Shimmering light after laser, how do I cope?
Posted , 27 users are following.
Hello everyone. In need of a support group. Some people have good coping skills, however I do not. And I really need to talk to people who can relate right now.
Almost 5 weeks ago I had laser barrage on the bottom of my retina (4-6 o'clock position.) I was told my lattice area was very thin and there was fluid pulling on the holes and it was best to laser it down. I was having an increase in dark floaters which is what brought me in. I was referred to a retina specialist and he wanted to do laser that day. I wish I would have thought about it more. I did feel like I was in danger at the time and that it wasn't optional to not do it. I was crying and shaking and I felt if it was optional they would have told me since I was so upset.
I asked if this would affect my vision and he said no. I asked him so many questions and it was as if there could be no complications. He had me sign a waiver for macular degeneration and I knew I wouldn't be at risk since the macula was no where near where I needed laser.
The first 3 weeks I was so fixated on the fact my pupil was still dilated. I was so upset by it, but now I feel it's the least of my worries. I feel my pupil is getting better but it's still not 100% back to normal. I see small strides with my pupil, but the blurry up close vision is almost back to normal. It seems like my pupil is working over time to try and go back to its normal size and position and I have faith it will make it there since I continue to see improvement.
Then the 3rd-5th week I was getting flashing lights and shimmering in my peripheral vision. The shimmering is getting noticeably worse over time. The more light I am around through out the day, the more it acts up and comes into my vision. I notice it mostly when I look down on my phone, book, or just look down in general.
I've gone back 5 times since the laser on emergency visits and I am told everything is fine and sent home every single time. I don't believe at this point I am in any danger with my retina. But the side effects are destroying me.
I'm finally going for a second opinion this week. I just fear so badly that this flickering shimmering light is never going to subside. And it keeps getting worse. I can't believe this wasn't explained to me, and I have been reading about so many others going through the same thing. This just feels so wrong to me. I feel completely failed by the healthcare system.
I'm questing everything right now. I just want to know or to have someone see this post who has gone through what I'm going through and to tell me it will get better. Yoga is the only thing getting me through this difficult time and even then it's hard to remain positive.
Any coping skills would be greatly appreciated. And I really hope someone will tell me their situation has improved or give me some sort of hope. I really hope this isn't permanent.
0 likes, 38 replies
upendran51550 jes2000
Posted
hi, you are not alone, im 26 year old doctor, i've had my barrage laser treatment done 3yrs back, i still have the lightning symptoms, its ok to be tensed at early times but on the go you will get adapted, thats what happened to me too. and get checked if you get the symptoms increased in number than usual, other than that live a happy life 😃.
Hudsongrl jes2000
Posted
i think your retina may be healing and in time the flickering will subside. i say this because I had cataract surgery and that too can bring on the shimmering flickering. i had it after my cataract surgery in Feb. It was especially bad in flourescent lighting like Walgreens, Target etc. It seemed like a peripheral strobe livht. After about 4 months it improved. Now I notice it most in low light but i think my brain has tuned it out. It's called Neuro adaptation. My guess is yours will get better with time. I know how hard it is to ignore it so best you can do is try not to fixate on it. I'm sorry you ate having this:(
Matt0406 jes2000
Edited
hi everyone, glad to have found this discussion as it is one of those times that I notice shimmering on my peripheral vision, left eye. hoping its just the anxiety of this pandemic that causes me to feel/see things more than usual.
Sharing my experience to help and hopefully get answers too.
I had vitrectomy, scleral buckle ,laser and IOL transplant done on both eyes, my left eye about 3 years ago and right eye 4 years ago.
Current situation:
Left eye- some blind spots and wavy line. hazy peripheral vision. There are time like now that i see shimmering on my peripheral vision.
Right Eye- macula got detached 5 years ago and I didn't have it operated on for a month. tunnel vision with a huge blind spot in the middle. there is this constant ceiling fan effect that I can see 24/7 but I guess my brain has gotten used to it.
I had these side-effects since right after my procedures and my doctor always says it is stable so I am thinking what we are all experiencing are the collateral damage to save a significant amount of our vision. they are always there but our brain gets used to it. There are times that make me worry, like bow that I could see the shimmering in my left eye more often.
Usually what I do to make sure that its not a new tear is I go in for an eye examination but unfortunately, I am bot able to do that due to this pandemic, which makes me anxious and worried.
Hopefully you guys could share your own experiences and let me know if there is anything I could do to know if this is a new tear or just one of the usual shimmers I see due to the trauma my eyes took from the procedures.
