Silicone oil/retinal detachment/double vision

[boriquaabe]

HI...my name is Abe and I suffered a retinal detachment in my left eye about 1 year ago... i will briefly address my concerns..I  had 4 surgeries on that eye to repair my retina. The last one the doc put silicone oil in my eye. My present doctor and the one who did the three prior all have said my prognosis for recovery is good as I got my vision to 20/40 shortly after the surgeries but he couldn't tell me why as i got close the retina would raise slightly. So, i am scheduled to have the oil removed next week but I've had double vision these past few months. I previously had gas in the eye so I coudn't see out of it until the oil was put in. (my first surgeon kept refilling the gas bubble). when I first started experiencing the double vision I would look at something and I would have two images the the left image would slowly sink into the right image. As time went on this started to happen faster and faster. Now sometimes if I focus I can see no double vision. My question are this:
1) is this a sign that eventually the double vision will be gone?
2) when the silicone is removed and they put a lens on will this help it go away even quicker?
3) will double vision and the floating images and excessive movements in my left eye to line up the images effect my equalibrium and overall well being?(when I close my good eye i can tell my left eye is moving... this can't have a good effect on how my brain is functioning)
Thanks Abe

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear boriquaabe,

I would speak with your retinal specialist about the symptoms your having.  There are many reasons for double vision following retinal detachment.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[berrywoo]

The double vision could be caused by a number of things. If you've had a scleral buckle it could be from that. Or it could be that you're having trouble fusing the different images from each eye. Or if you're aphakic this may also in some cases result in slight double vision at things up close. Or it may be an effect of the oil. There are other causes of double vision, but the ones above are the most common after RD surgery.

You need to talk w/your surgeon and discuss what exactly is going on. Only he/she will be able to tell you whether or not the double vision will be able to be fixed.