I had RD in left eye last Christmas, healed with oil due to living in altitude. After 6 weeks got oil out and ended up with a residual bubble. Doc said it would most likely pop out once I had cataract surgery in that eye. Two weeks later lasered area lifted and needed another surgery which included membrane peel. Asked doc if it was a more complicated surgery. He said different. Once out of surgery, he said 3 months for oil. Got really depressed. But doing better now. I am now at fourteen weeks. Right eye has bad cataract due to RD in high school so have not driven since Christmas. Miss sleeping on back. Cannot go back to work either. Next appt today to see if oil comes out next week.
Thank you for your so wide opinion about silicon oil remove, etc. years ago but absolutly actually for me now Im in that case and didn't what to do after listen to the doctor. Thank again
can i smoke with silicon oil in eye
the oil can migrate to the front of the eye if you are aphakic (don't have a natural crystalline lens or IOL in your eye), it can NOT migrate to other parts of your body. If you're phakic the oil can make a cataract develop really quickly, and if you're pseudophakic, the oil can damage the lens if you've got a silicone IOL, but that's prob. not the case otherwise the dr. wouldn't have put it in.
You're going to have to ask the dr. about the exercising, b/c depending on how far post op you are it might not be a good idea. But normally the dr. will clear you after a couple weeks post-op to return to that sort of stuff, with the exception of doing activities that require you to be on your back (bench press, sit-ups, etc).
Flying shouldn't be a problem in most cases b/c oil doesn't expand like either of the gases used for vitreoretinal surgery, but again check with the doctor.
Vision with oil should be better than with a 50% or more gas filled eye. But vision with oil is not going to be as good as vision without it (assuming that your retina is still attached when there's no oil). As your eye heals from the surgery and the retina remains attached the vision may improve, but again, best vision will be after the oil is removed.
ANY CHANCE THAT THE OIL CAN MIGRATE FROM THE EYE?
Can ONE FLY WITH AN OIL BUBBLE?
cAN YOU SWIM AND USE GYM EQUIPMENT WHILE THE OIL IS IN THE EYE?
iF THE OIL IS PERMENTALLY IN PLACE TO RETINA INTACT WILL YOUR VISION IMPROVE? have HAD 3 PRIOR SURGERIES WITH THE GAS BUBBLE. AND JUST IFFY VISION.
thanks to al for helpful comments pb
Silicone oil causes the blureness of vision as it is not liquid which is consistent with and close to the original vitreous gel they removed from within your eye during a vitrectomy. Having said that, however, Dr has also to examine the consequence of removing this silicone oil at a later stage.
First and foremost, silicone oil is preferred, as it is a higher density liquid preferred over gas bubbles especially due to the fact that with gas bubble, you require significantly longer period of face down position so that the bubbles goes at the back onto the retina and helps in holding your repaired retina into its correct position until the buble disappears with time. It also depends why you have had the vitrectomy performed in the first place. If it was for a retinal detachment / tear, then chances of removing the silicone oil at a later stage in order to replace it with a stable saline solution with or without gas bubble ( please note the saline solution are closer in composition and stability as the natural vitreous gel in your eye) will perhaps georpardise your overall resulting vision.
For instance, there might a be risk that the retina will detach again. If the surgeon feels that removing silicone oil to improve your vision quality had no or little risk on your retina becoming redetached, then chances are they will go ahead with the operation. In contract, if surgeon feels removing silicone oil to better your vision threatens to re detach your retina more than the option of improving the quality of your vision, then chances are they won't go ahead with the operation. Having said that, it is also important to note that there are other factors into play. Silicone oil can sometimes be good to stay in your eye for life, on the other hand sometimes silicone oil can also create complication, e.g if the silicone oil are constantly coming onto the front of your eye, it will increase eye pressure and thus Glocauma will be threatening you this time. In diabetic retinopathy, it is believed silicone oil in your eye increases the rate of growth for abnormal fragile blood vessels which not only have a good tendency to break and leak blood ( vitreous hemorrhage) but also these blood vessels have another tendency to grow over your retina in an unfortunate attempt to try to pull and tear it. Condition requiring vitrectomy is always the most important factor and will also determine the probability of success and quality of your vision after a vitrectomy.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR!!!!!!
More than likely it is the silicone oil, but I have no way of knowing for sure and neither will the doctors of this forum as they haven't/can't examine your eye.
Thanks for your reply.
A small related question further -
I have too much blur vision in the operated eye. Is this blurness because of Silicon Oil or something else? Will this blurness reduce automatically with time? I just discovered that one of the eye drops (Atropine) given to me also dilate the eyes.
Thanks.
Gauri
Gauri,
Your doctor must answer this question as this is a very individualized question.
Dr. Pernoud
How long the oil remains in your eye can only be answered by your doctor. It can stay a few months or indefinetely. Removing the oil reaquires another surgery, so the usual risks of eye surgery are present. After the oil is removed you may end up w/ low IOP and/or the retina may detach again. If the double vision is due to the glasses get the rx checked, it may be better to not wear glasses at this time. Remember, you will need new glasses if the oil is removed. Basically, just talk to your doctor about any concerns s/he is in the best position to answer your questions.