Retinal Tear Laser Surgery

Hi Paul,  

For the most part that black/gray spot dissapeared but I was left with this annoying constant shimmering in my peripheral vision in the area I had that laser. It seems to extend out from the spot where I had the blind spot. Although it has gotten better since it first began, it has not resolved completely and it really drives me crazy. I also feel like my field of vision is not the same. I feel a little off balanced sometimes when looking straight. Hoping the issue resolves for both of us. Some people have said it can take a year for the retinal to heal completely. Many times, I wish I never went to the retina specialist and just left my eye alone and it might have been fine especially since my tear had scar tissue from healing itself. I didnt know it was common to be left with this visual disturbance. That should be explained much more clearly to patients. 

Hi there, I just had my retinal tear laser surgery 2 months ago and have been noticing a small crescent shaped spot at the lower left corner of my operated eye.  Within this spot, I see white light sometimes.  But most of the time it looks like a kaleidoscope of floaters floating within.  Even though the spot is relatively small, it really bothers me.  My eye doctor told me that the retinal laser surgery was successful after going back twice for checkups.  But she told me to expect this small part of vision loss because of the damaged/scarred retina.  I can totally accept this minor impaired vision due to scarring, but can anyone tell me if this constant kaleidoscoping effect I see within that spot is NORMAL at all??  Or is it something to worry about?  Will it subside, ever?  And how long does it take for the retina to heal COMPLETELY after a laser surgery?  Many thanks!!!

Hi Tom, if you went back to the retina specialist for check ups since this began, it probably is not something to worry about. A couple weeks after I had the laser surgery I strarted getting something similar in the spot I had the laser, but I would describe mine as more like static/strobe light effect I think and it is constant. Mine really annoys me too. I feel like although it is in my peripheral vision it radiates up into my central vision. Its always there, just varies depending on the lighting. It would be one thing to just have a blind spot, but this effect in my vision is so distracting. Its been 8 months for me and it stil has not faded completely. It has very slowly gotten a little bit better (I think). Sometimes it is hard to be sure since it really depends on the lighting how bad I see this effect, but I do overall think it has faded so that he strobe light effect is more clear than white/light if that makes sense. But sometimes I get that white light still in dark environments. On other forums, some people said it went away after a year and it can take about a year for the retina to heal so I'm hoping that is the case. I hope with time it fades for you. Its very stressful/distracting to deal with. 

Hi 🌹. There will be some permanent scarring on the eye unfortunately. In my opinion, its better that than no vision at all. Most retinal laser treatment does leave scarring and dark spots which do fade slightly with time. Although its annoying, try to carry on as normal and rest your eyes when you can. 🙂 take care

Hi Hazel Im so sorry to hear you had two retinal tears. I had same thing two years ago and had emergency laser surgery to repair the tear. Sadly I was with a very careless and disinterested eye doc who chance diagnosed my phone and was adamant it was just a pvd. It was very nieve of me to accept a telephone diagnosis considering it was concerining my eyes. The morning after I saw the lightening streaks I woke up with what felt like a huge fly in my vision...Unfortunately because it was left unattened for 5 days (until I went to see someone) there was further damage done so it was day 6 before I had my surgery. I was left with the floaters despite the retinal surgeon telling me they wouldnt last forever, would eventually go. I was very lucky my retina didnt completely detach over those days. If your tears were caught early on Id be optimistic your floaters will go as I know someone who was operated on 24 hours following her diagnosis and withing weeks the floaters vanished. Ive had other more pressing eye issues in the last year following an accident so tbh the floaters dont bother me at all. Id say just hang in there and they will go...

Thank you so much for your reassuring words TripAdvisor.

It was the third consultant who found my tears and he had to do the laser because the laser specialist could not find it.

I agree, trust your instincts.

I hope your current issues with your eyes are being sorted.

How is rose I wonder?

Hi Hazel, did you have the photocoagulation laser? That's what I had. My vision was only really blurry the day of. I don't think I got a new floater after. I have a bunch of floaters now after using Flonase which I believe caused all my eye issues...but from the scaring from the laser I do now have a static/shimmering like phenomenon in the area that was lasered. Luckily it has gradually gotten better over the months, but it is still distracting. I am hoping it goes away completely soon. Sometimes I wish I never got the laser but I guess then I would have been worried that my retina would have detached. From what I read, sometimes floaters go away and sometimes they don't so there's really know way to know but I hope it becomes less distracting for you. I think the most important thing is making sure to go to all your follow ups with the doctor who did the laser to make sure there's no new issues!

Hi Hazel

no bother at all, we are all here to help and support each other. Gosh I cant believe it took three consultants to find the tears, thats very disheartening. Spot on, I will always trust my instincts, Iearned fierce hard lesson but as I said its amazing when something more pressing arises how ther other issue pales into the background...Keep in touch Hazel, any information or experience shared might help another...

Trip

Thanks for your replies TripAdvisor and rose.

I must admit as its early days for me I wake up in the morning searching for the floaters. It's always scary if somethung happens to your eyes.

I had the same laser that you had rose but it's definately left me with blurriness but it is off and on.

I will go to my check ups regularly and check in on this forum. It does help to share with people who have the same experience.

