Vitreous detachment,hemorrhage,retinal tears

I saw an ophthalmologist after noticing a persisting reddish floater in left eye a week or so following sinus surgery.  The diagnosis was vitreous detachment and vitreous hemorrhage with retinal tears without detachment.  I was seen on the 2nd and am scheduled for eye surgery on the 5th at 2:30pm.  I assume they'll use a laser to seal things up.  The vitreous hemorrhage suggests a hole in the eye?  The vitreous detachment?  I  also have  couple of retinal tears in the left eye; one is at 4 o'clock; the other I forget exactly where.  Will the surgery pretty much fix things?  From what I have read, I should avoid physical activity for a while, will likely have to have to eye covered a few days, and may be using some antiinflammatory drops.  Does this combination of problems suggest anything?


This discussion is related to risk of retinal tear recurrence with myopia.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

What type of surgery was recommended?  Vitreous detachment with vitreous hemorrhage is associated with a higher incidence of tractional retinal tears (horseshoe tears).  If you had these retinal tears before this incident, they may not have to be treated.  Atrophic retinal tears (round holes without traction) have a very low  incidence of leading to retinal detachment, probably less the 0.5%

The complications of laser to retinal tears is about 5%.  Macular pucker and retinal detachment.  The incidence of retinal detachment from an acute retinal tear is about 35%.  Therefore acute retinal tears should be treated.  However, non acute tears do not always need to be treated.