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FYI: Retinal Detachments 101
I’ve decided to compile a list of sorts to inform people about RDs, its treatments, and effects.
Retinal detachments: who’s at risk
Those w/ a family history of RDs, high myopia, previous eye surgery, previous eye trauma/injury, weak spots in the peripheral retina, having an RD in the fellow eye, as well as those w/ certain conditions such as Diabetes, Marfan’s, ROP, etc. are at greater risk for developing an RD
Retinal detachments: symptoms
flashes of light, which may look like camera flashes, or lightning bolts, visible during the day, but more likely to be seen at night or dim lighting
floaters, these come in many shapes and sizes, if you notice an INCREASE or sudden onset of these than take warning
black curtain or veil, if you notice any sign of visual loss go see an eye doctor immediately
Retinal detachments: treatments
laser or cryotherapy, both seal holes by creating scar tissue, may be done in office or in the OR combined w/ other treatments
scleral buckle, is done under anesthesia in an OR, a silicone band is sewn around the eye
PPV, in a pars plana vitrectomy the vitreous gel inside the eye is removed to help alleviate traction on the retina or to clear debris from the eye; often done in conjunctions w/ pneumatic retinopexy
Pneumatic retinopexy, is the insertion of a gas bubble to push the retina against the back of the eye, there are two types of gas SF6 which gets absorbed very quickly or C3F8 which takes 6-8 weeks to get absorbed by the body. may be done in the doctors office or in the OR
A variation of pneumatic retinopexy uses silicone oil instead of gas, in this case a PPV must be done prior to insertion of oil
*Note: PPV, scleral buckling, laser, cryotherapy, and pneumatic retinopexy can be done in various combinations to help ensure a stable attached retina
Retinal detachments: effects
*If not treated the result is blindness in the affected eye
*Depending on the extent of the detachment and whether or not the macula was off will determine final visual outcome
Laser: if this method was used to seal breaks in the retina along the periphery you may notice some peripheral vision loss; also, you may notice a temporary loss of vision which should only last a few minutes after treatment if done in office
Scleral buckle: pain and swelling may occur which can be treated w/ OTC meds. possible side effects include double vision, strabismus, ptosis, infection. Will cause a myopic shift in vision so if you’re already myopic you’ll be even more myopic afterwards
PPV and pneumatic retinopexy: head positioning may be necessary, vision will be terrible w/gas or silicone oil inside the eye. travel to high altitudes will be restricted if you have a gas tamponding agent, risks include increase in intraocular pressure, vitreous hemorrhage, cataract formation
**Please note that this is a simplified info sheet I’ve compiled. Talk w/ your doctor about any concerns you have and know the risks involved w/ any procedure before you sign that consent form!!!**
Retinal detachments: post-op
After any surgery, your eye will be patched. You may experience some discomfort and the eye may be red. This will subside w/ time.
After surgery, you will be given drops: a steroid, to help w/ inflammation; a antibiotic for obvious reasons, and maybe a cycloplegic agent to keep the eye dilated and comfortable while the eye gets used to a scleral buckle
Floaters and flashes of light may still be present after surgery.
Flashes of light should stop w/time, if they persist see your doctor asap. Keep in mind that flashes of light are not localized, which means if you see flashes of light in the center of your vision it does not necessarily indicate that the macula is in danger, just that there is a problem w/ the retina.
Floaters may NOT be removed completely w/ vitrectomy. Eventually they may settle to the bottom of the eye or your brain will learn to ignore them.
Vision will be horrible if you have a gas bubble or silicone oil inside the eye.
Retinal detachments: complications post-op
Know the signs of rapidly increasing IOP: headache, usually located above the brow of the operated eye; naseousness, dizziness, and loss or worsening of vision
Sometimes the initial treatment may fail and additional procedures may need to be done. So be on the watch for returning symptoms of a RD. Generally, the riskiest time for re-detachment is in the first few days to weeks after surgery. If the retina remains attached for 3-6 months the chances of a recurrent detachment reduces significantly.
