In a message dated 12/29/99 6:01:33 AM Pacific Standard Time,
laura_johnson@... writes:

<< Hi

  My father, 85 years old, had surgery for a detached retina last week,
  and it was unsuccesful.  He is undergoing the gas bubble sugery today.
  He has had successful cateract sugery about 4 years ago. THE GAS BUBBLE
WORKED FINE FOR ME 2 YRS. AGO (I AM 46).  IT IS HOWEVER, UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE
VISION SENSE.  WHILE IT IS ABSORBED BY THE EYE, IT CAN BREAK INTO A LITTLE
BUBBLE AND ATTACH TO THE BIGGER ONE AND CHANGE INTO VARIOUS SHAPES ( SAW
MICKEY MOUSE, EARS AND ALL, FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS) THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE
BUBBLE CAN LAST UP TO MORE THAN 4 WEEKS AND EVEN 6 WEEKS.  THE HEAD-BODY
POSITION THAT THE DOCTOR RECOMMENDS MUST BE STRICTLY MAINTAINED FOR THE
DURATION OF MEDICAL ORDERS!  (AND THAT DEPENDS ON THE SITE OF THE
DETACHMENT). VISION IS VERY, VERY BLURRY DURING THIS TIME AND YOU SHOULD MAKE
SURE THAT HE DOES NOT FALL OR HAVE ACCIDENTS.

  What can I do to keep the mental attitude positive? IT IS VERY HARD, BUT
ENCOURAGE.....SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN BLIND.  mY BEST ADVICE IS THAT IF HE IS
UNDERGOING BUBBLE GAS SURGERY HE DEFINITELY HAS A CHANCE FOR SAVING EYESIGHT!
  DOCTORS DO NOT DO THIS PROCEDURE UNLESS THEY KNOW THAT THE CHANCES FOR
MAINTAINING OR SAVING SIGHT WILL WORK..... driving? movies? RECOVERY IS VERY
VERY SLOW.  THE EYE IS VERY DELICATE AND ONLY TIME AND HEALTH WILL DETERMINE
THIS.  I STILL HAVE NUMEROUS FLOATERS AND FLASHING LIGHTS.  FLASHING LIGHTS
AND HALF-MOONS IN THE VISUAL FIELD HAVE TO BE REPORTED TO THE DOCTOR AS THEY
ARE SIGNS OF POSSIBLE DETACHMENTS.  THE SIGN OF A DETACHMENT IS A ZILLION
BLACK DOTS COMING AT YOU ALL AT ONCE.  BRIGHT LIGHTS WILL BOTHER HIM, CAR
LIGHTS, SUNLIGHT, TURNING ON AND OFF THE LIGHTS STILL BOTHER ME, MORE AT SOME
TIMES THAN OTHERS.  DRIVING - I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS UNTIL AT LEAST A
MONTH AFTER SURGERY.  -AND FORGET THE HIGHWAY.  I DO LOCAL DRIVING AND AT
NIGHT A LITTLE.  MOVIES- FOR A LITTLE WHILE -HE SHOULD "LISTEN" AND PEEK A
LITTLE, FOR AT LEAST A MONTH OR UNTIL HE FEELS THAT HE CAN.  GOOD LUCK
   >>

Hi

My father, 85 years old, had surgery for a detached retina last week,
and it was unsuccesful.  He is undergoing the gas bubble sugery today.
He has had successful cateract sugery about 4 years ago.

What can I do to keep the mental attitude positive?  What should I
expect for recovery - driving? movies?

Any insight is welcome.....

Thank you

I didn't feel well enough to drive for about a week after surgery. I drove
very carefully until I could use both eyes. I went to see a movie with only
one good eye, and that wasn't a problem. I'd suggest paying attention to what
your body and eye tell you, that is, rest when you get tired and don't
over-do. I was impatient to get my life back to normal. My progress was very
slow-going, but I did progress. Now, more than 3 months after surgery, my
double-vision is gone as is most of the redness in my bad eye, and I have
been wearing hard-contact lenses for quite a while. I have had no
complications and my healing process seemed to be very speedy. Good luck to
you in your recovery.

