Post detached retina surgery followed with cataracts and eye scarring

Hi Jackie, I can understand your concern. Eyesight is precious and it is hard to know what requires time to heal and what might be permanent. Feeling rushed by the doctor doesn't help to allay those concerns. I read in this article that multiple surgeries are sometimes necessary.
- Retinal Detachment Repair https://www.healthline.com/health/retinal-detachment-repair

I'm tagging @imallears @jaguar737 and @dsh33782 on this discussion as they have some experience with retinal detachment surgery.

@bjackie, do you know if you had some scarring before the surgery?

@bjackie
Hello,

I had a sclera buckle in the early 1980s which was successful. I was told at that time of the possibility of cataracts in the future. I did have cataract surgery about 30 years after the initial retinal detachment. I know the scarring could re detatch the retina which is why he wants to see you so often. He is also right when he says it’s early days. I was off work for about 2 months and no driving at that time and had additional laser surgery to patch up a leak. I remember being impatient with the recovery time however. My eye did return to normal but it took time, for me it was a few months. I don’t remember the eye being itchy although it is a long time ago. I have astigmatism in that eye so always needed contacts or glasses. Today I have early dry macular degeneration which has remained fairly stable and now some macular edema which is being treated and is almost gone. This is not necessarily the result of the detachment. The bubble will eventually re absorb In your eye.

I just wanted to let you know of my experience and I had the utmost confidence in my doctor back then and also in my doctor today. However, I can empathize with your concerns and would find out if another doctor at a different facility would be willing to exam you. It may set your mind at ease or the doctor may give you a better understanding of the recovery time. It’s probably what I would do. Under no circumstances should you let your doctor rush you and tell him how you felt at your next visit. Continue to see him as he really does need to keep a check on this. The fact that I have macular degeneration doesn’t mean you will.

I hope that this helps and I am sure someone on this forum has undergone a more recent procedure and can input some of their experiences. We are all different when it comes to recovery times.

FL Mary

I also had a detached retina in 1965 which resulted in a scleral buckle. My surgery was too long ago for me to offer any help. If you chose this retinal surgeon I will assume your regular opthamologist recommended him/her. Be patient, see the surgeon as he recommends.

It was an emergency surgery so he wasn't recommended but I am a patient with one of his partners .
I guess patience is wise but I'm getting impatient. Recently retired not how I planned it to begin.

I had a detached retina,multiple retina tears, excessive scar tissue.
I still can't understand how I didn't realize my eye was so bad.
Anyway thanks for the information and support.
More frustrated with the lack of post information I received, learning more on websites and return visits.
I do plan on sharing with him my concerns of feeling rushed last visit.
I need to remember I'm 63 not 23, I have a very HARD Lebanese head.

Hey Jackie @bjackie. I am relating to you, your concerns and fears when it comes to your eye and what you're feeling. I cant offer the specifics you're hoping for but, I felt bad reading your posts and want you to know that I feel your anxiety and frustration. I had double cornea transplants and double cataracts when I was 43. During my cornea transplant surgery one of my eyes didn't go so well. My Iris flipped during the procedure and it left me with a full eye of blood and bad bruising. It was horrid to look at. I also had a gas bubble placed and during the recovery that bubble drove me insane. The severe light sensitivity was excuriating. I would sit in my room, a complete dark cave, under a blanket. Going into any light was like stabbing knives in my eye. I was very scared and it was a traumatizing time but I got through it. Patience is such a virtue yet hard to achieve when you're in the midst of pain and concern. My best advice is that the more patient you are, the better you will heal and that bubble will dissipate and you will start to have some relief. I do hope the scar tissue settles down over time. Keep us posted on your progress. I would love to follow up and see how things work out for you. Keep the faith keep, keep the patience and know you are not alone. 😊

Best to you,
Rachel

Yes he said there was of scar tissue

Thank u

@bjackie
Hi,
Keep reading and getting more info from websites and have a written out list of questions for him/her for your next visit. He has to answer them.

FL Mary

I understand your concern and frustration with wanting more information and solutions. I have been on a similar path starting with cataract surgery at age 37 in 1983 when they were not willing to insert IOL's because they didn't know how long they would last back then. Then I had detached retinas in both eyes back in 1988 and 1989 resulting in sacral buckles and several laser treatments to fix tears. It took over a year to get double vision corrected with my new thick heavy glasses. Then the glaucoma started in early 1990's. Over the past 25+ years my fields have gradually declined, and now I have no central vision in my left eye. Om 2007 I had to have one of the buckles removed as it came loose. But I stall have 20-30 in the lower half field of my right eye. For the past several years I have been on maximum eye drops for glaucoma including dorzolamide, combigan, lumigan, and rhopressa to try and keep pressure at 11-13. A few months ago, the pressure went up to 15-16 and my GS recommended we try SLT laser treatment again before resorting to surgery to relieve pressure. I have had the SLT treatment in both eyes and the pressure is back down to 11-13 so I'm stable for now. I see him every 3 months. Eventually I expect to have to have surgery and have been down to Bascom Palmer Eye Clinic in Miami to talk to Dr. Chang who does GATT surgery primarily for children to control pressure so that may be an option when the time comes. I am thankful for the vision all the specialists have been able to retain for this long. At age 75 I hope I can continue with their help.