Flashing lights after retinal detachment surgery

[lez9321]

I had retinal detachment surgery just over a week ago now.  A few days ago I started getting flashing lights again (same as the ones I got prior to surgery) at the top corner of my eye.  This started with a few flashes so I went to see my surgeon who checked my eye and said it all looked ok.  But now 4 days later the flashing is on and off all day.  Is this normal? I phoned my local hospital and they said they would see me at the eye clinic on wednesday but I'm worried sick that - a) I have another detachment or b) I will always have these lights flashing and just have to put up with it.  Can you please tell me why I would be getting these lights? and am I right to be worried sick?

I would love to hear from anyone else who's gone through the same thing.

[Letalou]

I had a detached retina, with ZERO symptoms. Had surgery with buckle and gas bubble Nov 24. Result is complete blindness in right eye. Something to do with the anesthesia. Still unclear of what went wrong. Found out 2 days ago that the retina re detached as well! Due to the LADAR6000 malfunctioning 8 years ago and leaving my corneas scarred, without the ability to correct them with glasses, my other eye is not good either. My quality of life has taken a nosedive, without much hope of being a life worth living.

[JohnHaganMD]

Assuming the retina was successfully re-attached and the gas bubble has been removed or reabsorbed the "dark area" should not grow bigger.  Discuss with your surgeon your concerns. Also your comprehensive ophthalmologist can do a visual field and keep track of peripheral vision changes.

The flickering of lights is common, many posts on same, likely due to fibrosis or contracture of retinal tissue.

JCH MD

[Wonsuk]

3 months ago, I underwent a vitrectomy, laser treatment, and gas bubble due to RD in my left eye. I am now getting regular check-ups at my eye doctor's. It turns out that prior to my surgery a considerable portion of my retina (upper left-hand corner) had been detached for quite some time, and therefore I now experience loss of vision in the lower right-hand corner of my left eye's vision field.

My question is - is it possible that the "dark area" (ie, the area of my impaired vision field) may continue to grow larger even after surgery? My doctor, at my last check-up last week, said he doesn't see anything out of the ordinary yet. Fyi, I continue to see flickering of lights in the lower part of my vision several times a day.

However, I can't help but feel that my "dark area" has grown a bit larger than,say, 2 months ago.

[JohnHaganMD]

If you will use the search feature and archives and read the many posts about retinal detachment (RD) surgery and silicone oil in the eye you will find that this multiple operation, pain, reduced vision is extremely common. The only solace you might gain is that without this surgery these eyes generally go completely blind.  So this type of surgery is desperation surgery for eyes facing blindness.  Some of the eyes are saved and some have good or useful vision.
It is extremely important that you pay close attention to your remaining eye as it is at increased risk for a RD also.  You need to protect it from disease and injury. Be sure to have it checked also every 6-12 months by an Eye MD ophthalmologist.  That having been said I think your only option is seek a second opinion. Retina doctors must always practice in a group and you would ask if an associate would offer a fresh second opinion.

JCH MD

[Pupil_Capture]

Multiple complications after retina detachment surgery

I had a retina detachment some time in September 2015, and had an operation near the end of September, where the ophthalmologist drained out the vitreous liquid of my left eyes and replaced it with (now I know) heavy silicone oil

I had a check up some weeks after the surgery (it does take quite some time for the eyes to feel not so painful) where the doctor found troubling signs - retina scarring and the presence of emulsion

So I had a second surgery yesterday where the doc drained out the heavy silicone oil and replaced it with gas. He also replaced the cataract of my left eyes

I asked the doctor how was the situation of the eye and he told me that he could only remove part of the emulsion because 'they were everywhere', and that he couldn't repair the 'scars' of the retine developed after the injection of the heavy silicone oil because it might tore up even more (healthy) retina cells nearby

Fair enough, I thought

This morning when I had a follow-up the doctor he found that I had a 'pupil capture' - which means the new 'artificial' cataract lens somehow was stuck on my pupil

Before the 'draining silicone oil' operation by left eyes had really blurry vision - now, it's totally dark

The doctor tried to dilate the left eye's pupil and then asked me to lay my head, face down, hoping that with the dilated pupil the artificial cataract lens would somehow 'pops' backwards and be released by my pupil muscle

No luck --- it still stuck, the pupil capture problem still holds

Since I only had the eye operation (in which the doctor drilled a second hole - I have two holes in my left eyes already) the doctor couldn't do anything, at least, right now

But I do feel pressure in my left eye, and tears keep flowing down, non-stop

Yes, every 2 hours I put on the eye drop, as told, but the pressure is still there, I can feel it

What can I do now? Any resident eye doctor here? Care to share your tips?

Thanks !

[JohnHaganMD]

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