Retinal Tear or Retinal detachment

[electric_eng]

Hi,
I am 45 years old. I started to see a black spot on my right vision in September 2007. My father had retina detachment when he was 45 years old. We were warned about the black eye floaters.
I called an ophthalmologist provided from my insurance for an eye screening. I mentioned about my father’s vision lost related to his retinal detachment. He dilated my eyes. I got Slit lamp examination and Tonometry. I think he used an ophthalmoscope to check the back of my eyes. He was holding a very strong light into my eyes. He told me everything was ok.  6 months later, in March 11 2008 another a big dark spot appeared in my right eye vision when I was working on the computer. I blink my eyes couple times and washed my eyes with the water. It felt like I had paint in my eye. No pain. Then in 5 minutes this spot separated to smaller particles. I cannot describe, please just look at the attached pictures I draw. I called his office right away and they told me to come to his office immediately. I was in his office in 4 hours after I called them. He checked my eye again. He told me he saw the blood but not a retina tear. He said he didn’t know the reason. I should wait for one month and see him again. He said eye floaters will settle down and he will look at it, again. He asked me if I saw any flashes or lights. I did not recall, because I was reading a word document on my computer. He gave me an appointment for April and I left his office. One week later small floaters start to disappear as you see from my attached picture. I started to see some watery, wavy spots on my vision. They were floating like eye floaters. I called Dr. s office about it. The Nurse talked to Dr and called me back to say to wait until my appointment. She said, “if there is NO improvement he will recommend me to a retina specialist”. Same day, I mentioned my vision to my co-worker who has Glaucoma. She gave me her Retina specialist Dr. s name. I called his office and explained my vision problem. They gave me an early appointment for 28th March. The Retina Specialist checked my eyes and told me I had a tear on my retina. He said I had a hemorrhage. I was told that the tear was in difficult place to apply laser, he should use Cryotherapy to fix the tear immediately.  I waited one more hour and Cryotherapy treatment used to create a scar around the retinal hole to prevent fluid from entering the hole. I will visit him 10 days later.
I don’t have any vision lost just a black spot, some small floaters and some watery floating spots. 3-25-08 drawing. I have a mild eye pain.
I was sad to hear about a retina tear. I hope it is not a retinal detachment. Was I late to see a Retina Specialist? Any advice for me.

Thank you very much.

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

Its unlikely cryotherapy will help them. They usually represent debris, protein, blood in the vitreous. You should ask about them specifically during your next eye exam as only looking in the eye can answser your question.

JHC III MD

[electric_eng]

Thank you Dr. Hagan.
I don't have any vision lost. I have some floaters like small bubles and a big black floaters from September. I have couple of watery/blurry, transparent, floating spots on my right vision. They developed after the Ophthalmologist visit, before Retina Specialist visits. What are they? Will they stay on my vision? Will Cryotherapy treatment improve my vision? Thanks Again.

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

The tear may have developed after you saw your first Eye MD. These things happen and that's why you were given follow up apt. In any case its treated and the chances are good it will not affect your vision. No way to prevent another tear from developing or the one you had.

JCH IIIMD