retinal detachment

[judy516]

What is the likelihood of a retinal detachment  happening  after cataract/refractive surgery in high myopic patients?(-30 with glasses) Luckily,there has been no sign of this happening in the past 40 years and the retina has been checked.  Is it like "disturbing the applecart" to have an IOL procedure?  Is it foolish just to want better sight through this procedure than to use the procedure for cataract removal?  (cataracts are only +2)  Is the retinal detachment prone to detaching multiple times?  Have cataract patients flown in a plane alright?  What does one do when you are confined to a plane and you think you have symptons of retinal detachment?  How much time does it take for blindness to occur if not treated in time?

Contacts have been used in the interim.  Up to what age have patients used contact lenses?  As we get older, does the tolerance for the lenses change?  I've been lucky to have worn them over 20 years so far.  There have been some minor problems or irritations that inconvenienced my schedule but still work as far as I can tell.
Aree there new innovations for glasses for that kind of prescri[ption?

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Suggest you stick with the contacts as long as you can.  Then you would not have to worry about having a retinal detachment after cataract surgery.  When the time comes when you are having serious trouble with the contact lenses then the conversation will be different.   If you are really -30 as you say, then that would indeed put you at significant risk for problems so I advise you wait until it is a necessity.

MJK MD

[Winterpeg]

Hi Judy:
Too many questions! I don't know where you are coming from, or where you are going.
Ask a few straight forward questions and then we can hopefully answer them.

[indi1664]

Hi judy,
            -30...are you sure this is correct?...
I was -20 in both eyes and have recently had CLEAR surgery(same as cataract surgery)...my 2nd eye operation was last monday and my vision is now +0.75 LE and RE...whilst not checked ...seems about -1...this is an AWESOME result for someone like us very high myopics..yes there are risks with retinal detachment and vitreous problems ...however by the grace of god ..things worked out well..
If you are wearing contacts and are getting on well with them ...stay with  them...there is no reason why you can not wear contacts till any age...unless you sre prone to infection or your eyes can no longer tolerate....just make sure you wear contacts for correct amount of time as recommended by your optician....
There is always a risk associated with surgery...but a good Consultant who understands your problems and can deal with retinal detachment .....in the unlikely event this happens....is worth searching out.
I very much agree with dr Kutryb ....if you are ok with vision you currently have with contacts ....avoid surgery as your marginal gain in vision quality....may not justify the associated risk..

Good Luck

[Winterpeg]

Hi Judy:
I am -15 and am scheduled for cataract surgery this coming Tuesday for 1 eye that had a "tear" in the macula. Wow, -30, I would check your prescription as I have not heard of that before. I had Lasik surgery 13 years ago and was corrected to plan in both eyes. Since then, my left eye is still perfect but my right eye had the tear and I had vitrectomy surgery to fix that and now have a cataract in that eye due to the vitrectomy surgery.
Have a great day and continue to wear the contacts!

[judy516]

How old are you when you had the procedure?  I'm sure the surgery would be fine.  But I'm worried about the probability of it occurring after the surgery. Yes with glasses that is the number-with soft contacts it is 26.75. Up until now I haven't given retinal detachment  a thought.  I am afraid I will be paranoid and want to have it checked monthly.  I would hate to get the gift of sight only to be partially blind due to chronic retinal attachment if it is not treated immediately.  I was told it is like tissue paper.
Thanks for a positive comment and good luck with your recovery.  I know Lasik is out of the realm for me.

[judy516]

I forgot toask why you didn't stay with contacts.  What prompted  you to do the clear lens for high myopia surgery?  Just curious.  Thanks.

[indi1664]

Hi judy,
            I am 44 ... why surgery ?...well at this age my health is good and after speaking with Optician...he suggested surgery was preety safe and this basically will avoid me having cataract surgery later...which i am sure would develop in a high myopic case...so now or later ....eventually no choice....having researched ...i realised i would further gain about 20% better vision and possibilty of no glasses or contacts ...dream come true...has it worked ?...well yes to a large degree..I now dont wear glasses accept for reading and driving...otherwise i am ok during the day...

judy i really dont know waht to advise about retinal dtachment...I am very aware that we are more prone to Retinal detachment....but this can occur with or without surgery...and i realise there is more chance of problem when having surgery....I just took the chance i guess...

I would be so very happy for you if you had surgery and gained better vision....but only you can weigh up the benefits coupled with the associated risk after good advice from surgeons....there are no gurantees with surgery unfortunately...

you have to ask yourself
1)are you happy with contacts
2)can you get by with the quality of vision you currently have.
3)are you developing cataracts...if so than you have almost no choice but surgery any way..

In rounding of ....for me it was the right choice....I have heard of a guy who was -24 and -18 and he went to -3....and is fine....

Good Luck in whatever you decide

[indi1664]

Sorry also Dr kutryb advise is very relevant...weigh it all up...than decide...get a good assessment from a competent surgeon ...would be first step i guess..