Recent retinal tear question

Hi, I'm 41 years old and have lattice degeneration - I'm almost -11 in both eyes.  Last December I had a routine exam by my regular eye doctor who found a retinal tear and he sent me to a specialist the next day who repaired the tear with laser photocoagulation. The tear was at the bottom of my eye so that's why I didn't see any flashing lights or more floaters than usual.  I went back for follow-up about two weeks ago and he said that the tear was okay now but that I am at "great risk" for having more tears in the future in either eye.  I have been scared about this ever since.  Is another tear inevitable or worse yet will I probably have a detachment in the future? I go back in six months for follow-up.  Is that standard follow-up for this kind of thing? I guess I just need some reassurance so I don't drive myself or my family crazy!

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

There is controversy regarding treatment of asymptomatic tears (you did not have any symptoms.   Lattice degeneration frequently has atrophic (round holes) that have a very small chance of leading to a retinal detachment.  The complication rate of laser treatment for retinal tears or holes is about 5%-mainly ERM.


Dr. O.