Do you wear glasses or contacts? My prescription got a little worse in the eye that was lasered right after it seemed but I have no idea if it was from the laser or just a coincidence. Increasing my contact prescription resolved the problem. It's no bother. It's nice to have forums like these since many people around you can't relate to the problems your going through

Hi Rose

Firstly can I start by saying how sorry I am for what had happened. I've been following your story for a while. Last month I went for a routine eye test and was sent to causality as she could see a hole. An othamologist confirmed this and sent me to a retinal specialist. He confirmed I have lattice degeneration and a small retinal hole. He offered me lazer surgery to stop the hole getting bigger, and I asked about side effects. He said it may not work, or could create another hole but this was very unlikely. He didn't mention any of the symptoms you have described. I asked if I could think about it and he said yes and I've got to go back in July. I don't know what to do, I seem to be reading a lot about people regretting it or having problems like yourself. I've read repeatedly that you wish you had never had yours done. Guess I'm asking for advice.

I think usually "lattice holes" if thats what yours is,  doctors dont usualy treat or laser them. Did he say that there was a risk for a detachment? Mine was a horseshoe tear so Im told (I cant help but not really trust doctors), but it was an old tear. The retinal specialist told me she couldnt tell me how long ago it happened but that there was scar tissue where the tear was so it wwas at least a couple weeks old, which is kind of whhy I feel like maybe I should have left it alone since it seemed to have already healed itself. I do often regret getting the procedure. I had no idea and nobody explained to me this distracting shimmering was a common side effect. They acted like it was no big deal, but my retinal specialist told me there was a risk of detachment if I didnt get it since Im young, but how much of a risk there was I dont really know. I guess I have to be thankful that I can see fine despite the annoying phenomenon and I have no idea if maybe I didnt do the laser, if my retina would have detached.  Like I've said, the phenomenon has slightly gotten better since I first had the laser so Im hopefuly as months pass it will go away compeltey. I think whether you want to do the laser is up to you. Like I said, I think eye doctors dont usually laser just for a lattice hole, but I guess there is always the risk that a tear occurs or a detachment when you have lattice but I think with holes that risk is very minimal. Hope that helps some! 

Hi Rose

Thank you for your comment. It isn't one of the most comforting things I have heard.

Where did you hear/read they don't usisally treat lattice holes. I'm doing a lot of research at the min, so any good websites are welcomed. I'm presuming it is seen as that's what hey diagnosed. My main concern was he said it was leaking a little fluid. How did you get your tear, or don't you know? He didn't say there was an immediate risk of detachment, just a higher than average risk. Not sure how long I've had mine, all I know is it wasn't there last October when I went for my sight test.

I really feel for you, especially as yours had started to heal. Is the risk higher if you're younger then? I am 33, so still class myself as fairly young. I really hope things improve for you. I guess I will have to have the surgery if it's got any bigger when I next go for a check up. Did he say the lazer is very effective and seals the hole completely? With lattice I'm st risk of getting other holes, so when i was told the lazer could create another hole, that's what worries me the most. Thank you so much for your comment.

Hi!

Just by researching online I read that retinal holes arent usually treated, but obviously your doctor is the best source of info. Also since theres fluid, he might be leaning more towards the side of treating. When do you have your next appointment?

Its never an easy decision, especially when its something like your eyes so I understand how frustrating/stressful it it. I was only 24 when it was lasered (25 now) so its stressful having to deal with eye issues so young. Im not sure if the risk is higher per se, but because if you are younger, you will probably live longer, thus more years for a tear or detachment to possibly develop. I was told that once I got the laser it was pretty wielded down and secure so I guess it seals the retinal to the back of the eye so no detachments can occur in that area. At least thats what I was told, but nothing is 100% and a detachment can still occur but I guess its far less likely if you laser the tear. Im hoping I have no other eye problems and this static in that area goes away. It's frustrating to have the laser to prevent visions problems and then it actually causes a visual disturbance. I guess luckily for me it could have been worse if it actually detached though. Hope everything goes well for you at your next appointment 

Hi

I haven't read anywhere that they don't normally treat lattice Holes. Every time I read anything, all they seem to want to do is surgery.

My next check up is July. I'm praying my body might have tried to heal itself, like yours has. Hopefully one of the benefits of being younger, but understand what you're saying about the downside of thos meaning something can happen as we get older. Has your lazer worked?

Sorry I am just responding to this now. Its hard to see the new comments in the long thread. It worked in that I have had no other problems with my retina to my knowledge and whenever I went for check ups they said everything looked good, but I still experiencing the annoying flickering. I hope everything has gone well for you and hopefully you did not have to have surgey, but if so, I hope it went well. 

Hi Rose

Yes this thread is certainly popular!!!

My appointment is the 12 th July so i will know then. I get a lot of floaters which I never used to but hoping nothing else has changed - if not I'm just going to leave it and get it monitored. So many have had problems since laser surgery.

Yeah I mean I would definitly take into consideration your doctor's opinion, but since my tear was an "old tear" I wish I would have just had it monitored consistently instead of getting the laser to be honest. Hope everything goes will at your appoitnment! 

THanks Rose. Appointment went okay, hole is still the same. They recommend the surgery but it's optional at this stage. Not sure what to do. I asked about risks etc and he said there wasn't any!!!