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Retinal Tear Laser Surgery

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rose912910
rose912910

I recently went to a retinal specialist because I was getting some flashes now and then and a lot of floaters and she told me I had a retinal tear that actually had tried to repair itself but said she would do the laser retinal repair surgery to prevent it from opening. The doctor acted as though it was very low risk and I went a long because I feared any vision loss and I didn't think there were common complications. Since the laser a few days ago I have this blank black/gray spot in my lower peripheral. Sometimes I see it more than others like in certain lighting or if I'm moving my head a lot. Sometimes it even just looks like a little light. I told the doctor about it and she says she thinks it's from the inflammation from the laser and should resolve but there might be a chance that the spot will remain but I'll only see it if I try to look for it and most people don't notice it. I notice everything however and I am only 24 and have good peripheral vision so it's a big deal for me. I was wondering if anyone had this experience and saw the spot and over time it disappeared. I saw a post in another forum that someone had the cyro procedure, saw what sounded similar to what I was seeing and it eventually disapeared. Any comments on experiences with this retinal tear laser would be helpful. Thank you.

1 like, 439 replies

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  • Tripadvisor
    Tripadvisor rose912910

    Posted

    Hi Rose

    I had a retinal tear two years ago , and had it repaired by laser. I had the streaks of lightening and then the floaters appeared. I was told if tear was not repaired it was highly likely to develop into a retinal detachement. I still have all the floaters and at the time I was led to believe they would gradually diminish or my brain would learn to ignore them. I would advise contacting your retinal surgeon and making an appointment to see him again, it might be just another form of floater and nothing to be concerned about. I understand your anxiety at only 24, it happened me at 50 and I think it was as a result of a jerk to the head. Dont leave it on the long finger, its probably nothing serious, but just get peace of mind for youself, let us know how you get on. Best of luck...

    • rose912910
      rose912910 Tripadvisor

      Posted

      Hi, 

      Thanks for your reply. I dont think its a floater since it is the same exact spot and is more like a little blob. Floaters are annoying to deal with, but at least manageable. I went to the retinal surgeon again the next day after the laser repair and she said it was healing well and she thought it was the inflamation from the laser where the burns were placed that I was seeing and that it should resolve in a few days, but she said theres a slight chance I might see it permanently I guess if I really try to look for it so I am hoping that is not the case. I think but I'm not 100% sure that the spot is slowly getting smaller, but not sure if that's just wishful thinking. I have a follow up appointment in a few days with her so hopefully things are still looking okay. Thank you for sharing. 

    • bernadette4179
      bernadette4179 rose912910

      Posted

      Hrllo Rose,

      I hope this finds you and yours happy and healthy, especially your eyes since sadly I just found this site and all seems to be from two years ago.

      February 14th, 2018 I had emergency surgery for a detached retina nothing was explained to me and actually went to work the next day which everyone said was not good but doctor gave me no instructions whatsoever.

      I have severe cataracts surgery was done in left eye but just got ok to do right eye, its been difficult.

      In the bottom part of my right eye there is like lightning streaks and flashes bubbles up to eye. When I close the eye in the darkness the sizzle is there. I kept asking the surgeon about it, initially he said it was a giant floating floater not associated with the surgery but I never had it before. Now yesterday after my visit he didn't say    what it was just that I would have it for a lifetime and left.

      I have been very upset and scared to schedule my cataract surgery on this eye especially with the same firm of doctors.

      I do hope you are well and that maybe someone can help me.

      Thank you so very much I appreciate any guidance!

      Take care,

      Sincerely,

      Bernadettewink

    • diana09333
      diana09333 bernadette4179

      Posted

       Hello Bernadette, I too have just discovered this forum  and noticed that the comments were from two years ago until I got down to yours so I started a new discussion. I also had emergency surgery on June 7 to save my eye after an accident and my big question was does the brain Adapt eventually and allow your good eye to take over. The day of the surgery the doctors were all saying this but it’s been six weeks now. Sorry I can’t advise you about your cataract surgery, no experience with this.
  • Marina_Dee
    Marina_Dee rose912910

    Posted

    Rose it could be where the laser burned the retina to seal it. It should gradually decrease but you may have a permanent small blind patch. Dont worry about this as your other eye will compensate when looking with both eyes.  I have this.      I advise you not to drive for about a month to let you eyes adapt to this change in vision. You may need to advise the DVLA and your insurance if you are in UK.
    • rose912910
      rose912910 Marina_Dee

