Flashing lights after retinal detachment surgery

I had retinal detachment surgery just over a week ago now.  A few days ago I started getting flashing lights again (same as the ones I got prior to surgery) at the top corner of my eye.  This started with a few flashes so I went to see my surgeon who checked my eye and said it all looked ok.  But now 4 days later the flashing is on and off all day.  Is this normal? I phoned my local hospital and they said they would see me at the eye clinic on wednesday but I'm worried sick that - a) I have another detachment or b) I will always have these lights flashing and just have to put up with it.  Can you please tell me why I would be getting these lights? and am I right to be worried sick?

I would love to hear from anyone else who's gone through the same thing.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Flashes means there is still traction present.  It could lead to another tear.  No treatment for flashes until a tear occurs or the flashes resolve.

Dr. O.

[lez9321]

What would cause the traction? and Do you mean it is possible it will settle down and the flashes will just stop? I'm hoping for this rather than another tear.  And if I was unfortunate to get another tear could it be treated by laser rather than eye surgery again? many thanks for your advice

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

A retinal tear is caused by vitreous traction.  Even if you had a vitrectomy some vitreous remains.  The traction can decrease with time or create anther tear.

Dr. O.

[lez9321]

I have seen my eye clinic since my last post and luckily for me there is no new tear or detachment.  The flashes have been explained by the doctor as by being caused by the scar tissue I have after my retinal detachment surgery.  I have been advised that they should stop in the next couple of weeks or so.  Phew! What a relief - I hope this infor may help others.

[Risa615]

I had retinal detachment surgery in April of 2005 when I was just 35 in my left eye.  It does take a long time to heal.  I was told not to use the computer for at least two weeks after surgery.  I could not wear my contact lenses for at least two months because they made me dizzy.  I feel it took 6 months to really heal.  Rest a lot and take it easy.   I stayed home from work for two weeks, but I should have stayed home at least three.  I had the gas bubble and the surgery.  My vision has maintained, but I do have floaters.  

[lez9321]

Thanks for your comment - its good to hear from someone who has gone thru the same thing although I didn't have the bubble - I had the surgery.  Unfortunately I did not have a very communicative surgeon and was told very little (although I can't fault his surgery skills) I wasn't told what I could or couldn't do or how long healing would take.  I am still experiencing the flashing lights which is a problem but I am hopeful it will stop in the next couple of weeks as I was advised.  I can't believe you still get floaters 5 years on, how do you deal with it or do you get used to them? Its nice to hear that your vision is good and I am pleased for you.  At the end of the day we are very lucky as some people lose their sight completely.  I am still blurred but its definately got a bit better 2 weeks on from the surgery.

[Risa615]

Yeah, the blurry vision stays for several weeks.  I also found that my good eye, was watering because it was working twice as hard.
When I first had the surgery, I saw blue and it was not possible to watch tv without seeing the people distorted.  I did a lot of research online and found that six months is normal to really feel healed.   I had both the bubble and the surgery because I was completely blind by the time I had surgery.  I was told I had a 80% chance of seeing again if I did both and only a 50% chance if I only did the gas bubbles.  
I usually notice my floaters the most at night when I am wearing my glasses instead of contact lenses.  They don't really bother me that much.  
I was afraid of going blind again, so I had several checks up after the procedure. Now I only go once a year.   I was last seen in December and everything looks good.  I did have my other eye repaired with a laser to prevent detachment a few months after my surgery in 2005.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask since I know going through this surgery is difficult.

[lez9321]

Hi thanks for your last comment.  I have still got blurry vision nearly a month on from my surgery and went for an eyetest yesterday but was told to wait a few more weeks before I get a new prescription for my glasses.  I could only read the top 2 lines on the eyetest - you know the huge letters! Today I think I've got an eye infection though as my eye feels really gritty in the outer corner and uncomfortable - did you ever suffer these symptoms after your surgery?? So pleased that your last check up went well - its a worry and it gives me hope!!

[Risa615]

Oh yes, I couldn't really read for a long time.  My eye was red for months.  I still wake up with it red in the corner, so I am using wetting drops many mornings.  They gave me drops to use as a prescription for 2-3 weeks after surgery to prevent infection.  I remember looking in the mirror and feeling like my eye didn't look all the way open.

I would wait at least 6 months after surgery before getting new glasses.  I felt like my glasses were weak for a few months and then I was fine.  My prescription changed very little in the past five years.  

[lez9321]

Thanks again for taking the time to leave me a comment. I had the eye clinic again today and got a stitch taken out as it was what was causing me the eye irritation and gritty feeling.  It feels much better already.  On the downside today my eye pressure was extremely high so now I'm on drops to lower it - it feels there is always something wrong! My glasses are weak for me too, so much so that I cannot drive and I think I'm just in a rush to get new ones so I can have a normal life again! I will just have to be patiend as you've said it takes about 6 months to recover.  To think I didn't even know what a retinal detachment was a month ago!

