Retinoschesis surgery

I found out I had retinoschesis in both eyes two years ago.  I will be 60 in a few months.  I was born cross-eyed and doctors tried to correct the problem at 10 years of age.  So, my vision is pretty blurred anyway.  I had flashes of light maybe a year ago I forgot to tell my doctor at my last appointment this past week.  In the 2 years there has been a small advance in my right eye.  The doctor is talking about laser surgery in 6 months if there is more advancement.  I'm freaking out a little.  The surgery done at 10 years old did not help the vision problems at all.  I'm extremely nervous about letting anyone do surgery on them again.  What are the possible cons of having the laser surgery?  I was told it could stop the damage but not repair damage already done.  That sounds good.  But what possible negative affect could the surgery do?  I have known two people close to me that had these surgeries and truly didn't benefit from them that I could tell.  I'm truly perplexed about it all.  I have severe dry eye that is causing severe sensitivity to light.  I'm praying that I have even some eyesight left if I live another 10 years.  Well, enough of my unlearnedness.  Any suggestions?

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

I have retinoschesis myself and have it checked yearly by a retina Eye MD. Fortunately it has not progressed but if it did I would have it lasered to stop the advance. You cannot compare your eye muscle surgery DONE 50 YEARS AGO with mondern surgery. Every thing has gotten better and safer today than half a century ago.   If you Eye MD finds advancement have the laser as recommended and the chances of complications are small.

JCH  III MD

[tood92]

my nephew will be 16 in november and he has had problems with one of his eyes but they just treated it as a lazy eye when he was about 6 years old and never gotten better.  He has went to  specialists and one says to have surgery and the other says not to.  He had heart surgery when  he was 2 years old.  So his mom is very conserned about another one.  I am trying to get some research on this disease,  I would appreciate any suggestions.

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

Find a close by eye muscle Eye MD ophthalmologist for a third opinion. It is NOT likely that eye muscle surgery will make the eye see better only improve the appearance of the eye.  Find a consultant at www.aao.org

JCH II MD