Is a thin retina harmful

[barry369]

Dear John C Hagan III, MD

I am 62 years old, 4 years ago my left eye suddenly blocked (in 1/2 portion) with a black screen and a lots of colorful flashing stars, but that occured only about 5 minutes and then disappeared.

Then I went to the doctor, after he scanned my retina he said that my retina so thin and that could made me blind, because there was no medication to cure.
So I met another doctor and showed my retina scan, she told me that my retina was OK then she dilated my both eyes and found some upper side of my retina tears, so she lasered my both eyes.

But 2 months ago when annual checkup she found both of my lower side retina had a lots of tears/holes,
She said that my retina became fragile and she lasered many many times that made my vision became reddish (cause of blood maybe).

What do you think of my problem, should I worried or is it a normal ways to care my problem.

Thank you very much. Sorry my English not good.

[barry369]

Thanks Doreen for your reply.

My right eye is -2.25 & left - 2.00.
Until now my doctor give me Optimax caplet which contains Lutein 3 mg, Lycopene 2 mg, extract Bilberry 80 mg, Betacaroten 6.000 IU, vit E 25 mg,     vit C 100 mg, Zinc 10 mg. Is it good enough for my case? I take 1 caps/day.

FYI, I have an allergy (rash) that cannot healed by an ordinary antihistamine, the only way is using steroid like betametasone or dexametasone. But my allergy periodically always relapse in uncertain time. I take only 0.5 mg/day for max 4 days only and the rash gone. Do you think these steroid caused my retina getting worst which also causing glaucoma.

Would this fragile retinal surface will make me blind ?

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

You should be under the care of a retina specialist.  I don't know if you are very myopic (nearsighted), but this is one reason for a thin retina and multiple retinal tears/holes.  These tears do need to be treated to prevent a retinal detachment.  Vitamins or supplements, while important for retinal health, will not seal the retinal tears.