MANY TINE FLOATING SPECS AFTER MACULAR HOLE SURGERY

[Flame123]

Sept. 2nd, silicone oil was removed after macular hole surgery.  On Sept. 15th I stopped all eye drops, tapering off of the cortisone for 4 days. Sept. 17th noticed hundreds of tiny floating specs.  Being afraid of a retinal tears, I returned and had a comple eye exam.  My group of opthalmologists are noted as being some of the best. Two days later, another recheck exam with another opthalmooigist (my primary is on vaction.) The conclusion that I stopped the cotisone drop too soon, without properly tapering off and these specs are inflamatory cells., or pigment cells.  I began to taper off at 4 drops a day for a week, now 3 for a week, now 2 for a week.  Oct. 6, the specs are still present in abundance.  There is no change.  I have another appointment in two weeks.  Is it possible that a retinal tear can be so small as to produce symptoms and yet go undetecked in an exam?  Have anyone ever heard of this phenomenon.

Thank you.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

It is probably some residual silicone oil droplets.

Dr. O.

[Flame123]

Thank you for your response.  I have noticed the residue oil droplets, since the oil was removed.  They are larger and, perhaps, 5 or 6 in number.  Those, to which I refer, are hundreds of tiny specs, black or grey, which are more noticible in bright light.  Can oil residue take the form of specs?  Thank you.