The success rate for retinal detachment surgery is high. Anatomically speaking, most retinas remain attached, some just take multiple attempts. Visually speaking, the success rates, especially for complex detachments, are less then ideal.
Retinal detachments: resources
Look through this forum and its archives. The doctors and other members of this forum have provided thorough answers to many RD related questions.
Talk w/ your doctor. He/She is in the best position to guide you and keep you informed.
If financial assistance is needed contact the hospital or doctor’s office they may have aid programs available. Or locate a Lion’s Club or Knights Templar office near you they have programs to help those who can not afford the costs of surgery.
Take advantage of support groups on the web or contact your local Services for the Blind, they have wonderful programs to help you.
Retinal detachments: final thoughts
Remember vision may take a while to return. Final visual acuity may not be known for up to a year after surgery. Be Patient.
Take care of your vision, especially the non-RD eye as it has now at increased risk for developing an RD.
I can’t stress this enough: Don’t be afraid to talk w/ your doctor. If you feel uncomfortable around your doctor seek another one. It never hurts to have a second opinion.
***Am I missing anything? If you’ve gone through an RD and feel that there is something missing please feel free to add to this, as I was just trying to be as brief as possible.***
This will probably be my last post for a few weeks as I go back to the OR on Tues. for yet another RD surgery. Bringing my total to 10 surgeries (5 left eye, and now 5 right eye)
Good luck to everyone. Take Care
Retinal detachments: who’s at risk
Those w/ a family history of RDs, high myopia, previous eye surgery, previous eye trauma/injury, weak spots in the peripheral retina, having an RD in the fellow eye, as well as those w/ certain conditions such as Diabetes, Marfan’s, ROP, etc. are at greater risk for developing an RD
Retinal detachments: symptoms
flashes of light, which may look like camera flashes, or lightning bolts, visible during the day, but more likely to be seen at night or dim lighting
floaters, these come in many shapes and sizes, if you notice an INCREASE or sudden onset of these than take warning
black curtain or veil, if you notice any sign of visual loss go see an eye doctor immediately
Retinal detachments: treatments
laser or cryotherapy, both seal holes by creating scar tissue, may be done in office or in the OR combined w/ other treatments
scleral buckle, is done under anesthesia in an OR, a silicone band is sewn around the eye
PPV, in a pars plana vitrectomy the vitreous gel inside the eye is removed to help alleviate traction on the retina or to clear debris from the eye; often done in conjunctions w/ pneumatic retinopexy
Pneumatic retinopexy, is the insertion of a gas bubble to push the retina against the back of the eye, there are two types of gas SF6 which gets absorbed very quickly or C3F8 which takes 6-8 weeks to get absorbed by the body. may be done in the doctors office or in the OR
A variation of pneumatic retinopexy uses silicone oil instead of gas, in this case a PPV must be done prior to insertion of oil
*Note: PPV, scleral buckling, laser, cryotherapy, and pneumatic retinopexy can be done in various combinations to help ensure a stable attached retina
Retinal detachments: effects
*If not treated the result is blindness in the affected eye
*Depending on the extent of the detachment and whether or not the macula was off will determine final visual outcome
Laser: if this method was used to seal breaks in the retina along the periphery you may notice some peripheral vision loss; also, you may notice a temporary loss of vision which should only last a few minutes after treatment if done in office
Scleral buckle: pain and swelling may occur which can be treated w/ OTC meds. possible side effects include double vision, strabismus, ptosis, infection. Will cause a myopic shift in vision so if you’re already myopic you’ll be even more myopic afterwards
PPV and pneumatic retinopexy: head positioning may be necessary, vision will be terrible w/gas or silicone oil inside the eye. travel to high altitudes will be restricted if you have a gas tamponding agent, risks include increase in intraocular pressure, vitreous hemorrhage, cataract formation
**Please note that this is a simplified info sheet I’ve compiled. Talk w/ your doctor about any concerns you have and know the risks involved w/ any procedure before you sign that consent form!!!**
Retinal detachments: post-op
After any surgery, your eye will be patched. You may experience some discomfort and the eye may be red. This will subside w/ time.