-Megan

I went to a movie a week after the surgery but had to look at it with
only good eye. Went to movie with both eyes with new glasses after a
month. Did not drive for a month as prescription for good eye needed
updating. Drove as soon as patch off operated eye and had new glasses.
Worked on computer day after surgery but rested often. Biggest early
problem was atropine dialated eye and light senstivity. Pupil size not
back to normal until over a month after atropine stopped. Everyone is
different so this only one persons experience. I had a vitrectomy too
and that may cause a whole different set of concurrent symtoms.Hope
sone of the others can give you additonal info.


cmarevie-@... wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/detached-retina/?start=26
> After surgery. How long before drivingt?  How long before movies? I
am ten
> days after detachment/reatachment and buckle surgery.
>
>
> Thanks

Hello All,

Made the Dr. visit today, presented my small list of questions,  today
being
5 weeks and 4 days since the OPERATION... he said I was doing fine, Pin
Hole
test looked "normal" for this time.  Said I could do anything I wanted
to do.
I asked him about jogging or walking or head movements, and he replied
that
I could do anything I wanted....it made no difference to the healing of
my
eye...the eye looked good today, but the vision is still very bleary
and I
kept it open for several hours...it is closed now and difficult to
blink with
out watering....I have an appointment to see my
other Dr. and am considering switching to another Retina Detachment
surgeon...
if I can find one that will take over....I have read several articles
about
recovery after surgery and the jest of it all was "taking it easy" as
far as
excersing, protecting eye from UV rays with sunglasses..., and wearing a
patch at night to protect pressure on the eye itself..continuing with
the steroid drops up to six months.none of this did he find would be of
any use..except the drops..again, he said, its not that
fragile....so....come
back in 5 more weeks, after 3 months then I can get a pretty good idea
of
my new eye glass prescription....

BTW, we bought a UV screen at WalMart last week for the computer, $20
and it
has made a big, big, difference in viewing...it has cut the glare down
consid-
erably...then to further ease the glare of the screen, I found at
Walgreens
a pair of bifocal-sunglasses with UV protection for $6.00.  I wear them
and
I'm telling you it makes for very comfortable viewing....  I'll keep
watch on
what advice you all get.  Looking forward to driving soon as the
bleariness
goes away, hubby says, you drive you cook.....so I'll make sure I'm
ready
cuz I'll be rattling those pots and pans..... sorry this is so long
winded....

Carol

After surgery. How long before drivingt?  How long before movies? I am ten
days after detachment/reatachment and buckle surgery.


Thanks

You must be patent. Expect at least 6 weeks before your eye is fully open and
you can see results of good vision again.
Take it easy durning this period. NO SNOW SHOVING.
good luk Mike

Carol hi,
A nurse who is a friend of the family told me to take 400 mg of Vit.E/ 2000
mg of vit. C & 800 meg of Vit. A each day. I have been doing this for about 3
weeks. Don't really see any difference put it makes me feel better.
Please lets keep each other informed on All new information.
This is a scary process that we can all  help each other get through.
Keep those questions pointed at our doctors

Best of luck to all
Mike

Scleral buckle is a traditional treatment for detached retina. Mine was
done on 9/3/99. Vision change very pronounced. from -6 diopter to maybe
-11. A 360 degree buckle squeezes around the entire eye and elongates
it changing the focal point. Doctors say it takes  6 months or more to
stabilize. There are several medical papers that talk about corneal
changes that cause a lot of the vision problems in the first 6 months
but tend to get better at about 6 months or later. I am at about three
months. Has anyone out there had a 360 degree scleral buckle and can
you report on your vision changes? Did it get worse or better after
three months?

Hal
Hal@...

God bless you and speedy recovery

Hi Carol

Since I am behind you by a month please keep posting information.

I had my eight day visit and asked questions about scar tissue.  I also
learned it occurs in only 10% of the cases.  Obviously it is to o early for
me to know how I will respond.  Today they have nothing the surgeon can do to
prevent same but they expect research to come up with something that the
surgeon can use at the time of the operation.  It won't effect thee or me,
however.

I was advised to avoid jerky body motions -- fast stops and starts in a car
for instances.

