If you were on a strong dilating drop like homatropine or atropine that could still be hanging around in your eye even after three weeks (for atropine).

Only time will tell. If it's still dilated 4-6 months post op its likely permanent.

JCH III MD  Eye Physician & Surgeon

[Drewman2u]

A related discussion, Pupil Damage was started.