Flashing lights after retinal detachment surgery

[lez9321]

I had retinal detachment surgery just over a week ago now.  A few days ago I started getting flashing lights again (same as the ones I got prior to surgery) at the top corner of my eye.  This started with a few flashes so I went to see my surgeon who checked my eye and said it all looked ok.  But now 4 days later the flashing is on and off all day.  Is this normal? I phoned my local hospital and they said they would see me at the eye clinic on wednesday but I'm worried sick that - a) I have another detachment or b) I will always have these lights flashing and just have to put up with it.  Can you please tell me why I would be getting these lights? and am I right to be worried sick?

I would love to hear from anyone else who's gone through the same thing.

[JohnHaganMD]

So when you saw the optometrist last time you had a RD and the optom did not see. Glad you saw the retina surgeon.  Say once again do everything you can to protect your good eye from injury, disease and bad lifestyle habits like smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, bad diet, etc.

[KG12345]

Thank you, definitely will do all I can to protect it. Vision is so precious! Plan after seeing second retina specialist today is for another surgery on left eye Monday to first remove scar tissue then try gas bubble again,  with surgeon saying will need strict facedown positioning for 2 weeks. He said if this doesn't work then oil would be next step. He said could take up to a year to really know what final visual outcome will be after reattach meant. I realize possibly may never get really good vision back in left eye but going to hope for the best. Though I didn't have a hole in the right macula the right eye was a macula-off detachment also and I've returned to 20/25 corrected vision 6 weeks post-op so I like to think my eyes have a high capacity for healing. :)  In the meantime I am going to try to stay focused on the vision I do have rather than what I don't have. I will quit bothering you now with my comments. I just recall that when my issues first began in April and I was scared and desperately searching for info on this topic I knew nothing about that reading entries on this particular forum was very helpful, so maybe something I ask or you say could somebody else in the future. Thanks again!

[JohnHaganMD]

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[JohnHaganMD]

Thanks for the update. Good luck

[KG12345]

Turns out not a pucker but left retina has detached again, larger than first detachment, including the macula, now with macula hole. Surgeon referred me to another retina specialist to get a second opinion as he says my retinas are not acting in the normal mode. He believes I may need scar tissue removed as was "chronic" detachment which he thinks I'd had for 4 months prior. I see this second surgeon this afternoon. Good news is right eye remains stable.

[JohnHaganMD]

Your best bet is to see what the surgeon says tomorrow as this type of surgery is so individualized and different that it is impossible to generalize.  

[KG12345]

Thank you for responding. On way to see surgeon and thinking will probably also get a second opinion prior to having a 4th surgery in under 2 months time.

[JohnHaganMD]

Best of luck

[Karan91]

Hello doctor,  I just wanted to ask you that I just had my silicon oil removed from right eye it's been 6 days now but I see few black spots but they dont apear continually they are like come and go after few minutes is it notmal, or do I need to do surgery again my doctor is out of station and can't call him so hope you can tell me what should I do?  

[JohnHaganMD]

Yes he will be especially if myopic. However the risk is in an absolute sense low. Standard risk of RD in general population without risk factors is about 1 in 7000    For relatives of a person that has had a spontaneous RD but who themselves do not have high risk characteristics (such as high myopia or lattice) the risk might be 1 in 1000

[KG12345]

Thank you, Dr. Hagan! So far my son has no myopia, whereas I started to wear glasses for nearsightedness at age 10.  I'm hoping he's inherited his dad's eyes (as he's had perfect vision) but will certainly make sure  my son gets his eyes checked regularly.

[KG12345]

Update: So on 5/12/16 I had scleral buckle with vitrectomy and gas bubble in my left eye. Gas bubble has been gone since last Friday. Only vision I have now in the eye is blurry vision in the left peripheral area. At optometrist appt today could not even see light from her Snellen chart box when my right eye was covered. Optometrist says she thinks I have a macular pucker. I see my surgeon tomorrow. Just wondering what treatment options there are for macular puckers?

[KG12345]

Update: So on 5/12/16 I had scleral buckle with vitrectomy and gas bubble in my left eye. Gas bubble has been gone since last Friday. Only vision I have now in the eye is blurry vision in the left peripheral area. At optometrist appt today could not even see light from her Snellen chart box when my right eye was covered. Optometrist says she thinks I have a macular pucker. I see my surgeon tomorrow. Just wondering what treatment options there are for macular puckers?

[JohnHaganMD]

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