Pain, Redness after Retinal Tear Surgery

[cpmathis]

I had cataract surgery (both eyes) in Oct 08 and then had a full vitreous detachment and retinal tear (left eye) all within a 24 hour period of my first noticing symptoms in March 09. I had emergency surgery the next morning. My understanding is that the surgeon did a vitrectomy and repaired the tear using cyro (?) and then the gas bubble. I healed well after the surgery.  Gas bubble was gone exactly 2 weeks to the day post surgery. Vision returned to what it was pre-surgery in the left eye. While everything seemed to have healed well, I am continuing to have pain and redness on the left side of the left eye. The redness is a thin line the whole length of the eye on the left side and sometimes wavy redness in the white part of the entire eye and worsens when I concentrate or focus for long period of time. (My job is extremely visually intensive) and the pain consists of a dull ache with periods of sharp shooting pain that go up from the left corner of the eye to above the eye. Doctor took me off the steroid drops at a gradual rate 4 weeks after surgery, but put me on Xibrom for the pain PRN or twice a day. I have an appointment with a neurologist tomorrow, but was wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar following retinal surgery?  What is causing the pain and redness if the rest of the eye has healed so well?  Thanks in advance!

[cpmathis]

Thanks so much for the reply. I will see what the neurologist says this morning, but then probably head back to the retinal surgeon as you suggested. I have not seen the surgeon once since the surgery. They have me be followed by my regular optomolgist. (who referred me to the neurologist)  Again, thank you for the response!

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I do not believe a neurologist will be of help. The dull ache may be due to an imbalance of the two eyes.  See your surgeon and ask him.  

Dr. O.