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Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,517
Registered: ‎08-20-2014

Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

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I'm so sad and afraid.  I had cataract surgery in March and everything seemed to be going well.  I love driving without glasses, the vision is great.  I was told the little flashes of light in the first few weeks are perfectly normal.

 

But I started having arcs of light flash at the outer corner of my eye and developed a faint spiderweb of floaters that move around when I move my eye.  The opthalmalogist's office keeps postponing the glasses Rx review because of COVID, but yesterday I demanded an emergency appointment.

 

After all the tests she came in and told me it is posterior vitreous detachment.  She said it's small and not to worry, "we'll keep an eye on it and if it looks like a retinal detachment is starting we'll refer you to a retinal specialist."

 

What the?   I go in hoping for better vision and end up potentially on the road to retinal detachment?  I'm heartbroken. Smiley Sad

 

If you have this I would like to hear how you deal with it.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,166
Registered: ‎06-30-2018

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

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@PilatesLover 

I'm so sorry this happened to you and can understand your fear.  My ophthalmologist suggested cataract surgery even though all I use are 1.75 readers for my vision.  But then he's a surgeon.....

 

Since I'm interested in this topic I superficially researched PVR just now and the good news is PVR can heal on its own but it could take several weeks up to 6 months.  It's important to follow up in a short amount of time to assess the situation.  If things don't improve after a few months laser treatment is available for treatment of PVR.  Best wishes.

Wear a mask. Social distance. Be part of the solution - not part of the problem.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 38,159
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

@PilatesLover   DH had retinal detachment when he was in his thirties, and after surgery, has been doing fine since then.

 

I would be worried also.  I find that one has to take control over their medical situation as much as possible, not just follow a doctor's advice without doing research.

 

Did you research this condition?  I would, to see if waiting is the optimal treatment, or if it is harmful to wait.  Also, were you told that this condition would eventually resolve, or that eventually, the retina would become attached. I opted to begin using eye drops, rather than "waiting" until the pressure was even higher, didn't make sense, as eventually, I would be on eye drops.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,460
Registered: ‎05-12-2012

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

i'm in the same situation.....it's healing....less floaters....but it takes months to completely heal....i've been dealing with this for over six months......

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,766
Registered: ‎05-09-2010

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

Oh gosh, kind of wish I had not opened this thread.  I need cataract surgery.  I was tested in January and was weighing my options, and then, well you know.....the world was broken.  Now I have another appointment to basically start over the process.  I am scared.  But, my eyesight is not good.  Ughhhh.  Getting old sucks.

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. Margaret Mead
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,327
Registered: ‎05-09-2016

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

I had PVD in my left eye, about a year after I had 2 procedures to fix a detached retina in my right eye. 

 

The retinal specialist told me it's very common in the 65+ crowd, much less so in my mid-50's group, but not unheard of. Many people don't even know it's happening, but seeing the flashes can be frightening. 

 

Mine happened about 3 days before I was supposed to head south for a month. He told me to go ahead and go, call if I had any problems, and return for follow-up 6 weeks later. I had absolutely no other problems. 

~The more someone needs to brag about how wonderful, special, successful, wealthy or important they are, the greater the likelihood that it isn't true. ~

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,602
Registered: ‎10-01-2010

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

@Puppy Lips  I could've written your post. I'm in the same boat with you. I was finally brave enough to get on with the cataract surgery....then the bottom dropped out of the world.    

Trees are the lungs of the Earth
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,517
Registered: ‎08-20-2014

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

[ Edited ]

@Puppy Lips wrote:

Oh gosh, kind of wish I had not opened this thread.  I need cataract surgery.  I was tested in January and was weighing my options, and then, well you know.....the world was broken.  Now I have another appointment to basically start over the process.  I am scared.  But, my eyesight is not good.  Ughhhh.  Getting old sucks.



My opthalmalogest told me if I didn't fix the cataract I'd go blind eventually. Good luck.  

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,517
Registered: ‎08-20-2014

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery

So PVD can heal on its own?  My doctor told me it does not.  I have a lot of research to do which will probably include a second opinion.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,327
Registered: ‎05-09-2016

Re: Diagnosed with PVD following cataract surgery


@PilatesLover wrote:

So PVD can heal on its own?  My doctor told me it does not.  I have a lot of research to do which will probably include a second opinion.


There's nothing to heal. It's the vitreous gel in your eye detaching. It eventually completes the detachment and sinks to the bottom of the eye. Until then you will likely see some flashes and maybe some thread like floaters. The risk is that when it detaches, it could possibly pull the retina with it. The body replaces it with an aquaeous solution. The second procedure that I had for my retinal detachment was called a vitrectomy. They deliberately removed the vitreous in order to keep it from pulling the retina further off. It is NOT a surgery that you want to have. 

~The more someone needs to brag about how wonderful, special, successful, wealthy or important they are, the greater the likelihood that it isn't true. ~