Retinal Tear Laser Surgery

Posted , 66 users are following.

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

439 Replies

Prev Next
  • Posted

    Hi Rose, I am 24 now and I was diagnosed with a retinal tear also. My initial concern was of a black spot, but after the surgery I started to see a very round one, not black but gray, and kind of fixed, so I thought that would be the hole that I fixed, since I never saw the black one again... Now I see both but the black one it is very rare to find him, and as I read here it is true that the other eye can compensate and blind the spot. That does not happen with the gray one, that I am sure it was not there before the surgery... I went back again asking if I had two tears, but no, only one. I started using sun glasses not to see him... in bright days and in monitors (if white background) I always see it (the gray one). Now I would like to ask: can you focus on the spot? Because I can focus the gray one but not the black one... and I also suppose that the tear is not supposed to be focused, not that it be gray, but black... Also, can the spot be fixed, I don't know... by nutrition? As I understand we miss a part of the retina so it can not grow again...

    • Posted

      Does the black spot move around? If so, it is a floater. Since the grey spot does not move, it is likely a part of the retina that was lasered. I have both. I rarely see the part that was lasered now but intially I saw it all the time. It has taken almost a year for my eye to get close to normal. I still have floaters, a shimmer in the entire area that was lasered but I see it less now, colored dots and flashing lights. I had the laser for a retinal hole in the left eye, last August but I still need laser for lattice degeneration in my right eye.
    • Posted

      The black one does not move around, it is fixed, that's why I got worried and confused about which one was the retinal hole. So you initially saw a black spot and a gray one around it? And now you only see the black one? It is very annoying in bright days... My gray one is a little bit ahead of the central vision, so when I am driving or reading with good light there is the spot... I really hope it goes away with time. Also hope that everything runs well with your eyes. Thanks to your reply!

  • Posted

    Hello Rose I hope all is better for you with health and happiness I had my first laser surgry on Valentines day was not given choice or nothing explained to me. Since then I have continuous flashing in the bottom of my eye it is just scary and annoying and v
    • Posted

      I had laser for holes in right and tear and holes in left on July 15.  I too now have constant flashing/fluttering which my doctor said would always be there.  it is scary because it's new and not what i originally had.  I think these things are the "new normal" for us.  It will take some time to get used to I'm sure.  Hang in there.  

    • Posted

      Wow Yasmin o no !

      I hope you and yours are happy and healthy smile

      Thank you so very much for responding to me so quickly. Does it start at the bottom of the eye and comes up to cover it. My eyes are so tired by end of day and when I go home I have to sit down for a bit due to the extreme of it. My doctor said it shouldn't be there yet other doctor said yes, pooh!

      I finally had cataract surgery in the eye on June 25th and all still there but its all cloudy and black dots don't know if that had something to do with it. I go to doctors tomorrow. I pray for better answers.

      Thank you so very much for your time and courtesy. I will pray for you also!

      xobernwink

       

    • Posted

       Hi Bernadette and Yasmin 

       I had emergency surgery almost 6 weeks ago because a piece of glass got in my eye  and made a mess of my retina.  I now see very little out of that eye. The doctors told me that Eventually my brain will adapt to the new situation and my good eye will take over my vision and it will seem just like it was before the accident.  They told me it will be a long road to recovery and I agree that is very scary and new.   In the meantime my vision is very distorted. I know your situations are different from mine and not as serious but I hope you will both be better with a little time. We need to take it day by day and hope for the best.

    • Posted

      Hi Diana-

      Did you have a sceral buckle surgery? I saw a retina specialist last week who suggested that I might need that surgery. I’ve had tears and holes in the past and a small partial detachment, all treated with laser. She said the small partial detachment is starting to pull past the laser scars. They’re sending me to another specialist in Boston who will apparently decide on surgery, more laser or cryotherapy. I’m hoping to avoid surgery. It’s all so stressful and exhausting. It consumed my thoughts before the impending possibility of surgery. Now I’m just so nervous. I go see the specialist on 6/28. I have lots of visual disturbances including shimmering, floaters and a strange ghost image that floats across my eye when I walk into a dark room. I’m so nervous for more side effects and for the surgery itself. 

  • Posted

    I had retinal surgery two weeks ago to prevent s possible retinal tear, since then i have been loosing more of my center vision due to fluid leaking behind my retina caused by the surgery ?

    I had only one eye and every morning i find that i have lost even more, i am posting this while i still can this was the worst decision i have ever made

  • Posted

    MY retinal specialist told me i needed this surgery to prevent the possibility of a retinal tear , so two weeka after the surgery my center vision started to get dark and cloudy .

    i am posting this while i still can i have been told that the cause of my vision loss is due to fluid leaking behind the retina caused by this surgery .

    i had only one eye and i loose more of that every day .

    • Posted

      I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you will have the opportunity to see a different retinal specialist to see if more can be done. I have had surgery to repair a detachment in each eye but for now things are stable. I am thinking of you and hoping for the best possible outcome.

  • Posted

    Dear Rose,

    I am sorry that you had this problem and I hope that you don't see the grey spot any more. I was so glad to read your post and see that I am not the only one who has this issue.

    I am 31 years old and I had the same problem as you. Immediately after the laser treatment for my retina, I see a grey shadow in the bottom of my eye. The doc who did the laser said that it is a scar from the laser that will be there forever. My ophthalmologist said that it can be an effect of the laser, which will wane soon. It is now 10 days since the laser therapy. I hope that the grey shadow is just temporary.

    All the best.

  • Edited

    hi! I had no symptom.My doctor found small retinal tear.I had my laser surgery 2 months ago.I have myopi but have no vision problem.After laser treatment my vision is blurry.I have eye pressure and dry.When ı try to focus,It is distracting.My eyes are tired all day.Is this side affect laser and permanent? using phone reading is very tired.ıs there anybody like this situation ?

    any information or experience shared might help another...thank you

    • Posted

      Hi how are your eyes now since your laser treatment? i had laser done just a few days ago to repair a retinal tear. it went good but i had some inflammation first 24 hours overall its feeling a lot better still have mild floaters and a little mild flash at the bottom eyesight that i see going from light to dark rooms which my dr said i would probably see. i think it can take a little while for everything to settle down.

  • Posted

    The eye is special because although it is delicate, it also self heals itself most of the time. Just keep looking after your eyes, if there is a tear it should heal itself over time.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.