I returned from holiday 9th January 2024 and thought my eyesight had changed. Next day went into work and closed one eye at a time, then realised whites on screen were yellow with my left eye. I rang my opticians who told me to ring Sunderland Eye Infirmary for triage, who got me up the same day to have a look. They told me my retina had detached and to come back next day for a consultants appointment. He confirmed it and I had surgery the next day.
I only had eye drops to numb the eye - it was totally painless, can't see instruments or anything, you can feel a bit of pressure but it definitely didn't hurt.
I was absolutely worried sick about it all - I'd never heard of it before. I found face down really difficult because I was so overweight (a positive side effect is that I've now lost four stones!). It was very hard as I had to posture for the first 10 days, and it sounds like it should be easy but it's just something you have to get through.
I had frequent visits to the hospital for check ups over the next month. I was petrified when I returned for my first check up and the staff were really concerned that I couldn't see anything from the affected eye. It turned out I was one of the extremely unlucky ones who had a cataract form immediately, but this hadn't been explained to me as a possibility.
28.3.24 I had the cataract removed and a lens implanted. This improved it a lot, it was such a relief. I had a final procedure (Yag) 30.7.24 and ended up with really good eyesight to the extent that I now only wear specs for watching tv (long sighted in the affected eye, short sighted in the other).
I used an eye patch initially but really needed to wear my specs for my other eye, so bought some patches that go over specs from Amazon. You didn't say if you wear glasses so not sure if you would need these, but for me they were really good.
My biggest comfort was finding a Facebook group (Retinal Detachment and/or Vitrectomy Support Group). They were absolutely wonderful and so supportive. This is the link, and they really were the best - a community from across the world helping each other through very difficult times - I'm still on the group now.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/683163888410622
After the first op I thought I'd be back at work in a couple of weeks - I was actually off for about 5 months. Other problems were loss of perspective - busy carpets meant I couldn't tell if there were steps anywhere. Same with stripes! It doesn't sound like a problem but it was for me. Took a few months for me to start driving again and even now I have problems parking straight but I'm back to being a confident driver again, I just don't park between two cars in a car park any more.
Links to eye patches https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MPR2N6H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09XX79Z5N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I know they're showing as out of stock but there will be others on there.
Good luck with your op, and hoping for a speedy recovery for you.