I have been told that all is well but like you, I am going to play on the
right side of caution for a few more weeks.  It is our eyesight at risk so
what's a few weeks.

Thanks for your information and keep it coming.

Best of luck tommorrow -- yes, I remember FDR.

Al Tomlinson

Al Tomlinson

Hi Mike and all,

I found your information so interesting....am filing away, who knows
what
and when I'll need this...I am off to the Dr. tomorrow early a.m.  Have
my questions ready (don't they love to see you with a sheet in your
hand?)
but Mike, one of my questions was:  "what can i do to stop scar tissue
from
forming"...since you just answered that, I won't ask...my other
questions have
to do with what I can do safely without harm to right or left
eye....foods to
heal...etc..My eye is almost open...I didn't know that it was open.  I
thought
my left eye was bleary, but lo and behold it was open!! and I can see,
more
than the first time it opened....Now, I've got to say, I never thought
that
being "older" was a plus....but I understand the formation of scar
tissue is
less in older people...how old?  I remember Roosevelt....enuff said...
So, the
very tight regimented life I've been leading these past 5-6- weeks
will hopefully pay off. Looking forward to the "Pin Hole Test" so that
I can have
some idea of what I will be left with and begin to "handle it".

Thanks to all of you for your imput.

Carol

Thanks loads for your information.  I hope I don't get involved with the
procedures but it is always good to know what can happen -- what to look out
for and prevent if possible.  I am into one week of a retina detachment
operation.  Hope it stops here.

Al Tomlinson

Mike, thanks for the information on scar tissue.  As you know I am one
of those 10% who develope it after surgery............Best of luck on your
next surgery, I think you made the right decision to have it..........I
should be having my 4th surgery on my right eye in about a week or two, to
repair the tear caused by too much scar tissue in my eye............I will
keep you informed on it , and the condition of my left eye, which continues
to flash and cause me problems..........Thanks again for all of your
information.............Stan

Hi everyone.

I just returned from the MA. Eye and Ear Infirmary Boston MA. to discuss my
condition mentioned below.
I was there for 3 hrs. and received a full exam of both eyes.

I was examined by two doctors. The final analysis and exam was done by Dr.
John Loewenstein, Associate Chief of Ophthalmology.
Here are my questions and his condensed responses.


What causes scar tissue? The healing process in the eye. However each person
heals differently. Some develop scar tissue some do not. About 10% of the
patients develop scar tissue after this operation. The formation of scar
tissue is one of the risks of your type of surgery.

Could scar tissue grow back after I have the operation to remove it? Highly
unlikely but could happen.

Will my sight improve after the operation? Experience has show that sight
does improve a least two levels better on the eye chart than it is today.

Is there any medication to retard the formation of scar tissue? No, not at
this time. Major research is being conducted in is field along with how to
retard the formation of cancer cells but no luck to date.

Can scar tissue cause a retinal tear. In your case unlikely

How dangerous is the operation? As with all operations the risk of bleeding
infection, or while operating another tear.

What if a tear occurs while operating. We will be very careful of course. If
a tear looks like it will appear or does we will either stop or repair as
necessary with laser.

How long is the operation? About one Hour.

What is recovery period? 6 to 8 weeks

Are there any natural cures i.e. pills, etc., that will remove the scar
tissue so I will not need an operation? None that I am aware of.

I if don't have the operation will my eyes improve over where they are now.
(20/200) unlikely.

Based how this I have deceived to proceed with the operation after the new
year arrives. I would recommend the MA eye and ear to anyone.

Best of luck to all
Mike

Carol
do not force you sys to open. It will over the never several weeks open on
its own.
Mike

I do not. I have in my research of Retinal Detachment come across this
condition and recall reading that it does cause loss of sight.
However, this field is changing every day. Are you near the MA eye and ear
hospital in Boston. They may be able to help your mom.
Best of luck
Mike

Carol good luck to you. As I said my blurry vision has gone away. However
scar tissue has formed on my eye causing the vision to be poor at this point.
My doctor wants to do another operation to remove the scar tissue. You may
want to ask you doctor if there is anything that can be done NOW to prevent
scar tissue forming in your eye.
Please keep in touch
Mike

