Eye feels irritated and "watery" 4.5 months after retinal surgery

[mister_riggs]

Had vitrectomy & scleral buckle 4.5 months ago to fix rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in left eye. Still feels mildly irritated and "watery". No discharge, and it is only when I lean my head down for a minute or more that a tiny amount of liquid seeps out. Have redness in inner corner of left eye, but also have a marginally-greater amount of redness in inner corner of right eye (which has never undergone surgery). I occasionally experience a shimmering effect along the bottom of my field of vision. The pre-existing cataract is now much worse, but I was told to expect that.
The doctor who performed the surgery has since moved away, but when he examined me 6 weeks post-op he said that everything looked "great." Subsequent follow-ups have been conducted by a younger, less-experienced doctor. When I asked about these symptoms, she told me that I no longer had sutures in that eye. Thinking that she misunderstood, I explained the symptoms again, and she replied that I had an unusual cataract.
I have been dealing with chronic sinusitus during this period, and my GP said that the sinus infection could be causing the irritated and "watery" eye, but I have had dozens of sinus infections over the years and never before had these issues.
Should I make an appointment with a different, more-experienced doctor to have these symptoms assessed, or are they nothing to worry about?
Thank you.

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

My experience is that retina surgeons have very little interest in symptoms like watery, irritated or red eyes. Besides the retina surgeon you need to be under the care of a comprehensive Eye MD ophthalmologist, who (like a general practitioner) will take care of the rest of your eye.  Did you have a 'scleral buckle' put on?  That can cause a chronic red eye and watering.  Also your are at a high risk of RD in your other eye. The risk of RD goes up considerably after cataract surgery. Before you have cataract surgery you need an exam and approval of your retina surgeon for cataract surgery and your eye needs to seen by the retina surgeon after surgery.   Back to your eye, since it is only one eye it is not likely ocular surface disorder or allery or 'dry eye'   If you do not have a comprehensive ophthalmologist you can ask your retina surgeon to recommend one.

[mister_riggs]

Thank you.

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

You are welcome, let me know if you have any other questions.  

[mister_riggs]

I have redness in the inner corner of the left eye - the one with the scleral buckle - but also in the inner corner of the right eye.  I experience sporadic and brief moderate pain in the upper inner corner of the left eye, but no pain or even appreciable irritated feeling in the right eye. Could this be due to my ongoing sinus infection? I have so far taken 3 different antibiotics (Augmentin, doxycycline, and azithromycin) but still have symptoms of sinusitis. I have a deviated septum and enlarged turbinates that apparently make me prone to frequent sinus infections and make it more difficult to cure them, but I can't recall previously having these eye symptoms when sick.
I can see an opthamologist if you believe it is warranted, but don't want to waste his or her time if the cause is innocuous.
Thank you.

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

There is a limit to what we can do on the internet and we have reached that point. Seeing a comprehesive general ophthalmologist should be your next step to get specific answers.