[ngtuikuang]

I had retinal detachment surgery for my right eye on 20 Jan 2010. I am having same problem as yours that getting flashing of lights after a week from retinal detachments surgery and it create floaters to my left eyes also. Next 2 days I will goto futher check up, I hope can get good news from Doctor.

[irisheoin]

Hi guys im happy to read your storys about some flashing in the eye one week after detachment surgery as i have the same now. Worried sick that it has detached again. I have toxoplasmosis in the right eye which caused a lot of damage last flare up 5 years ago but has remained  quiet since, but it caused scarring on the retina and some macula damage which caused now the detachment.Sight in the eye before was probably 50% which before the detachment has fell to 10%. My surgeon is confident that i may get back as far as 70% which would be super. I had very invasive surgery of a scleral buckle and vitrectomy. My eye is now full of silicon oil and dilated daily so vision is very bad. i had surgery in dublin on 13 july 10, laid on my back to posture for 6 full days only taking a break for 5 minutes or so every hour before i could move around a little the last few days. So im really hoping my retina remains flat attached and in good condition and i will try not to worry until i see my surgeon again in a few days.. eoin ireland

[Candace888]

Hello Everyone,
I had a severe RD, scleral buckle and silicone oil.  I had flashes of light for 6 months off and on.  No one who hasn't been through this nightmare would never understand how frightening and paranoid one gets about it happening again. I made several "panic" trips to the doctors office to get checked when I saw wierd things in my vision.
I just had cataract surgery last week,  but I still have poor vision and my central vision is blurred.  Not sure what the plan is other than the cataract doctor told me he'll use a YAG laser in 3 months to try to clear up the scar tissue on the capsule that holds my new lens and I see the retinal doctor 8/3.  Last time I was there a month ago, he told me I've developed a macular pucker and that is why I have some bend to straight lines in my vision.  He said he wanted to see how my vision was after the cataract was out before we talked about possible treatment for the pucker.  This is a long, frightening road...not knowing if you'll ever see "normal" again.  

[Risa615]

Candace, I felt the same way you did after surgery, I was really scared.  I am happy to say five years later I am still doing GREAT like I mentioned above.  Remember to take it easy and let your body get lots of rest so you can heal!  Give it time and hopefully your recent treatment was a success!
Risa

[lez9321]

Hi just noticed your comment as hadn't been on here in a while - how are you getting on? How did you get on with your surgeon? Its got to be the worst experience of my life as like you I had very invasive surgery and more than 6 months on I still have this flashing lights in the corner of my eye.  Whats most frightening for me is the flashing lights are what started were my symptoms for having a detached retina, and now I worry its happening again.  I hope everything is going well for you and everyone else who suffers from this.  Its truly a worrying time for us all!

[blindbat101]

Just thought I would jump in here.  I had a retinal reattachment using a scleral buckle and vitrectomy with a gas bubble in April of 2009.  The bubble created a cataract and I had that removed in November 2009.  I continue to have the flashing lights - for me they look sort of like a ceiling fan - but overall I have good sight.  I wear a contact in my uncorrected eye as it's -7.5; the detached eye was a -9.5 before the IOL.  The distance focal point variable between the eyes while reading is still very irritating, but distance viewing is great.  The IOL quivers/flickers noticeably and may be contributing to the light flashing, but it hasn't affected my visual acuity.  Other people will sometimes ask me what's wrong with my eye when they notice it flickering - it looks weird.  Good luck to all of you and hang in there and be patient -- it takes a long while for it all to settle down and  for vision to stabilize.  Like others said, at least 6 months.

[eyeENVY]

I had surgery for retinal detachment when I was 24 It's now a year later and I'm still seeing the flashing lights.  On top of that I have to go for cataract surgery on the same eye and my "good" eye has been twitching for the last 2 weeks.  What is wrong with my eyes?..

[kanekong]

Hello, finding this thread has been really helpful. My wife has had two sessions of emergency laser surgery for what appears to be a chronic detached retina. We went to see the doctor this morning, two days later. He said it looked like the laser scarring was holding everything together, but it was up to us to decide whether we wanted to go ahead and have the gas bubble surgery. It is now the night time and a few moments ago my wife experienced another flash and burst into tears. I want to take her back to the hospital first thing tomorrow. But from what I'm reading here, this sounds like par for the course.

What kind of surgery did you have exactly, before experiencing these same flashes again? Was it also laser? Or did you have one of the more invasive procedures?

How much do you think we should be worrying?