Hello,
last week my 58 year old Mother was diagnosed by an opthmologist with Myopic
Retinal Degeneration in her right eye.
He says there is nothing that can be done to save the vision in that eye.
Does anyone out there know of any treatments or procedures that may help her
condition? Thank you and good luck
to all.
Mark Peters

______________________________________________
FREE Personalized Email at Mail.com
Sign up at http://www.mail.com?sr=mc.mk.mcm.tag001

Carol as you have said, every case is very different with varing
results.  Some people recover nicely, and others have very limited sight in
the end..........It is a very slow process with no two cases the
same...........In my case, I will be having my 4th operation on my right eye,
as aresult of the scar tissue in my eye tearing the retina...............This
has all taken place over a span of 3 yrs............Best of luck and prayers
for a quick and healthy recovery, I hope your sight improves and stays with
you for many years to come...........Stan............Keep me informed on your
progress

Hello Mike and Al,

Well, you two have answered what I've wanted to know...thank you...that
was
November 1st.  sorry, not seeing my own errors on the screen with the
one
eye....nothing you both have said has my Dr. touched on.. it is
comforting to hear it.
....I am reasured with your progress Mike, and hope yours Al is
better than mine....I am quoting from a booklet that was handed to me
at the
hospital..."The eye wil water for several weeks, and the patient may
find it more comfortable to wear a patch on the eye"  "Retinal
detachment surgery done by scleral buckling can affect the eye muscles
that move the eye and keep the eye straight.  This can result in double
vision, which on rare occasions is permanent."  My husband just dug out
this brochure out, I had forgotten it.  I feel better about the
leaking....this evening after writing my post, I sat here in semi
darkness and
tried to keep my eye open at the same time as the good eye.  I find it
very
difficult and the vision blurred...but, the eye is open in the
dark...that has
to be positive...double or not, it is still vision and I can live with
that...


Carol

I just had the scheral buckle and gas bubble to force the retina to attached
to the back of the eye.  I was told in five to six weeks I would start to get
a clear vision over the edges of the gas bubble as it is replaced by ones
body fluids.  That may be what you are seeing -- the edge of the bubble.

Since I am only in the fifth day of recovery I cannnot share yexcperience but
do like to hear what you are going through so I might anticipate problems.

Good luck on your recovery

Al Tomlinson

Carol
You say 5 weeks but mention December 1, if in deed it has been five weeks I
too had problems opening my eyes after 5 weeks and my vision was blurry for
up to 7 weeks. After 7 weeks eye opened OK and blurry vision went away. Has
he tested your vision through "pin holes"? If so what was it? That will give
you an indication of how well you may see again with glasses.
I did not have any leakage from my eye. I would not wait for Friday to tell
my doctor about this put insist to see him much sooner. I too black small
black spots but they went away after 6 weeks. The most important thing is for
your doctor to tell you that the Retina is completely reattached. That is the
most important. Also a nurse told me to take 5000 Vit C daily and 400 Vit E
daily and Bill Berry (Buy it at CVS drug)
three times a day for the healing process.
Best of luck and keep us informed As I will
Mike.

I have recently had scheral buckle surgery "transpars plana vitretomy"
It was
done on the 1st of December.  As someone just wrote, its an emergency,
and you
don't have time to "check your surgeon" and I was not an exception.  I
have
no idea if he is good or not, I cannot get anything out of him except,
"every-
body is different in seeing, healing, pain, etc....I thought I would
approach
the masucline way, "how long before I drive?" and he answered with "do
you
know that in this state it is legal to drive with one eye?"  Being a
woman, I
thought perhaps he expected no questions out of me.  But I am, indeed
beside
myself with worry.  It will be 5 weeks, and I cannot without strain
manage to
open my eye (right) more than a slit...i do see light and some (at
times)
pretty clear images...but not always...my eye leaks like a sieve, it is
still
very sore and tender...I am still doing the drops at four times a day,
3 different kinds...I see him this Friday. I see in my "minds eye" a
round dark
half circle with little dots above it...does anyone one else "see"
this?  BTW,
my Dr. is a Retina Surgeon.  My ophthalmologist recommended him. Hope
this isn't sounding whiny....is 5 weeks too long not see out of this
eye?  Best
to all.

