Nearly lost my eye.

[BobM]

A couple of years ago I had cataract surgery on my right eye. Then about 6 months ago I developed a vitreous separation in the same eye. That is fairy common in people my age, and is more of an annoyance than anything else. Two weeks ago yesterday I suddenly noticed red and green disks in my field of vision, and an effect very much like a lava lamp. I figured it had to do with the vitreous separation, but decided to call my optometrist just in case. He was on vacation, so I described the symptoms in great detail to his office people. They saw no reason for alarm, so neither did I. When I finally saw the doctor, last Thursday afternoon late, he was instantly alarmed because I had been walking around for ten days with a detached retina . He made immediate arrangements for me to see a surgeon that very night. But a series of mix ups meant that I did not actually see the surgeon till the next day.

If you want to see something gross, google images of retinal re-attachment surgery. I had three holes cut into the eyeball. One for a fiber optic light, one to remove the vitreous humor, and another to inflate and slightly pressurize the eyeball with gas so the bubble would hold the retina in place while it re-attached. That meant keeping my face parallel to the floor for 24 hours. That first night was pretty miserable, and subsequent nights not much better because I have to sleep sitting up for a couple of weeks. Since Friday I have seen the doctor twice. The retina has re-attached and is flat. The eyeball still has a 60% gas bubble in it so I am effectively blind in that eye. I can see gross shapes close up, but nothing else. The doctor, though, is pleased. He says that I will have to be very careful ( you think? ) for a couple of months while the bubble gradually dissipates as the eyeball slowly refills itself. The long term prognosis is good. But I am one lucky bloke. My doctor told me that the chances of a good re-attachment after 10 days are very, very poor.

So here I am, out of work till Monday, though the surgeon said I could go back earlier if I want to. Nah. I'll milk this light duty chit for a while.

[Sinned]

Hi BbM,

I was unlucky as I have a detached retina in my right eye due to an accicent when I was 10 years old. A toy arrow hit me right in the inner corner of my eye. Like you the retina detached over a period of weeks and sight was being lost gradually. I had an operation and I was supposed to lay flat with pads over both eyes and not move. Try telling that to a ten year old! That was 47 years ago. Consequently I still have my eye but it's useless now. All I can say is that you were lucky and I hope that you have no more problems with it.

[skirtingtoday]

BobM - Thank goodness there doesn't seem to be any permanant damage done and that the operation seems to be successful.

Just goes to show that such a minor annoyance could have such serious consequences and that a doctor's appointment should have been the first port of call.

[BobM]

Thanks Sinned, Providence was certainly looking out for me.


Skirtingtoday,

My doctor seriously lit up his staff for not either calling him or referring me to another doc right away. Rest assured that at the very first sign of trouble in the future I will beat his door!