questions about pending scleral buckle for 16 yr old

[em'smom]

Hi All, thanks in advance for any responses.

My daughter was diagnosed with RD involving the macula in the left eye, it is suspected that it evolved slowly over the last 2-3 months.  She suspected contact lens issues, but...  She has blurry vision in that eye, no flashes or floaters ever, although some headaches.  Her surgery is in a week and a half, we understand the process of the buckling, feel our dr. is  great, and it will be performed at Will's Eye in Phila, great hosp.  There is no vitrectomy or gas bubble planned, but there will be cryoplexy (sp?).

A few questions I have:
-Should she be swimming (in gym class) now and after surgery?
-Post-op will she ever be able to wear contact lens in that eye?
-How long will her reading ability be affected (mid-terms are soon)?
-Should she wear an eyepatch during the day (she sees that possibility as the ONLY perk!), if so, for how long?
-If she experiences double-vision and the brain "shuts off" that eye, how healthy is that... will it always be shut off?
-Is there anything we can do now or post-op to minimize any obvious physical changes,ie, eyelid issues, etc. (vision is more important than vanity, but she's a natural beauty, and only 16!)?

And finally:
-Is the buckle the best option for a healthy 16 year old?

I know some of these questions may be answered by the dr. but we all know how that goes, they are so busy and can be quite dismissive.  I intend to ask anyway but I'd love to hear from you folks.  Also, any post-op recommendations you have (pain, boredom, light, etc) would be appreciated.

thanks!

[msvideo]

GOOD LUCK  HOPE YOURS DOES BETTER THAN MINE DID.  THEY SAY THE OLDER YOU ARE THE BETTER IT IS.  MINE WAS TOLD SHE HAD RD AND NEEDED SURGERY . THEY DECIDED TO USE THE S. BUCKLE AND THE GAS BUBBLE TO HOLD THE RETINA IN PLACE. FOUR WEEKS LATER WE WERE BACK IN SURGERY. THIS TIME THE GAS WAS REPLACED WITH SILICONE OIL. FIVE DAYS LATER WE WERE BACK IN AGAIN. THE OIL HAD A FEW BUBBLES THAT MOVED TO THE FRONT OF HER EYE AND THE PRESSURE SHOT TO 60. WE WERE KEPT COMPANY BY A NURSES AID WHO SAID SHE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER AT SEVENTEEN.( MY DAUGHTER IS 13 ). WE
ASKED ABOUT HER SIGHT NO READING SIGHT AT ALL. SHE STILL DOSEN'T
HAVE HER LENS REPLACED AND IS NOW HAVING TROUBLE WITH CATARACTS.
WHEN THE DOCTOR CAME OUT AFTER THIS THIRD SURGERY HE TOLD US HE
HAD TO REMOVE A CATARACT ALONG WITH HER LENS.  

[nursept]

I opted out of PE for the rest of my High school years.  I have exercised regularly since I was 18 y. old.  Never contact sports- only jogging and lifting light weights, and bicycling.  I am very careful to not be around anything that might hit my face/head.  I stay off of all rollercoasters and anything that would increase pressure in my eyes. These are all precautions.
I met a young woman my age who , when in Mexico on vacation, walked by a volleyball game on the beach and got accidently hit on the head/eye area with the volleyball and her Retina detached.  She flew in a plane to get back to the states to have it fixed and with the pressure changes etc and the waiting time.. it progressed and she is now blind in that eye. I also heard from a physician whose dog gently hit his temple and his retina detached.  It is crazy how these things can happen.  I have meticulously washed my hands etc putting in contacts etc. because when you almost lose your vision, you become very cautious. Hope this helps.

[em'smom]

Thanks, nursept,

That's very reassuring.  When you say you opted out of PE and protect your eyes now... can you explain?  How long were you out of PE, forever?  How do you protect your eyes now, under what circumstances do you protect them?

Glad your sight is so good.  Thanks for your thoughts.

[nursept]

I had a spontaneous retinal detachment at 15 y. old in 1978.  I am now in my 40's and have had excellent vision with contact lenses. It was very traumatic for my family.  Healthy teenagers shouldn't get this, right?  Just to encourage you, my surg. was done 25 plus years ago and I was ok. Just make sure you ask your daughter what frightens her the most and address it.  Make sure you assess her pain and keep her comfortable.  I stayed out of any P.E. classes after my detachment just for safety sake.  My MD. wrote me an excuse.  I always protect my eyes from any activity that would cause injury. I pray all goes well.

[em'smom]

She'll be bummed to hear that she won't need a patch for a few days... but thanks for all the info, it's appreciated.

[Forum-OD-MP]

Wills Eye literally "wrote the book" on modern eye disease treatment (called the "will's eye manual"...we all have one!)

swimming:  no, not now and not after surgery IMO.  i guess do what your doc says but physical activity should be limited

post op contact lenses: yes

reading ability: could be permanently affected, although we certainly hope not.  difficult to predict an amount of time

no need to patch the eye

temporary suppression (brain turning image off) is not dangerous at all in a 16 year old.  no, it will not be permanent.  permanent suppression usually only occurs in CONSTANT suppression in children UNDER AGE 8

physical changes to appearance (eyelid, etc) are unlikely with this type of surgery.  but no, there would be nothing you could do to prevent it if it were to occur

buckle is probably your best option, and possibly even your only option depending on the circumstances of the RD.  wills would certainly know!

post op recommendations:  very little physical activity.  i would say swimming is out.  as are lifting anything over 30 lbs, going on any amusement park rides, jarring of the head, contact sports...many more.  just take it SUPER easy both before & after the surgery