retina detached, then reattached, now eye rotating

[ShawnaJudd]

My friend is 70 years of age.  He had his retina reattached by a specialist last summer.  The doctor left the silicone oil in his eye.  Within 3-5 months after the operation his eye rotated up 40 degrees in a ocular rotation.  He is still considered legally blind in this eye. He also has a mild case of pellucid in this eye.  I hate to see him give up on this eye if there is something he can have done.  I have read that the retina can be detached and reattached to stronger muscles and a eye muscle specialist must be in the operating room with the retina specialist....is this true? Here are some other questions....1)do you believe his eye may have rotated because the retina was not attached to the stronger muscles? 2) Is there a solution that may help him?  3) Is there a special contact that he could wear in this eye that would help him with his vision even though the eye has rotated?  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

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

1. NO. Your concept of how retinal detachment surgery is done is flawed. a eye muscle specialist is not part of the retina surgery repair. Some times the muscles have to be manipulated to put a buckle around the eye and sometimes freezing treatment has to be done over a muscle. Consequently double vision is very common after RD surgery. At other times the eye drifts because it doesn't see well and that is like having a boat without a rudder.

2. There are two problems: trying to get the eye to see better and getting the eyes straight. The first is the most important. He should ask the retina surgeons advise on when it would be appropriate to see a strabismus (eye muscle) surgeon.

3. No, even if there was if he saw better he would likely have constant double vision.

JCH III MD

[AnnaE]

The doctor will advise you.