After surgery, you will be given drops: a steroid, to help w/ inflammation; a antibiotic for obvious reasons, and maybe a cycloplegic agent to keep the eye dilated and comfortable while the eye gets used to a scleral buckle
Floaters and flashes of light may still be present after surgery.
Flashes of light should stop w/time, if they persist see your doctor asap. Keep in mind that flashes of light are not localized, which means if you see flashes of light in the center of your vision it does not necessarily indicate that the macula is in danger, just that there is a problem w/ the retina.
Floaters may NOT be removed completely w/ vitrectomy. Eventually they may settle to the bottom of the eye or your brain will learn to ignore them.
Vision will be horrible if you have a gas bubble or silicone oil inside the eye.
Retinal detachments: complications post-op
Know the signs of rapidly increasing IOP: headache, usually located above the brow of the operated eye; naseousness, dizziness, and loss or worsening of vision
Sometimes the initial treatment may fail and additional procedures may need to be done. So be on the watch for returning symptoms of a RD. Generally, the riskiest time for re-detachment is in the first few days to weeks after surgery. If the retina remains attached for 3-6 months the chances of a recurrent detachment reduces significantly.
The success rate for retinal detachment surgery is high. Anatomically speaking, most retinas remain attached, some just take multiple attempts. Visually speaking, the success rates, especially for complex detachments, are less then ideal.
Retinal detachments: resources
Look through this forum and its archives. The doctors and other members of this forum have provided thorough answers to many RD related questions.
Talk w/ your doctor. He/She is in the best position to guide you and keep you informed.
If financial assistance is needed contact the hospital or doctor’s office they may have aid programs available. Or locate a Lion’s Club or Knights Templar office near you they have programs to help those who can not afford the costs of surgery.
Take advantage of support groups on the web or contact your local Services for the Blind, they have wonderful programs to help you.
Retinal detachments: final thoughts
Remember vision may take a while to return. Final visual acuity may not be known for up to a year after surgery. Be Patient.
Take care of your vision, especially the non-RD eye as it has now at increased risk for developing an RD.
I can’t stress this enough: Don’t be afraid to talk w/ your doctor. If you feel uncomfortable around your doctor seek another one. It never hurts to have a second opinion.
***Am I missing anything? If you’ve gone through an RD and feel that there is something missing please feel free to add to this, as I was just trying to be as brief as possible.***
This will probably be my last post for a few weeks as I go back to the OR on Tues. for yet another RD surgery. Bringing my total to 10 surgeries (5 left eye, and now 5 right eye)
Good luck to everyone. Take Care
Sounds like the same thing I am going thru, i get my oil out in March, then a new lens 3 months afterwards, They took out the lens during the 2nd operation, good luck!
I spoke with my retinal specialist after he did a comprehensive check and said that the Flashes are what he called Phosphenes, I tried to research on the net and still am not 100% sold does anyone have any more info on Phosphenes related to RD and use of oil in eye
when i look side to side with my eyes closed i get a ring of light in both eyes. and when i stare at something with only one eye and dont blink i get a shadow like curtain come over my eye but when i blink it goes away. is this a retinal detachment?
I recently had my second DR left eye in 6 years, this time because I was overseas on business I chose to have oil so I could fly home - it's about 5 weeks now post op and for the last 2 weeks I have been having flashes in my eye about 10+ per day. I started recording dates times and location to show the doctor but I have seen 3 different doctors in the past 2 weeks and they have all said the retina is attached but none of them could explain the flashes.
I am so stressed each time it happens and keep thinking its coming off again.
Can anyone tell me is this normal post op with oil as the first time I had gas and don't remember having flashes post op.
I am so stressed each time it happens and keep thinking its coming off again.
Can anyone tell me is this normal post op with oil as the first time I had gas and don't remember having flashes post op.
No contact lens pos RD, just got the IOL ones on June 2010,in the same surgery ( had the one for cataracts and oil removal at the same time)
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