      Posted

      Thank you Marina for your reply. That's what I was dreading is having a small blind spot now. I wasn't informed this was common to happen before the laser was performed and then after she told me most people don't notice it when I complained about it. Although I guess it's better to be safe than sorry I now sort of regret doing it since the tear healed itself she told me. Hopefully it will get to the point soon where I don't notice it at all. It's distracting when I'm looking in the mirror or walking around. I'm actually in the US and stumbled upon this forum. Luckily the spot is straight down in my peripheral right next to my nose so I don't see it at all when driving. Thank you for sharing ! I appreciate it !
  • Tripadvisor
    Tripadvisor rose912910

    Posted

    Hi Rose, hope all goes well with appointment, unfortunately many surgeons are slow to point out the risks with any surgery. I hope you get good news. Its very stressful dealing with any eye issue, as well I know, last few months have been extremely difficult for me...at least when you chat to people on this forum you realise you are not alone...
    • rose912910
      rose912910 Tripadvisor

      Posted

      Thank you Tripadvisor. It is very stressful to be dealing with any eye problem. I think it is one of the worst fears to have of losing vision. It is nice to be able to speak with peope going through similar issues. I went to the doctor and she said everything is healing well. The spot seems to be getting smaller and is kind of just flickering now so hopefully it goes away completely soon. Thanks for your reply!
  • Tripadvisor
    Tripadvisor rose912910

    Posted

    Hi Rose,

    I agree, eye issues are defo the most stressful/worrying ...and with any of us we develop anxiety or get very stressed about it which i suppose doesent help. Glad to hear you got reassurance from Retinal Specialist and hopefully that spot will go completely. Havin driven myself crazy searchn the internet Im convinced those of us who are short sighted are more likely to have eye issues, I had laser eye surgery some years back but the surgeon told me regardless of that you still have a very long eyeball when you were or are shortsighted and this makes the eye more vulnerable. Keep the faith , Rose and keep in touch here, Im finding this forum a real help , I have to say.

  • rickOC
    rickOC rose912910

    Posted

    Hi Rose. I posted a similar post a few months ago. Initially, i had a tear, and that day I had what looked like (small) black rain drops across my entire right eye. Long story short, i had 10 minute of laser from a Retinal Specialist. For several weeks, i had flashes (mostly in the right corner of my eye. Most visible at night. Occurred most when i would turn my head to the side). The flashes subsided. My Retinal specialist continued to see me every 3-4 weeks for about 6 months. Her main concern was that the blood (that she could see during deep exam) was not clearing fast enough. Finally, on my last visit, though the blood was still visible, she extended the return visit to 3 months. I continue to have a large -what i call- octopus or jellyfish shaped floater. It is clearish, but mildly gets in the way of my vision. When i turn my eyes left, it moves to the right. when i turn my eyes to the right, it moves to the left. Most of the time, my eyes look past it, or around it somehow. The strangest occurrence for me, is when i close my eyes, sometimes (not every time) i see a brief light colored movment. For the first few months, it appeared to "roll over" and disapear after a 2 second. Most recently, it does not seem to roll, it just "is there" for a few seconds, then gone. I think we all have memory sight when we close our eyes (i.e., if you were looking at a lamp, and closed your eyes, for a few second, you will see the memory of the lamp, not the actual lamp). This is like something bright briefly flashes across the memory sight. This probably does make sense, to most.  To Rose, i hope that you condition continues to improve. It IS frustrating to have your (our) eyes do non-standard things, especially when it gets in the way of us seeing clearly.  
    • rose912910
      rose912910 rickOC

      Posted

      Thanks Rick for the reply. It is very frustrating to have any eye problems. My biggest fear has always been losing my vision. Hopefully the retinal specialist will tell you the blood has cleared up at your next visit. Floaters have been annoying to deal with. I've never had ones like you describe, however. Mine are pretty small. Its funny you say you were seeing small black rain drops bc that is what I was seeing in my peripheral before I had the tear repaired, but only if I really looked for it. It more so looked like little black lines coming down. Since last positing although I'm not seeing a black spot as much anymore, in its place I have this constant flashing or flickering almost white/clear light and it seems like this flickering extends into the peripheral on the other side of that eye as well since the spot was down by nose. I am  hoping this is just part of the healing process since the retina is scarring and that it will subside soon. It's definitly been annoying since I see it pretty frequently. I was wondering if anyone else experienced this after the retinal tear laser surgery? Part of me just wishes I never went and left it alone since supposedly it healed itself. Now I feel like I have more eye problems then before the laser. I visit the retinal specialist again in a week and a half to check on it.
    • rodney41263
      rodney41263 rickOC

      Posted

      Rick

      Thanks for your story. I had an operation June 8th and have experienced your story.

