curved lines at corner of Operated eye

I had PPV with gas bubble in my right eye over 2 months and 2 weeks ago.  Also, exactly one week ago I had laser treatment done on the same eye for a small retinal tear my Doctor found while examining my eye.  My Doc also said my treatment and recovery is doing good.  

However, I am seeing curved line/s almost at the same spot ( i dont know if this is the tear what was treated or not but it is in the same area where the tear was) about 140 degree angle to the right of the operated eye....whenthe lines are actaully straight lines.  It also almost looks like there is a mirror in that area as well.

1) is this just a temporary symptom and will improve in time or will this be permanent?  Im not sure if i already saw this before the laser surgery last week or not as well.

2) do laser surgeries for retinal tears mess up your vision like this....give you curved or distorted vision (as ive read some patients have on this website)?  Arent they supposed to help keep your vision?    if the laser caused this, i wouldnt have had the retinal tear lasered.

3) i also noticed that when i move my hands forward on both sides of my face that i dont see the right hand as soon as I see the left hand.  My right hand has to move closer to the front more before I can see it.  BUt when I look at that right corner, i can see my hand fine  (I had a black/blind spot on the right corner of my right eye before i had the surgery - PPV with gas bubble on my right eye).  is this normal?  I just get scared because im thinking i might be having an RD again.  But when i look at that corner I can see my hand...just not as soon as I see it on the other side.  I also do not have any light flashes, floaters that would indicate an RD.  Again, is this normal?  Will this improve with time?  BTW...i sitll have blood blocking my view on the right eye as well and the Doc said it is because of new blood from the tear...this info might affect your response.

Please help.  I wont see my doctor until three weeks from now.  Thanks in advance for your answers and opinion.  I appreciate it a lot.

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

1. It is a common problem with this type of surgery. It may be temporary or permanent.
2. It is not the surgery that "messes" up the vision but the pathology: retinal detachments, macular membranes, macular holes, etc.
3. Yes that also is common. I suggest that you use the search feature and read the many posts by people that have had PPV surgery.
4. You can call your surgeons office prior to your next visit to discuss your concerns

JCH MD

[corks100]

Thank you so much for your responses Dr. Hagan.  

I have a few more questions:

1) will this curved lines on the side of my vision go to my central vision?  as mentioned before, i recently had laser done on a small retinal tear my Doc found last week on the same area where i see the curved lines.  im just scarred of a ripple effect....

2) i feel sometimes that my eyes still feel "raw" and that like I just had surgery....could this be dry eyes?    

3) sometimes i do cold compresses on my operated eye...esp after crying.  i relieves me a little.  Is this safe to do?

4) I have gone through the search feature of this website and no one ever asks this question....but will my eye ever feel the same again...or normal or like it never had surgery?  

5) i worry about constantly worrying about my eye and not having a normal life after.... you mentioned before that it takes up to a year for complete resutls.  IT's been 2 mons ans almost 3 weeks for me.  When will it be a bit more stable for my eye....3 months, 6 months?

Thanks again in advance for your kindness and response Dr. Hagan.

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

1. Ask for confirmation but usually the curved lines will not extend into macula central vision
2. Yes, if so frequent artifical tears will help
3. Generally yes
4. Generally yes it gets back to feeling like a normal eye
5. No surgeon doing this type of surgery can ever tell for sure how fast someone will heal or their final result. Discuss your concerns further with your surgeon.

Good luck with your recovery. Take special care to protect the other eye
JCHMD

[corks100]

Thanks so much Dr. Hagan.  I really appreciate your responses.  I have a few more please...

1) How do I take special care of my good eye as you suggested?  I REALLY really want to do that but dont know steps that would REALLY help and MAKE A DIFF for the health of my good eye.

2) Can i just get artifical tear drops over the counter then?   or do I need doctor's approval on which to get.  IT might take me forever to get answers if i wait for his suggestions as he is not so good at addressing patient questions and concerns.  This upsets me but this is another issue. Someone told me to get the "preservative free" kind...Does this matter?
  
3)  can you suggest any really good retinal specialist in New Jersey...one that addresses concerns and questions patients have with what they are going through?  I think my Doctor is good.  He would be perfect if he spends an extra 5-10 mins at least on each patient during their visit for serious concerns and questions esp if they are pointing things our in their eyes and not just walk out the door after he looks at you, tells you what he thinks and then tells you when your next appt will be.  This really concerns me esp since no one else can really answer questions and problems except for him.

4) In terms of me seeing my left hand sooner that the right (operated eye) as I move both my hands towards the front of my face, is this normal?  will this improve with time?

5) when I look at each side of my face, I think my vision extends farther on the left side than the right (operated eye)  side.  Is this normal too?  Will this improve in time?  COuld this get worse?

6) Do you think Im having another RD Doc with the symptoms I told you here so far?  I get nervous since I cant see the lower right hand corner of my eye as well which used to be black and I coulnt see in this area before the surgery.  BUt when i look at that side, I can see my hand, just not when Im looking straight ahead.  I had the blind spot here before the surgery?  I do not have floaters or light flashes though.  Help!

7) I do see and experience light sparks that I see daily/occasionally.  Is this normal too?  will this go away in time as well?  is this a bad sign?

Please address these questions as well Doc.  As mentioned, my own Doc is not very good with my concerns and am now in the process of finding a Doc for a second opinion.  As soon as I see one next week or the following week, Hopefully I wont bother you too much as he could address my questions going forward.

Thanks again for your kindness and understanding.  I appreciate it so very much.  

Hope to hear from you soon.  God Bless and have a great weekend.

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

1. See your ophthalmologists regularly and be sure good eye is checked as well as the other one. Live a healthy, safe lifestyle
2. CHeck with your Eye MDs to be sure but normally no restrictions are put on artifical tears. Preserved tears are cheaper and work for most people
3. I do not know any Eye MDs in NJ. Consider looking at www.aao.org or going to medical school
4 Can't tell
5 Can't tell
6 Not likely. DIscuss with your Eye MD
7 Light sparks are common following that type of surgery

JCH MD

[corks100]

Thanks so much Dr. Hagan.

Ill stop right here for now.  I appreciate your answers and patience.  

Have a good weekend and Enjoy your Thanksgiving.