Retinal Tear

Posted by Sandra on August 22, 1999 at 23:19:49
My mother is 71 and has had lazer in one eye for bleeding caused
by macular degeneration.  She can see only through that eye as if
to be looking through a tiny circle....she depended on her good eye
and it's been fine up until a few weeks ago.  She woke up and couldn't
read the morning paper.  She said it  looked like a haze or a mist.
She went to a retinal specialist in the next town who had done the
lazer in her other eye and he said it was a slight retinal tear in the center
of the eye.....he checked for bleeding but there wasn't.  He didn't give
her much more than that except to tell her not to lift anything heavy and
do not bend.  ........and to come back in four weeks.   Also, he said
there would be a fifty/fifty chance that it could heal itself.  My question
to you is that now that she sees everything in a sort of mist, do you
feel that she should be doing more than just hoping for that fifty per
cent chance of healing?  I believe she needs a second opinion and
we are a wreck because we feel (my family and I) that we should be
doing something more.  My mother is very depressed and has had
no other medical problems.  We need your advice. Thank you.

Posted by hfhs md ke on August 23, 1999 at 21:22:15
sandra-
the story is confusing-  a retinal tear in the center of the eye ( center of the retina ) is first of all unusual, and second of all needs treatment- the othe rtwo possibilities here are 1) a macular hole-  which requires prompt treatment and is different then a tear  2) the more likely answer-  a vitreous detachment-  which can cause hazy vision but requires no treatment   my advice is to seek out a second opinion if u cannot get a better explaiantion from your doctor    good luck