Scleral Buckle

I am now into the 8th day after a Scleral Buckle was put in my left eye. This is the second surgery since Jan 28th when I had a small tear and hole in the retina repaired and a gas bubble put in. 6 weeks later I had a second tear and hole below where the first was. A buckle was suggested due to the locations of the two tears. This was done 8 days ago.

I am still experiencing head ache type pain above the eye and discomfort in the eye itself. The bubble was left in place and prior to the surgery I had 20/20 vision through the bubble. My vision is now clouded at all distances. It seems magnified. I have to take Tylenol Extra Strength to get through the night and sometimes during the day for the pain. I can not take light and have to keep the eye closed. I also have double vision which if the eye is open affects my balance.

Are these symptoms normal? What can I expect over the next month or so? It seems the buckle is a much more intrusive operation and has a much longer healing curve with complications.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

A scleral buckle may make you more nearsighted.  Therefore, you present prescription will not give you the same vision.  Headache may be due to elevated IOP.  Please see you surgeon.  The double vision may get better is a complication of the surgery ( This happened to me)

Dr. O.

[es98]

If you still have a bubble in your eye, there is no way you will see clearly, until the bubble has dissolved enough to see 'over' it.

[murph164]

Did the double vision go away?

[murph164]

The bubble was from the previous operation and prior to this operation I was able to see quite clearlt. Now it is blurry at all distances