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eye care

what happens to the gas bubble after retinal ateachment operation
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Friend had gas bubble put in on Friday and went on Tuesday for laser surgery.  Dr. said that gas bubble was gone and she would has to put in another gas bubble.  What happened?
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I am at week 3, still have a med-small bubble. You are so right ,it has been more than scary
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I had a detached retina six weeks ago, it was repaired with laser and then gas bubble. All is well and the bubble is 50% now. When I tilt my head a certain way I can see in the upper field but it's like there is a film covering the vision. Is the bubble causing that or is this a problem?

Thank you for any replies.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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Avatar universal
I had a detached retina six weeks ago, it was repaired with laser and then gas bubble. All is well and the bubble is 50% now. When I tilt my head a certain way I can see in the upper field but it's like there is a film covering the vision. Is the bubble causing that or is this a problem?

Thank you for any replies.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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Avatar universal
I was experiencing what I call some flashers and floaters in my eye as well as what I would call puddling in my vision . A few years back I went to the emergency room and was sent to a specialist . They determined this to be an oculiar migraine at the time , no retina detachment. Then almost 7 weeks ago I had an extremely large stringy ghost like image floating cross my eye, and a flasher . I thought it was another ocular migraine at first . I felt like I had a cold or sinus issues on my left side affecting my ear as well . I  just felt  under the weather . The next day I was driving home from shopping for my upcoming vacation and suddenly couldn't see out of the lower portion of my eye . I noticed I couldn't tell how far the car in front of me was ( lose of depth of field and peripheral left  vision) I never  had this before with the occular migrains . I had my fiancé take me to the emergency room . A bit worried about my eyes sight , I thought it could be a detached retina . I have had perfect eye sight my whole life so I have hardly ever been to an eye doctor . Now that I'm 56, I guess , routine check ups are necessary . The emergency room doctor could not be sure it was a detached retina they just had a  ultrasound machine so they sent me to a specialist . The doctor was surprised that they could not see the tare and detached retina it was so bad he said I would have had permanent  damage and may have lost my sight in my left eye ! They had me keep my head down and tilted to the left until the surgery. It was much more painful than I expected . I guess they minimalist it so you don't overreact or back out ! When the surgery was over so was the pain until an hour ... The pain became so bad it made me cry. I just had antibiotic eye drops to put in every  2 hrs . Nothing more . My poor boyfriend don't know what to do . The worst of the pain lasted 6 hours . I was told to keep my head tilted and down , keeping the bubble in the area I first lost my vision for four days . I saw the doctor every day after the surgery . On the fourth day he said I no longer had to tilt my head down .i think the pain I. My neck became greater than the pain in my eye . My poor boyfriend had to look at me , quite grusum looking ,he said my eye was swollen as big as a baseball and black and blue . It took two weeks for the swelling to go down and for my eye to open up. At the point I had a slit of vision . I didn't have peripheral vision or depth of field and felt like  my brain and eye weren't connecting. I felt frustrated and confused when I tried to do the simplistic tasks . The brain eye connection is an amazing thing, would have loved to have my brain mapped by Dr. Fannin PhD( part of a team at Arizona State University researching neuroscience) to just see what was going on in there.  
My bubbles  looked like a dog paw print at first , not just one big one . As the weeks passed it became one big bubble .
At three weeks my doctor checked the pressure in my eye and told me I could go on my trip, flying for 10 hrs . He gave me the clearance the day before I was to leave and gave me drops for the pressure. I felt pressure and pain on the take off and some on the landing. I was away for 10 days. The bubble was getting smaller it had become just one big one that just completely was dark and covered my entire vision then as it got smaller I had one tiny one attached to it . I couldn't take any sunlight and wore dark sun glasses day and night . Light and headlights disturbed my eyes and made me disoriented . My boyfriend had to lead me everywhere like I was blind . I couldn't tell where things started and ended ... No depth of field still. I found my hearing became more acute !! I told everyone I believed my 6th sense was getting stronger as well .So may- be as inconvenient as this is there's always a positive view to take... becoming  a better listener , learning to accept help offered, appreciating you sight in every way , how lucky I have been to have such perfect sight all of my life! The conference that I was at focused on nueroplasisity and brain mapping . Dr Fannin and Dr. Joe Dispenza, D.C. are in the forefront of this field amazing stuff . I feel that the brain mapping could aide Doctors of Opthomology.

