-I'm a 51 yr. old male in overall good physical condition - no issues with BP, cholesterol, cancer, weight, or anything else. Did cardio (incline walk/elliptical) 3-4x's/wk. and weight training 3x's/wk. - nothing extreme, just trying to stay in good overall health. I was highly myopic (-7.5 in both eyes) until LASIK surgery 10 years earlier which was very successful (20/20 in right eye, 20/15 in left). Unfortunately, 9 months ago (on Christmas Day) after several days of flashers/floaters in my right eye, I went to ER and then an on-call ophthalmologist, and had surgery that evening to repair a detached retina and had a scleral buckle placed in the eye. Also found a retinal tear in my left eye (no symptoms) and repaired with cryotherapy.
-All was going well, had been cleared to resume all activities, planning to remove a cataract in right eye, and then 3 months later the retina detached again and had surgery the next day; also removed my eye lens . Same doctor stated there was significant retinal scarring after first surgery, and not confident in long term success after 2nd procedure. At my one-week follow up, it had detached again, and went to Bascom Palmer in Miami and had 3rd surgery the next day. Flattened my retina and lasered multiple breaks all over retina - looked like laser scars around the entire "circle" my eye from the surgical diagram. Placed silicone oil which has been in for 5+ months with no new issues and scheduled to remove the oil next month. Will have an artificial lens placed sometime later if no new issues. Surprisingly good prospect for future vision per my doctor. Left eye has had no issues since repair of retinal tear, and still is 20/15 vision. Retinal specialist has been great, and I haven't talked too much about my long-term future, however...
-I have two lingering concerns - would appreciate any thoughts/suggestions: 1) I was an avid golfer, and have been restricted from lifting anything over 15 pounds or physical activity for past 5 months, and for several more to come due to future remaining procedures. Doctor is purposely taking very conservative approach in this regard. Wondering if I'll need to alter my physical routines (and golf) for the rest of my life, or if I'm worrying too much about another detachment, and 2) Since the first surgery, and still today, I have diplopia (double-vision) in my right eye, with the second image tilted left and downward, which has become more distracting as my vision has improved, and will be even more problematic when my artificial lens is implanted. Any thoughts on prism glasses vs. eye muscle surgery, or other option(s)? Eye muscle surgery is scary if any risk of causing another detachment. But it would be a shame to have decent/good vision after this long journey, only to have to close my right eye due to double vision. Still, I feel pretty lucky to have a chance at decent vision in my right eye again.
-Sorry such a long post...would love to get some insight or hear from anyone with similar experience. Thanks!