      I have a huge floater that looks like a jelly fish dart grey right in the middle of my view and follows everywhere I look. My vision is blurry and not up to par.

      Thanks Rod

    • rose912910
      rose912910 rodney41263

      Posted

      I always have one floater in that eye as well, but dont see it all the time, but the flickering I do see all the time 
  • rickOC
    rickOC rose912910

    Posted

    Hi Rose. When i had the initlal black rain, and the flashes, my Retinal specialist warned me that it was/is a very serious situation. Therein, the reason for the laser. When i went in for my first visit, and i was dilated and she examined me, it was at the end of that initial visit that she did the laser. She had finiished examining me, and said I think we will need to do some laser. There was something in the way that she looked at me, that i said to her: "Now?", and she said yes. And she did the procedure within the next 30 minutes. Why am I saying this?  You should be very glad that you had the treatment. My specialist warned that if my eye had gone untreated, that it was possibly/likely that i would have gotten worse (i.e., my retina could have FULLY detached) and i could have lost complete vision in my right eye. I don't know your details, but I venture to guess that the same could have been true for you.  My best wishes for your continued improvement. 
    • rose912910
      rose912910 rickOC

      Posted

      Thank you Rick. Thats what I try to keep in mind that it could have been much worse, but having this visual disturbance is very distracting for me. =/ 
    • colette53731
      colette53731 rickOC

      Posted

      Told the very same thing. My eye dr has been carefully watching me and also my brother for detached retina because our grandmother had this. And was told its hereditary. 

       

    • colette53731
      colette53731

      Posted

      Just had my surgery 8-4-17. Concerned that both pupils are still dilated went to google, seems to be normal.
    • doug75871
      doug75871 colette53731

      Posted

      Hey

      My right pupil stayed dilated for about 6 months.  It has now returned back close to normal.  It didn't bother me though. Only thing is now that it is back to close to normal, I notice more annoying floaters

    • doug75871
      doug75871 jes2000

      Posted

      Mine did not totally get back to normal.  It doesn't seem to impact my vision 

    • jes2000
      jes2000 doug75871

      Posted

      Hey Doug. I know we have chatted about this quite a bit, but just to clarify- you said it stayed dilated for about 6 months and it eventually returned back close to normal. Did this affect your vision up close the first month or so of it being dilated? How much more dilated was your eye in the beginning of all of this?My pupil at the moment is maybe dilated once or twice the size of my other eye. It seems stuck, and I don't really see progress which can be discouraging. 

      Just trying to find some light and hope at the end of my tunnel. Thank you for your help.

    • doug75871
      doug75871 jes2000

      Posted

      Well I thought it had got back close to normal but I looked at it now and it is 1.5 x's larger than my left eye .  I really don't think it causes me any problems and I really don't notice it 

    • jes2000
      jes2000 doug75871

      Posted

      Thank you for the response.

      I have really light blue eyes and I feel its incredibly noticeable. Along with not being able to see properly up close. Hopefully it will go down a little bit over time. 

    • jessica51153
      jessica51153 jes2000

      Posted

      Hi!! I was wondering if your vision's improved? I got laser treatment for my retinal tear about 3 weeks ago and my pupils are still dilated and my close vision is really bad. The doctor gave me these eye drops to constrict my pupils (and my close vision improves and goes back to normal), and he explained to me why my pupils might be fixed, but once the eyedrops wear off my close vision gets blurry again.

      Did your close vision ever go back to normal?

    • ann21178
      ann21178 jessica51153

      Posted

      Hi Jessica

      I had two laser operations last Oct/Nov-the first did not fully fix the tear. I was told that I would never lose the floaters but that eventually I would not notice them. I have days when I don't notice them at all and then other days when they are very pronounced, often in bright light though not exclusively then.The main thing I think is to recognise what is the new normal and quickly act on any new/unusual floaters- you will get used to what is your normal.  The blury vision will hopefully go- my eyes returned to normal size overnight after the operations so I have not experienced what you

      have.  My vision has been unaffected by the tear as confirmed by an eye test in January.  Good luck

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