detached retina surgery

[birchwood]

i had surgery on 3rd jan for detached retina,when can i expect to play golf,and drive again?

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

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[birchwood]

Hi thanks for your comments,it seems your case is a little more complicated than mine.I have been playing golf since june.Like yourself my vision in the left eye is nowhere near as good as it was before surgery,As a result i am finding it difficult to play at anywhere near the standard i am used to.I have consulted a opthalmologist friend of mine and he suggested a pair of glasses just for distance instead of varifocals,but it doesnt make much difference,just a case of living with it i think,good luck to you !! cheers

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

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[TxFan]

Definitely ask your doctor, but here's my "ongoing" experience...

While on vacation in September, I noticed what now is the classic symptom of a retina in distress:  The veil suddenly compromising my peripheral vision.

Since I am still under the care of my eye doctor following discovery of a cataract in my left eye in October '07, I made an unscheduled appointment to investigate this unusual vision problem.

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, I go in for the appointment and am immediately diagnosed with a "detached retina" on the heels of the eye test which showed my vision at 20/25 - just in time to undo all the efforts of lens implant and PRK to correct my vision (post cataract surgery).

As it happens, the retina specialist was in the office for his weekly afternoon appointments and saw me.  I had the first of two surgeries the next day, Sept. 10. This involved inserting the buckle, etc.

We evacuated to Round Rock, TX (just north of Austin) on Friday due to Hurricane Ike.

Upon return to Houston 10 days later and finally getting back to my "primary" retina doctor, he said there was fluid that would not absorb apparently and scheduled a second surgery on Sept. 24 to drain the fluid and replace it with silicon oil to apply pressure to the retina as it heals.

We weighed the two options of air bubble or oil, but there was no way I could lie in one position almost continuously for 10 days or so.

The oil option was the best because it allows me to travel by air (which is important for my job).  The negative is that the oil must be physically removed after three months.  Thus, another surgery is in store around Christmas time.

So far, all is well and my vision is as clear as it's going to be since I'm looking through oil.

I played golf for the first time Saturday and Sunday shooting two of the worst rounds in the last 10 years.  It was great to play, but the lack of depth perception was problematic at best.  Very frustrating, but I sense there light at the end of the tunnel.

So the short answer, I am able to play golf - albeit lousy - after 5 1/2 weeks.

I'm sure every case is different and the healing is totally dependent on the patient.

So, on Sept.

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

Ask your surgeon.

JCH III MD