On my return home, I still had to use the drops before and after the flight . The pain was not as strong on take off and landing .
I went to see my doctor on my return, no pun intended !) , into my fifth week after surgery . He said I was doing great and that the bubble should be gone in a week . I also have to go back after my vision is fully restored for laser surgery on my rt . eye ! I have some small retina tares on it . My appointment is scheduled in 3 weeks. A bit scarey but I don't ever want to go through all of this again .

It will be seven weeks since the surgery in 5 days I still have the bubble but it is much smaller . I can see straight shed as long as I don't look down or to the left , I have some floaters or dirty vision but actually have 20/ 20 . The doctor wasn't concerned about the floaters . The biggest problem are the flares off of the bubble . I need to wear sunglasses to prevent this . I'm going to try driving today , I shouldn't have to look at my feet ! I know I won't be able to drive at night at least until the bubble is gone .

I wonder if the doctors know what the bubble is like? It's very interesting in its progression first I couldn't see out of it at all , then it was clear and blue . Now it's black on the outer rim and slightly blue on the edge. It's like a monocle on my eye or a small lens now . I noticed one day my hair was hanging in front of it and it was magnified at least 5x !!!! All so interesting but I want it to be over soon . I haven't been able to work , my work requires my sight , depth of field, balance and lifting heavy stuff . This is a real financial burden. I'm going back to work despite I may find it difficult or not possible. I'm just going to believe that the bubble will be gone by next week and that I can do my job. I'm being put back on the schedule . I know each person heals differently and I believe the doctors just can't tell us how long each persons healing time will take , we are all individual cases with different amounts of damage and abilities to Heal... I just can't wait to see everything and everyone again!
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You can't get a definite answer because there is no scientific reliable method to determine exactly when air or gas will absorb in the eye. This is major surgery to save an eye from going blind. Each case is somewhat different, that is why retina surgeons cannot speak in generalities like cataract surgeons can.  Use the search feature and archives to read the many posts on RD surgery.
JC:LH MD
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Avatar universal
Mom had the detached retina on June 12, and it seems that the Dr keeps changing the story on when the bubble will be gone, and it is very furstrating.
As  a Doctor can you not tell us when the bubble is going to be gone and what the elevation she can and can not go over, she lives in Oregon and travels over 300 miles to get to the doctor and it just seems that we can not get a clear answer to the questions. And now the doctor is saying that she needs to come by her office before she goes over to get the cataract removed by the other office and that is scheduled on Sept 18th I just don't know what to do and feel that we just are not getting the answers we can feel comfortable with.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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Avatar universal
Hi There....I am at week 5 of the gas bubble which my doc says about 10 weeks to finally absorb. Does your husband have improved vision?
Yes, this is a harowing, scary expereicne. Linda , age 51
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Ask your surgeon.

JCH MD
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Avatar universal
i had the vitrectomy with the gas bubble one wk ago. i was told it would take 10 days to 2 wks for the gas to dissolve. after reading the posts here, i am not feeling confident. will i be able to drive or do i have to wait until the bubble is completely gone?
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Avatar universal
Hello Dr. Hagan!  Guess what it completely crushed tonight!  It is all small bubbles now; how long will this take to clear up since it finally completely crushed; does this mean the bubble is gone and what happens next; this has been a rough 3 months and 3 weeks!  How long will it take now for complete reabsorption; it is pretty to look at but mainly wanted to know how long will the final process take?  Thanks; I am happy to see this finally!  This has been a rough time and my husband has really been a support to me!
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No way I can tell you for sure but air ans SF6 should absorb completely. Only thing that doesn't is silicone oil.

Good luck
JCH III MD
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Avatar universal
Hi again:  I did leave another message at another place in the forum; but guess what the bubble has actually broken up more now and my husband saw several bubbles together; they are gone and there was one apart from the main bubble today!  I talked to the surgeon office and they said give it a couple more weeks; explained to them everything that is going on; the swimming is not as a nuisance now too; thanks for your support is this right that it is reabsorbing?  How will it go; will the little bubbles just disappear?  Thanks; This has been 3 months and 1 week; i cannot wait til they are gone; it is a pretty bubble show but will be glad when it is gone.  Thanks for any answers
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is slowly reabsorbed into the blood.

JCH III MD
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