Heading off to Moorfields tomorrow morning for tests to see if I’ve got the beginnings of a detached retina. Anyone had surgery for this? Any thoughts on recovery time?

Didn’t Mrs T have this many years ago (80s)? IIRC they used laser treatment.

I had an unspecified/mystery infection which turned bad and caused a torn retina. Similar procedure to fix but a bit more complex in that i had to have reconstructive surgery to the damaged area too. The recovery time wasnt great for me. 2 Operations, first one took me out completely for nearly a month ( 2 weeks in bed unable to move, having to reposition to allow silicone and gas in eye to attach retina properly) and 2 weeks of recovery after. 12 month of silicone in eye then 2nd operation and 2 weeks recovery time. The 12 months in between operations my eye was ok, getting better towards the end.

You’ll probably have 2 operations with 2 weeks bed time following first then 6 – 12 months of silicone and gas in eye, depending on state of retina. 2nd operation maybe 2 weeks recovery too.

Thanks p79, lets see what happens tomorrow – sudden increase in floaters and flashing over the last 2 days.
Hope you’re good now?

aP, my dad has had episodes of flashes diagnosed as detached retinae. He had laser surgery a few years ago to fix it & it seems to have done the trick. I can ask him how it was tomorrow. But iirc recovery was about two weeks. He’s fine now – 73 and still quite capable of driving and skiing with us once a year.

My dad has had a detached retina. Best advice he has passed on to me is if you get the symptoms you have described get it checked out as quickly as possible. The sooner it is diagnosed the better the chances are for recovery.

He unfortunately he still has problems with his eye and has had a number of surgeries to try and fix it. He let it go for a week or so before getting checked out which has led to complications.

Fingers crossed your eye is Ok.

Sorry aP not got anyone I know with that. All the best for tomorrow and a speedy recovery if it is that.

It could possibly be a PVD, posterior vitreous detachment, although separation describes it better. Basically the vitreous gel contracts forwards, peeling off the retina, if there’s an area of adhesion it can tug on the retina causing the flashing lights & floaters.

It does put you at a higher risk of developing a retinal detachment but most settle down without treatment.

Had a rip twice about 8 years back – – went straight to A&E -junior doc couldn’t see nowt, I was so insistent about symptoms ” I saw a lighting flash and dark crow flap over my head and now ‘corpuscles’ are raining ‘up’ in my eye” – he faxed them to a eye Doc – 45 mins later I’m on my way to surgery – had to wait until end of surgical shift but successful laser ‘spot weld’ around the tear. Still got an eye full of floaters but quick action by all, made for a happy ending.

Moorfields is THE place go. World experts. You will be in safe hands.
I have a hole in my retina and they said I had probably had it for many years routine eye test picked it up), any increase in floaters or flashes and get down there ASAP do not pass go. I was seen by the bloke the ward wing was named after – Junior guy asked for a second opinion. My goodness he was thorough. I left reassured – but the Brompton ride home with enlarged pupils was not a good idea. Get a lift or cab.

No useful info from me either; but best wishes from me too – I hope it all goes well.

2nd what Wally says about cab home – with sunglasses 🙂

Ap ….. 666DOM could very well be right…. don’t panic (yet).

And agree about sunglasses.

I had a plastic cage put behind my eye to get it back to shape after the retina broke lose due to my eye being deformed, tucks added and lubricant, apparently the gooey ball in the middle was helping tear the retina away. It was very painful, lots of time laying down flat, about 12 weeks, till reasonable, no longer feel the cage, but can see it’s edges on extremes of eye movement. Don’t try lifting anything you won’t believe how painful it can be. When I get very tired it’s always the eye that itches the most.

Good luck, modern medicine is incredible, mine was only picked up by a very good optician during a routine checkup.

Thanks all, I know I’m at high risk and have had the occasional vitreous detachment previously, aiming to get in there for 9am tomorrow. Let’s see what they say, better safe than sorry… 😕

I know 3 people this has happened to in the last year. One guy didn’t realise for about 6 weeks, I think he thought it was something that would pass.

I’m clearly no expert, but what I have understood is that you should be very strict in following the recovery advice offered to you.

Fingers crossed it will be ok for you tomorrow

Yep – good luck and healing vibes, do let us know how it went. At some point it will happen to me too, was the advice I got.

I had surgery to repair a detached retina back in 2005.
It had been spotted by optician during a regular eyetest, I didn’t have any particular symptoms. Surgery was carried out asap, basically ‘sticking’ the tear back together and covering with a gauze which is still I my eye.
Think I was off work for 2 weeks, keeping as still as possible, followed by at least a month trying not to strain the eye.
Had no probs since, although I was advised not to attempt skydiving/bungee jumping etc….what a shame!!
Good luck!

I had a tennis ball smacked into my eye when I was fifteen at school. Blood came from the corner of the eye at the time!!! Eye specialist at the hospital have me the all clear.

I have always had loads of floaters, slight headaches behind that eye etc. started seeing a weird green mist in that eye. Went to eye clinic at local hospital five times, junior doctors were stumped, sent me for blood tests! This was at 32ueqrs old.

I instisted on seeing the consultant, he spotted a small retinal tear in less
Than one minute. He called in their surgeon (worked at moorfield for years, now working at east Surrey because it has better access to golf!) I was operated on within the hour.

They fitted a plastic cage to the outside of my eye, used a laser to seal the tear. I went home the next day and was back at work with in two weeks. Riding a bike in three.

As someone said further up, it itches. I can only notice it when thinking about it:) and I have loads of massive floaters in the eye. But it’s all safe and my eyesight works well. If a little slow to react to changes, bright sun or dark. Night riding is a little more challenging. And I get loads of dirt caught in my eye, gets a bit tangled in the plastic cage.

Now in VRE with torn retina waiting for laser stitching under local. This may prove ‘too difficult’ so probably in theatre later this week (I’m very sensitive to things near my eyes).
I guess that Big Dog’s probably not a good idea at the weekend….

Back today again to see if cryo will work, as laser deemed not possible due to my ridiculously over sensitive eye/ eyelid reflexes. If not then I guess might be full anaesthetic in theatre tomorrow.