Distorted vision

[sudhirbhuvad]

I am 27 yr old man. I had an RD surgery on  my right eye few years back. My current spectacles power is -11 for both eyes. After that surgery I am experiencing distorted vision with my right (operated) eye. I can't read even with my spectacles on when I close my left eye.My opthalmologist says everything is fine & he find nothing abnormal after thorough ratina check-up. In view of this, I consulted to a highly reputed ratina specialist in my city & he reiterated the same thing, after thorough check-up that there is no problem with my eye.

Please suggest me what to do.

Thank you

[JodieJ]

It's shocking how ignorant even the best retinal specialists are about the issue of distorted vision due to retinal disease or retinal surgery.  I live in a large metropolitan area (Chicago), and I couldn't find a single eye care professional (ophthalmologist or optometrist) who was knowledgeable about such problems or able to help me (and I made dozens of calls and consulted a few).  The causes and possible treatment options for the problems you're experiencing following RD surgery are contained in the article "Retinally Induced Aniseikonia" by Dr. Gerard de Wit.  The paper is available for free download at www opticaldiagnostics com.  It is fairly technical, so you'll probably have to read it carefully more than once.  If you can find a sympathetic eye care provider to work with you (LOL), you might try some of the solutions described in the paper.  (One of the cases reported involves a post RD patient.)  Or you might try emailing Dr. de Wit for suggestions, describing your problems in as much detail as possible.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

There's nothing terribly unusual about your problem as both myopic macular degeneration or a post macula off RD that's reattached are very very common causes of your problem. Almost always a macular OCT will show damage or pre macular or macular scarring.

JCH MD

[JodieJ]

Dr. Hagan is undoubtedly correct in stating that retinally-induced distortions in vision are not unusual.  Other causes of such distortion are epiretinal membranes (scar tissue on the macula) and retinoschisis.  As Dr. Hagan states, these conditions are almost always apparent in OCT images.  But OCT cannot reveal the changes in photoreceptor distribution in the macular tissue, which are the source of the distortions.  My own experience was identical to that of the above poster:  the four respected retinal specialsts I consulted told me that my surgical outcome was good, and I should "go home and live with it."

In many cases, either an optical correction or a partial occlusion can greatly improve vision comfort for the patient.  Yet very few (i.e., almost no) eye care practioners are knowledgeable about how to make such corrections.  (I was so fortunate to find Dr. de Wit online, because none of the local doctors I contacted could help me.)  And as retinal specialists continue to improve their skills in saving vision, the number of people experiencing retinally-induced distortions will only increase.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Thanks for your comments JodieJ
JCH MD

[corks100]

hi JodieJ.  How r u?  Hope all is well.

What is OCT or macular OCT?  I just do reseach and read on infor I can get my hands on a lot and I just wanted to get a despcription on wha this is I can start on.

It is also disturbing that some Doctors dont know what could be happening to one patient.  I know a lot of Doctors really care and want to help their patients.  BUt there are some that dont, just solve the problem temporarily and tell you to go home and live with it.  If this were happening to them, they would be on the phone, computer, talking and calling every specialist they could talk to.  I think they should treat each patient like it is their parent, brother or sister in trouble.  God helped them and gave them a gift and they should use that gift for the good.  

Thanks JodieJ.   Hope to hear from you soon.