Retinal detachment

[Komal_siddiqui]

My father just had a retinal detachment eye operation in which the doctor used gas (in July's 1st week), but the my dad got the same problem again. so the doctor suggested that we go for oil operation, after this 2nd surgery on 22nd july, dad got severe infection in the eye. The infection was controlled. Now when we went to doctor for a checkup after 2 weeks, he has again told that my father might need Inferior Retinectomy.
Dad is saying that his eye has no any improvement yet.
By listening to his whole scenario can you tell me whats actually going on? will my father's vision recover? Should we rely on this doctor? or has he mishandled the case? please suggest something.
Thank you.

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

This is my final comment. I cannot make these decisions for you nor give your recommendations or advise. You will need to rely on your ophthalmologists

JCH MD

[Komal_siddiqui]

Thank you very much for your reply.

Well yes the doctor who has done the surgery is a Retina Specialist. These are the clinical notes which he has given to my father;

“Shams Siddiqui was operated on 27-07-2009 for Retinal detachment with Primary Pars Plana Virectomy with gas in the right eye.

He came on 20-07-2009 with Redetachment, secondary to PVR and secondary to new inferior break.

On 23-07-2009 he under went surgery for reattachment with PPV with silicone Oil in the right eye.

On follow up his visual acuity is HM in the right eye with inferior PVR with mascula off. He might need inferior retinectomy after 4 to 6 weeks.”

We have had a second opinion from another RD specialist, he has suggested that it would be better that this 3rd operation is to be done by the same doctor, as he is fully aware about the case. But he also has said that there are very less chances of recovery of vision completely.

What are your suggestions & comments about this? What should we do?

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

You can use the search feature and archives to look at the extended discussions of RD surgery and the numerous re-ops that are often necessary (gas, air, membrane strippings, buckles, etc). Provided that your fathers MD is a retina specialist there is no indication that there is anything other than a very difficult problem to fix even with modern technology. Remember that left untreated the detached retina will eventually go blind.

I suggest a frank discussion with the surgeon. If you are still concerned you can always get a second opinion. Retina-vitreous surgery is major surgery, with long recovery periods and even if the retina is put back in place vision is seldom normal if the macula is pulled off
JCH MD