Retinal detachment - how long does it really take to recover?

[maddiesmom]

Hi, I had a retinal detachment not quite 3 weeks ago (history of high myopia, CRVO, lattice degeneration).  When I was seen in the ER I was told it "wasn't a big tear" but 6 hours later at the eye clinic they said the macula was up or off.  So I had the surgery 19 days ago - scleral buckle, cryo, gas bubble ...

I have instructions from my doctors about driving, computer, etc. (driving is legal, but "maybe not a great idea"; computer now "should be fine").  I also am trying to get to a memorial so they say flying is OK, the gas bubble is gone, they did a fast dissolving one for me.

My question is: how long does it really take to be functional, should I really be back at work, am I better off not going back yet or just working a little bit from home?  Am I better off getting back into the swing of things or continuing to rest and limit activities?  I stumble through the grocery store.  I get tired easily.  Sometimes I am driving and I just panic, everything is very bright and washed out.  Sometimes I have incredible pain from the eye (like last night, a day when I tried to get back into my routine).  But sometimes being forced to become active and functional again seems helpful.

Just ... hoping for some soft (not really medical) advice on I guess attitude and approach.  My father had this and quite his job involving a long commute and set up a home office.  

(I also still can barely see out of the eye and the doctor mentioned glasses, so maybe it is correctable, but since the eye is still red I'm not quite focused on that just yet, that's the next set of questions, soon).  

[pinhole]

Hi again,
I was wondering whether your eye is still dilated (mine is despite discontinuing the atropine) and whether that's likely why the scene gets washed out and seems too bright when you drive.

Could the pulling sensation you describe be muscle-related? As I understand it this surgery really gives some of the eye muscles a workout.

The only pain I experienced post-surgery this time was from the sharp, scratchy stitches before they dissolved, and some headache, mostly from the strain of diplopia. I don't have any pain now, though, except briefly when I put in the stinging drops. I wonder what pain you were told to anticipate.

Are you still using drops of some kind? Did you have a vitrectomy?

[cristina1676]

I had my rd in 06. I'm still dealing with floaters. I guess every person is different. I had a rd in my left eye at age 11. Be dr got sight back so the only vision I have is my right eye which has the floaters. Oh and macular edema. So each person is different. Good luck and keep up with your doctor appointments. If there's any change see your dr asap

[maddiesmom]

Thank you SO much.  The funny/sad thing is that I have been on a CRVO group for 9 years, but now I am looking for retinal detachment friends :(.  The major pain is in the corner of the affected eye (outside part), it is like a pulling sensation.  Last night I described it as "like an ice pick".  But generally it's a pulling sensation.  I told the doctor right after surgery that I could deal with it as long as it wasn't a sign of something wrong. (I mean, I can't deal with it forever, but I understood there would be pain post-surgery, etc.).

How are you doing now?  Please keep me updated.

[maddiesmom]

thank you so much, good advice!  (this eye, which also had better vision, seems to be the target, but the myopic damage is bilateral).  Thank you

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[pinhole]

Hello,

I am sorry you had a detachment. It is plenty upsetting!

I am 3+ weeks past a similar RD surgery that included a scleral buckle, vitrectomy, gas bubble and lasering. You said you were looking for "soft advice on attitude and approach." Above all, like so many others on the forum, I recommend patience.

I had a mac-off detachment in my other eye four years ago, and am dismayed to be recovering from RD surgery in the other eye now.

Can you comment further on the "incredible pain" you've experienced? I had that after my first RD surgery--agonizing stabs that occurred if I closed my eyes such as when washing my face, then opened them, as if the eye had momentarily moved into an unusual position. Didn't happen often, but wow. Always made me cry out. Lasted just seconds. I always wondered whether the buckle snagged on something at those times.

I am choosing not to drive for now since this time I have double vision (improving), plus my eyeglass prescription is suddenly way off due to the buckle.  

I'd be happy to answer any questions since I've gone through this before, and since I'm going through it again right now in my other eye.

Best wishes in your recovery.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The course of RD surgery is variable and healing can take up to 6-12 months, can involve re-operations,  the eye can make a full recovery or the vision not improve much at all even if the retina + macula re-attached. I suggest you use the search feature and archives and read the many posts from people that have had RD surgery.

The most important thing is to guard the health of your non RD eye which is at high risk for RD. Always be under the care of an ophthalmologist, never go longer than 12 months without having the good eye checked by Eye MD with dilation and report any sudden increase of floaters, any flashes or loss of central or peripheral vision immediately.  Live a health lifestyle and protect both eyes from injury and trauma.

JCH MD