detached retina

[georgilly]

Hi, has anyone had a detached retina? Today at routine eye hospital appointment, (suffer from uveitis and MS), on examination, a small hole was found on my retina. Laser treatment given to surround hole but told possibilty of further detachment, yikes! I'm trying to be brave. Is it scary? Any advice would be brilliant.

Hi - have had detached retina (retinas?) in both eyes. Surgery on both eyes, a follow up op and then laser treatment. The quicker retinal detachment is treated the better it is in regards the amount of vision saved so its good to keep a eye (no pun intended - sorry!) out for symptoms such as flashes of light, floaters or shadows across your vision. Most of the time they may be nothing but they can be a sign the retina is detaching so always best to get it checked.

My vision at the mo is -18, but it was about -12 before the ops so not noticed much difference in my eyesight. The whole thing was relatively painless - but having to stay in bed for 8 weeks with my head positioned a certain way for a gas bubble to flatten my retina was a pain in the backside but all worth it!

Hope you have no further probs!

Thank you for your reply Superfly. Could I ask you if you had to lie on your front as I have large,(natural), boobs and this would be really uncomfortable? Were you able to get up for loo and shower? Did you have to stay in hosp all the time? Also did the procedure hurt as the doctors said that I would be fully awake? I think I am more concerned about this and how I will look after my kids than my eyesight. How mad is that?

The laser treatment seems to be working at the moment, increased dose of steroids to cover recovery of 2 weeks, (nearly up). Have a follow up at hosp in a week's time. Noticed a black floater in central vision but no shadows or flashes. Hopefully all will be well. This is freaking me out for some reason, maybe because of the MS, (I'm newly diagnosed),I don't know....

Hi - I had to lie on my back with my head to the side. You can get up, eat, shower etc just not for prolonged periods (i.e. hours!). To be honest the more you can position yourself I think the better chance of the retina flattening and no problems re-ocurring. Its a good job I didn't have to lie on my front - I have the same issues as you! A woman who was having treatment at the same time as me had to lie on her front for 10 weeks, poor thing.

The first op was under GA as I had both eyes operated on - but the second I had done under local, Wasn't painful just boring as I had to stay very still for an hour and a half!

It is very easy to freak yourself out in the early weeks after this sort of procedure - you will probably like me, be looking for all sorts of weird things going on in your eye. The fact that it could be managed with laser is probably a good indicator that is will be ok. I had to go straight to surgery - and it was followed up with laser.

Try not to worry and best of luck with everything! Let us know how you get on

I am so grateful for your response. Wow, what you have been through is amazing. Thank you for sharing it with me. The not knowing is the worst worry. I am back at the hospital on Monday, so will find out the plan, then. Will let you know how I get on. Thanks again!

Good luck