Retinal Detachment Surgery

@mikepa I get this occasionally. In my case not retinal detachment (flickering lights, kaleidoscope effect out of corner of one eye). Sometimes related to migraine. Sometimes retinal irritation. The term sometimes used is optical migraine . I, of course, had it checked out because I too was worried about retinal detachment.

Hi, @mikepa - a couple of other members who are familiar with retinal detachment may have some input for you related to the symptoms you are describing of eye floaters and periodic flashes of light in the periphery of the same eye and the possibility this is a detachment. Please meet @dsh33782 @imallears @lep777@ladybugmg. @susan2018 mentioned going two years visiting different ophthalmologists trying looking for a diagnosis, so may be helpful to you as you try and get some answers.

If you are concerned about the possibility of a medical emergency with your eye, have you perhaps connected with your primary care doctor? Or, perhaps you already have an ophthalmologist you could contact?

@mikepa

I had my detachment in right eye in the mid to late 1980s. I went to my regular ophthalmologist and he opened his office on a Saturday when I told him my eye was cloudy. I wore contacts back then and thought they were dirty or that I had abraded the eyeball. I had no flashes of light. I had a stationary floater and only occasionally experienced moving floaters back then.. He examined me and while in the office he called a specialist and set me up with an appointment that Monday. The specialist confirmed the detachment and said I could go for a second opinion but not wait more than a week. I had the surgery the next day. I’ll always remember those 2 doctors who saved my eyesight. Because I went so fast, the retina specialist said that they only had to do one procedure (putting a buckle or clip in the eye) as opposed to 2 procedures often done together.

It may not be a detachment but it is not normal and I urge you to go immediately. You could lose your sight. I’ll never forget the women in the next bed who also had a detachment and the reason she consulted a doctor immediately was because her brother had the symptoms and let it go so long that the fluid was leaking out of his eye. 911 told him to lay flat on the floor immediately while they went to him. I don’t remember what his outcome was.

I don’t mean to scare you....but yes, I guess I do. Go to an ophthalmologist, not your primary , unless you have to for a referral ,and then have him refer you to a retinal specialist .
Stress the urgency.

I hope it’s not but if it is, it can be fixed. I think they use plastic clips today. I am not sure if mine is metal or titanium as it is not mentioned in the old notes that I have from NY. Because of that I will not have an MRI done due to the magnetic effect even though MRIS have changed since then.

Good luck,
FL Mary

Hello Meka
I too had floaters and periodic flashes of light in the periphery of the right eye that came from out of nowhere. I immediately made an appointment with the opthalmologist only to discover a litany of issues with my eyes, detached retina, dry eye syndrome and a host of other things I had never heard of. They said well you're getting older and these things occur. So they opted to start treatment with the dry eye issue first as it seemed to be the underlying issue. After 3 months they said I needed cataract surgery on this eye, I preceded with the surgery and a year and a half later I am yet wrestling with my eye issues. The surgery supposedly went well but I somehow developed inflammation in the eye and they had to give me shots IN MY EYE (freaked me totally out) i asked wasn,t there a pill i could take they said no and the alternative to not taking the shot was blindness. So I left Dr office to talk to God, and some of my friends because I just wasn,t sure.It's been three years that I've been dealing with this, The shots did help, my vision is better but I try and stay connected to this group because it helps me to understand some of the issues, helps me not to make a rush decision, and directs some of my questions for the opthalmologist.
Just wanted to share because it caught me totally off guard but i thank God I still have my sight, however it has been a uphill battle.

@jaguar737 @imallears @sue225 @lisalucier Thank you all for your different perspectives. I just got back from the ophthalmologist who said it wasn't a tear or detachment ( I think I heard a 'yet') but the vitreous gel that is against the retina has 'liquified' in a couple of places, and moved away from the retina causing the floaters. The explanation for the flashes of light was a little more technical but he said to give it 3 weeks. If the floaters multiply and/or I get any shading across the eye to come in immediately. Otherwise I'm ok. I don't want to lose an eye (I already lost hearing in both ears) so I am going to get another opinion at one of the large Eye Hospitals in Philly where I live. Thanks again and will update if the 2nd opinion differs.

@mikepa this is exactly the same diagnosis my 91 year old cousin received last fall. I went with her to the optometrist and her story sounds just like yours. Although I do remember her saying it was like a film over one eye (not cataracts, that was already taken care of many years ago). The diagnosis was confirmed by an opthalmologist. It was driving her crazy because she likes to read and it was becoming difficult. In December, her blurry vision had actually improved. I remember the optometrist not being overly concerned and she gave us quite a detailed explanation.

@mikepa
That’s good to hear . Those floaters are the vitreous gel that liquified and yes, it does happen as you age . I was in my 30s when this happened. They’ve come so far since then that maybe my surgery would not have happened so quickly. But at least your doctor seems to have the right approach . A second opinion is a good idea and everyone will be keeping their eye on you (omg).
I wear hearing aids and have a profound loss and tell everyone I use my eyes to hear. Good for you for getting on top of it.

By the way, do some research on eye healthy foods and ask your doctor about taking eye vitamins. Like several people here on this forum I have been taking Preservision with Lutein for years. And WEAR SUNGLASSES! 😎

FL Mary