Can I wear a patch on my operated eye for a long period with no risks?

[mariposa87]

My right eye was operated for retinal detachment one week ago ( I got scleral buckle). I know eye patch is not necessary for long but my problem is that I have become more myopic (about two diopters from what it seems) in the operated eye so it does not see well via my current - 14 glasses. The doctor said I can get new lens to my glasses in three months because this is when the myopic shift will stabilise. Yet I cant use both my eyes with good vision because the right eye blurrs everything. So I wear a shield on it and look only with my left eye. Is wearing a shield on an eye for long safe? Will it not result in my right eye somehow forgetting  how to see or position itself  if I will do it for 3 months? I also suppose there is something more than just more myopia because vision with right eye is a little blurry even from close distance.

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

I would not completely cover the operated eye for 3 months, because you run the risk of the eye drifting out from non-use.  Wear the patch when your activities require it, but try to use both eyes some of the time.  Also you could obtain a temporary prescription now with the new, more myopic correction for the operated eye, and then change it when the prescription is more stable. Some optical shops (or your optometrist) are willing to change the prescription in a few months at no or minimal charge.

[mariposa87]

Thank you doctor. Do you know if the myopic and astigmatic shift tends to decrease with time after scleral buckle surgery? I already had -14 before surgery and from what I know my 1.67 photochromic lenses are only available up to -15... And the myopic shift seems to be at least 2 diopters more  more and some astigmatism,which I never had before.