Detached Retina

chlema · ‎05-22-2010

Saturday my DH had emergency surgery for a detached retina. He was having trouble seeing in the morning and the opthamalogist sent him to Wills Eye Hospital where the surgeon said they successfully reattached the retina. He had only one eye that he was able to see out of due to a botched cataract surgery years ago and of course this detachment was in his "good" eye. He can see somewhat today but not enough to read or watch tv, just blurry. Doctor said it was not anything he did wrong, just happens sometimes as we get older. I hope he heals and can once again resume watching his old westerns on DVD.

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

My friend and I both had surgery for detached retinas.

The Dr said they 'glue' it together. It hurt like crazy but I never had any trouble seeing afterward, neighter did my friend.

I hope your husband feels better soon.

hopi · ‎03-09-2010

Prayer for you and your dear husband that he heals in due time.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

Your poor husband. I hope he feels better soon. It will take a few days for the swelling to go down and he will hopefully be able to see better.

i had a retinal tear a few years ago. I had no idea until it was dscoverd during a routine eye exam. The good news was it was in my bad eye. My eye was ruined during LASIK surgery..I also had cataract surgery on that same eye.

My doctor has told me that my other eye, which has never had any surgery, will probably get a retinal tear too. Yeah, something for me to look forward to.

Thankfully, your DH received treatment in time. Some people ignore the symptoms for too long and become blind.

Wishing a speedy recovery for your husband.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

Sorry to hear about your husband...it's a good thing they caught it quickly and he had it taken care of.

Two winters ago I thought that I might be having a detached retina. It was on a Friday night in February and the big new was the major blizzard that was about to start.

I saw flashing in my left eye (a sign of a possible detached retina) and I called my eye doctor. He was in Fl and said that he could see me on Monday if he could get a flight back. He told me to get to Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia ....but how was I going to get there?!

I'm up in Bucks County about an hour away and it was already dark and starting to snow. I would have to drive myself with one eye in a blizzard! DH can't drive in the dark because of his multiple health problems. So I called around to local hospitals and the one in Doylestown told me to come in. I could drive there without feeling like I was risking my life and thank goodness we have a 4 wheel drive.

To make a long story short I after getting to the hospital and waiting around I never did see an ophthalmologist (he didn't want to go out in the snow) and I told DH if we don't leave now to go home we'll be stuck in the hospital's waiting room for the weekend.

I drove slowly with one eye and we got home safely but the next day we had 3' of snow! Fortunately it wasn't a detached retina but vitreous fluid pulling away which the caused flashing in my eye.

This also happens as we get older...but it was very scary not knowing what to do and not being able to drive down 95 to Philly in the dark and in blizzard conditions with one eye!

Tribesters · ‎03-10-2010

@Carmie

I have a tear in my bad eye too. I keep getting flashing lights in that eye. Apparently that’s a sign of it completely detaching. I had another thorough exam & for now all is well. But he did tell me that I’m likely to get a tear in the other eye as well- just like you said. What a bummer!

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@Tribesters wrote:
@Carmie

I have a tear in my bad eye too. I keep getting flashing lights in that eye. Apparently that’s a sign of it completely detaching. I had another thorough exam & for now all is well. But he did tell me that I’m likely to get a tear in the other eye as well- just like you said. What a bummer!

Did you have laser surgery to correct this? The eye surgeon “spot welded’ my retina with a laser. I had no symptoms, no flashing lights, nothing. I was fortunate I had a routine eye exam and it was discovered.

The doctor told me that the retina is like a sheet of wall paper on the back of the eye. It can peel away or tear completely. It is important to have surgery to correct this problem. I have a genetic condition that cause this to happen to my eyes.

My eye surgeon said he and his son have the same condition.

it was not a comfortable surgery. I hope I don’t have to have it repeated for the other eye.

chlema · ‎05-22-2010

@Annabellethecat66 They injected a bubble with SF6 gas with a 3-8 week duration. He also has to wear a colored wrist band and keep it on until the bubble disappears. He said there was very little pain involved during the procedure.

chlema · ‎05-22-2010

Thank you all for your kind words. I so appreciate them.

chlema · ‎05-22-2010

The update on DH's retinal surgery - He saw the surgeon last Friday and doctor was very pleased by what he saw. Then----yesterday morning he woke up and had a film over the eye. Went in right away and they found the retina is tearing away and tomorrow he goes for further surgery. Boy, we were not expecting this. This time they will use some kind of oil to keep the retina in place and then after some period of time remove the oil. We are praying this works because that eye is the only one that works :-(. He is totally bored today, can't read the paper, can't watch tv and said after all he has gone thru, multiple heart bypasses, PAD surgeries etc. he will be really p.o.'d if he dies. He was laughing when he said that.