Thank you everyone.
dana35538 Matt0406
Posted
hi matt, im
so sorry you are going through this too . for me, im over one year out now and my symptoms have been the same i too have that flickering ceiling like fan light in my peripheral along with a ton of floaters and black spots. since you think you have new symptoms, maybe you should just put a call into your doctor to see what he thinks i know with me my flickering gets worse when i change lighting but then seems to adapt to the new lighting after a few minutes
Matt0406 dana35538
Posted
Hi Dana,
thank you for replying. its actually a symptom that i've had for the longest time but now it makes me worry so much more probably because of the situation, thinking to myself that this is the worst time to have to go to the hospital for anything since I might get exposed to the virus. i think i have not niticed it too much the past times because I was so busy with work compared to now that we have so much time to think.
So i guess we are on the same boat? these are effects we have to live with and get used to right? to be honest, i wouldnt mind living with it so long as I get an assurance that my eyes are "okay"
montu31583 Matt0406
Edited
Hi Matt,
Current situation makes any of the eye symptoms more prominent. I suffer from both floaters and shimmering lights post my retinal detachment surgery and there are days when more floater and flashes worries me. Given history with eye surgeries, if you are worried, I would definitely recommend calling your ophthalmologist to describe your symptoms. Sometimes it's better to get it checked if the doc recommends so. I wouldn't worry a lot about going to the doctor's clinic as long as you take necessary precautions. Sometimes. it's better to get mental satisfaction after checking your retina by doc. I plan to visit my retina specialist this week
Matt0406 montu31583
Posted
Hi @montu31583
i will keep this in mind.
Thank you very much!
dan83688 jes2000
Edited
Hi
I have had laser to fix my retina detachment but two days after that I have had many small black floaters and three days after tractional retinal detachment and have had vitrectomy surgery.
Surgery was 3 months ago and my vision is 20/30 with wavy lines and some peripherical lightening but doctor said it is retina healing.
Good Luck
clayton19233 jes2000
Edited
I started a facebook group - search for "white flashing lights after a retinal tear laser surgery"
I think these ophthalmologists are just a bunch of criminals. they scare us into thinking we need a retinal laser procedure for a small benign tear, if it even exists at all since they never actually take retinal pics to show us before the procedure. If you have a brain tumour they can image it, if you have a broken leg you can see the xray, if you have a blocked artery they can image it, so they can image a retinal tear.
then they lie about there being no side effects, and then deny that the laser screwed up our retina and we live with white flickering lights for life and have exhausting emotional and mental impacts to our daily lives. the ophthalmologists and laser manufacturers are no different than those entities that destroy lives with the opioid crisis.
ive seen retinal pics where ophthalmologists have lasered 360 degrees around the retina over and over - its beyond insane.
im 100% certain that retinal laser damage in our peripheral vision is to blame for the shimmering lights - and only stem cell therapy can hold any hope. ive had my shimmering for 14 months with no improvement.
boston80166 clayton19233
Posted
Hello Clayton, how are you? Are you still experiencing the shimmering up until now?
alfa23836 jes2000
Posted
Hi All,
I too had a similar laser surgery in my right eye and the doctor said confidently that no side effects would happen . But after surgery in 1st week i could see shimmers . Now in my 3rd week i am seeing black spots or faint thick black line when i suddenly drift my eye from left to right.and you will notice it on seeing laptop or white wall Is this expected? Did anyone face these symptoms. Few days back i got bright black spots and then it went away after sometime. is these are the symptoms of retinal detachment?
jane96191 alfa23836
Posted
I had laser for a tear and bleeding on Jan. 29. I had a dark black line from some blood that was floating across the center of my vision but that line and the larger dark floaters have slowly shrunk since the bleeding was stopped by laser. At this point, I have some stringy looking floaters in the top periphery that makes me feel like I have bangs hanging in my eyes. They seem to be slowly receeding so I'm hopeful they'll go away as more blood breaks down. They seem worse when I'm more active. Have you noticed a difference based on your activity?
I too am having shimmer in the far periphery - my tears were along my nose, almost beyond the useable part of my retina according to my doctor. Initially I only saw it when falling asleep but it's getting brighter and I now notice it in dark rooms. I also notice a grey spot in the upper corner when I first wake up, but it fades quickly. I'm not sure if that's a floater or damage from the laser (it would be in the right location) or what. I'm hoping the shimmer isn't permanent. It makes falling asleep difficult and there is something about it that makes me feel edgy.
Black spots and flashes were a sign of a tear and bleeding for me, so I hope you have seen your doctor by now.
boston80166 jane96191
Posted
Hello Jane 👋 What did your doctor do with the black spots, flashes and shimmering? Did he perform some procedure?
joshuapryce1987 jes2000
Posted
Yoga is good, but contemplation is also good, and analysing where you want to go in life, and doubting your doubts.
R5V9G5 jes2000
Posted
Hello Guys
I hope you all are doing fine, I had undergone laser barrage a week ago and I am facing the same issues whenever I close my eyes and it usually last for 10 to 15 seconds. Even I feel the shimmering and flickering of lights whenever I move from bright background to a dark background. So can anyone tell me how long does it take to completely recover from these??