Permanent dilated pupil after retinal detachment surgery is not rare and is not due to drops but damage to the nerves controlling pupil size from laser or freezing treatment when it has to be applied over the nerves to fix the RD or due to the encircling element ("Buckle") that presses on the nerves. Sometimes the pupil recovers normal or improved function over 3-6 months. However if no improvement is seen it is often permanent. "permanent iridoplegia" You can get a second opinion if you wish and/or it will make your feel better.
JCH MD
I am 67 yrs. and I had a retinal reattachment in Late Sept. this year. The pupil has yet to become functional again. It doesn't contract or expand. My doctor says not to worry as the eye underwent a lot of trauma and the pupil it may take 4 or 5 months for the pupil to return to normal. Should I start seeing another doctor? I've found nothing on the internet which mentions such a long recovery period.
JD,
Thank you for sharing your experience. That sounds rough, and I'm sorry you had to go through all that. My pupils are almost back to normal, so I think there's light at the end of the tunnel (finally!) :)
Those drops are the worse, I had to use two times a day for a week straight after I had eye surgery and after I was done with that week, my eye stayed dilated for about 3 weeks. Hopefully you are ok and you wont have to get surgery, its been 5 months and one of my pupils still stays slightly bigger than the other one, but thats not from the drops, its from the surgery.
Thank you very much, Dr. Brown. I do indeed have blue eyes. Thank you for letting me know the effects could last longer than anticipated!
I will bet you have green or blue eyes. Dilating eye drops can definitely last 4 or more days in young people with lighter colored eyes, especially if you got the 'retina level' dilation to begin with.