Question About Lattice Denegeration Laser Surgery

[robpom]

Last month, my retinal specialist determined I had lattice degeneration and that I had a hole that needed to be repaired via laser surgery.

My question pertains to future holes, etc.  Does having one tear/hole predispose me for a stronger likelihood of future tears?  Or, is there no real correlation - as in just because I had one tear doesn't mean anything about future occurrences.

[AnnaE]

Everyone must be their own medical advocate, unless they have someone else to do it., The best person is till yourself. This is the reality of it,You are right to ask a lot of questions, and do searches here for more info.

[AnnaE]

Except that she needs consultation now and watching during PVD, from my experience
Consult now on your prognoses and risk factors. Talk about the family and everything, your history, etc.Aretina specialist is an ophthalmologist who specializes in retinas, just as a glaucoma specialist specializes in glaucoma. BTW, I would see a glaucoma person. An ounce of prevention, etc.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

1. An a retina specialist is an ophthalmologist.
2. How often depends on your risk factors. You get this information from your Eye MDs.
3. Sometimes it gets worse, most times stays the same.
4. If you  have lattice it MUCH more likely you will not have an RD than that you will.

JCH MD

[robpom]

You mentioned seeing a retinologist.  I have the following conditions:

-myopia (-6)
-glaucoma
-lattice

Two questions:

1. How often should I be seeing a retinologist?  How often an opthamologist?

2. Does lattice get worse over time making it more likely I will have a detachment.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

yup

[AnnaE]

That's great. I know you see a retinologist every year.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Lattice diagnosed during my Ophthalmology Residency along with retinoschesis. Both have been stable for 25+ years.

JCH MD

[AnnaE]

Have you had lattice since youth, like me  There are degrees of lattice, right--in terms of severity

[AnnaE]

Sorry for the typos. I need to replace my keyboard.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Lattice is very common maybe 6-10% of the population depending on how hard you look for it. I personally have lattice. Most times it doesn't create a problem. Some holes (small, round, inferior location) don't have to be treated.

Having a hole that needs treatment doesn't mean you will have to have this done again and again.

JCH MD

[AnnaE]

I have read something about this in the medical literature, as I have had lattice for many years. I have it in my right eye, and it has been lasered many times. My eye is OK so far.

Age  CAN be a determining factor. Have you had PVD   This is another determining factor. PVD can precipatate a retinal detachment. You should be watched very closely during PVD--as often as every 3-6 weeks.  You should also be watched very closely now.                                                                                                                    

Talk to you doctor about your risk factors--PVD, lattice, retina problems in family, etc. See a retinologist regularly. Find a kind one who will tell you in detail your condition and your prognoses. Go in every time you are concerned or have new symptoms. Learn well the six signs of a retina detachment.



1. Blurred vision in the eye

2. A sudden shower of pepper-like floaters.

3. An obstruction in the eye (MDs call it a curtain, but it looks like varying things. It can start at any side. Mine was grayish=brown, slightly transparent and itthe right lower quadrant.Iw was roughly rectangular with rounded edbes.)


4. A feeling of heaviness, or like something in the eye.


5. Flashes of light, generally in the periphery of the eye.

6. An increase of cobweb or blob-like floaters can signal a tear or new lattice. (MDs call them spider webs, but spiders make webs with symmetrical threads. The threads on floaters I have seen are never symmetrical).


These symptoms do not necessarily happen at once. I had lightning-like flashes (from PVD) for 2 years before the detachment.

The night my retina detached, I had a fireworks-like display that lasted about 10 minutes--the pepper-like display of floaters, and a series of brighter, longer lasting flashes. I also saw some liquid.

Before new tears were imminent in the right eye, I experienced new incidents of the usual floaters, not a spray of pepper-like ones.

The list of symptoms that my retinologist s office puts out is not even literate, and contains factual errors. These buys generall have never taught, and they did not major in English, either.







ANY of the incidents alone can signal a detachment, or an imminent detachment.Once they occur, you should see an MD. If you are having PVD, you should see one very frequently and have lattice.


Best, Anna