Small retinal detachment corrected with laser--side effects?

[flyerhell]

Hello everyone,

About a week ago I had a small retinal detachment caused by lattice degeneration corrected (or stopped from getting worse), with a laser. The retinal specialist examined me after and said that eye looks great now and set up an appointment to see me in 6 weeks. After the surgery my eye was very sensitive to bright light. That has gotten much better over the past few days, but a few times a day I will sometimes see a red flashing light, almost like I am seeing the light from the laser again...the best way to describe it is like a red floather, but not exactly. This will last few a few seconds (usually goes away after blinking a few times). A few times I also saw a small black dot, right in the center of my vision that disappears after a minute or so. I am going to give it a few more days, if it gets any worse or does not get any better I will call up the retinal specialist and see if this is normal. Is this normal after laser surgery?

Thank you!

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

The laser is NOT to get rid of the thing you see (a vitreous floater) it is to seal the holes in your retina and prevent a retinal detachment.

Use the search feature and archives and read about retinal detachments, retinal tears, vitreous floaters and posterior vitreous detachments (PVD)

JCH MD

[Anointed62]

About a month ago I began seeing what appears to be as a curly, black strand of hair before my left eye.  The retina specialist said I had a hole in my retina.  Laser surgery was done.  I went back for check up 2 weeks later and he said another hole had developed, so another laser surgery was done.  I still see the "strand of curly hair".  What an be done about that?

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

Call them both and see whichever can see you soonest.
JCH MD

[WilmaP]

I had a retinal tear corrected with laser about 8 months ago.  Things have been fine other than increased floaters, until about a week and a half ago.  Now I'm experiencing a slight degeneraton of my eyesight, with blurriness and some double-vision, and slight headaches on that side.  Should I call my opthalmalogist, or the retina specialist?  I thought maybe it might be related to a sinus infection, since i seem to have more nasal congestion on that side also.

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

That's a big time problem and big time surgery. If the retina was detached whatever part of the vision that detached part serves is lost. Sometimes it will get better over a long period of time if successfully reattached. If the macula is "off" the central vision usually does not recover. If you have gas or air bubble in the eye that will cause a field defect that goes away when the gas/air reabsorbs.

Ask your surgeon. Only he/she can tell you for sure.

JCH MD

[jj2563]

Hello everyone,
I have a side effect like decrease in the peripheral field of vision
after laser treatment for eye detachment about 3 days, I really feel uncomfortable about this problem, I just wondering if this problem is just for temporary? and how long it will go away? Thank you very much for helping me.

Jill Jiao

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

The laser works by burning the retina around the holes in the lattice and then causing scar formation. It is possible for the scar that's forming to cause this red light. Nevertheless I would suggest you call your retina surgeon on Monday to discuss.

JCH III  MD