Carol

In a message dated 12/5/99 12:15:33 AM Eastern Standard Time,
SJBobowsky@... writes:

<< SJBobowsky@... >>
Dear Stan:
Thank you so much for the information.
First I am going to ask my doctor for the name of my operation and if it is
new to the field.
He did describe it as pulling off scar tissue so that light will come through
the eye so that I could see better.
Is this what you had done?
What was your vision before you had the operation done?
For me now its like looking through cloudy glasses.

Also I have an apt. at the MA eye and ear hospital on 12/8 at 2pm to get
their opinion. I will let you know what happens.
However, you brought up an excellent point. Does more scar tissue form each
time you have an operation on your eye. Did your doctor tell you that more
scar tissue could form? Did he tell you the operation was a must or your
choice? Did he say it would improve you sight? Did it improve it or make it
worse? Looking back would you still have had it done.

Thanks
Mike

This message is for Mike........I had the very procedure you are talking
about...........a Vitrectomy.....The scar tissue was removed and I was given
high doses of prednesome ( spelling may be off ).........This was suppose to
retard the formation of new scar tissue after THIS operation to remove the
scar tissue from my other operation.......I never regained much vision after
that procedure, eventhough I did have something called travel
vision...........This type of vision continued for 2 yrs. and 9 months until
recently, when my doctor told me that I have developed another retinal tear
because of the scar tissue puckering in my eye........fluid has gotten under
the retina and must be suctioned out and repaired, or else I will gradually
loose all sight in my right eye........This will be my 4th surgery on my
right eye...........To add insult to injury, I have also been experiencing
flashing lights , flashing spots and floaters in my GOOD left eye, which may
ultimately lead to another retinal detachment.......I have been to the doctor
3 times already to have them check for tears........They have found none, but
contine to caution me that a retinal detachment could be developing in my
good left eye.............The big problem is that everytime you have another
surgery, new scar tissue forms from the new operation............Have you are
anyone heard of  new ways to retard the formation of scar tissue after
surgeries of the eye........I am a 49yr. old male......My doctor told me that
a big problem for me is that I am too healthy, and that I produce too much
scar tissue after operations........
If we were a lot older, say in our 70's, our chances of better vision would
increase because older people don't produce as much scar tissue after
surgeries........
      i WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE TYPE OF OPERATION YOUR DOCTOR IS REFERING TO SO
THAT i CAN HAVE IT DONE ON ME ( IF INDEED IT IS A NEW PROCEDURE WHICH
INCORPERATES A NEW PROCEDURE TO RETARD THE FORMATION OF NEW SCAR TISSUE FROM
THE NEW SURGERY.........
                                         Mike, I wish you
well...............Stan

I am posting this question from a visitor to sightwise.org
Please post replies or email to me hal@...

Hal Moyers

Message received from a site visitor on 12/4/99

"I had a detached retina that was first repaired with laser surgery
(right
eye). That failed and I had scleral buckle surgery on Sept. 6.1999.
Now my surgeon has told me that scar tissue has formed on the retina
that has
caused my sight to go from 20/60 to 20/200.

He told me I could have the scar tissue removed by another operation.
Do you
know anyone who has had this done. Has it been a success? I don't know
what
to do. I am a 47 year old male. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Please
help if you can
Thank You
Mike"

"hal moyers" <ha-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/detached-retina/?start=3

I had scleral buckle surgery on September 5, 1999. I experienced some
double vision at first, which lasted to some degree for a month, and
have had no problems since. I have not had blurred vision during the
day or at any time since the double vision has gone away. I wish you
luck in your recovery.

> I received an email from a visitor to www.sightwise.org who had
scleral
> buckle surgery on september 12. 1999. He said his vision was clear and
> became blurred during the day. I told him that I had the same
> experience. Since we had the surgery about the same time we are
> experiencing the same thing. I would like to hear from others who have
> had scleral buckle surgery and to know if they had the same experience
> and how long did it take for it to clear up?
>
> hal@...
>
>

I received an email from a visitor to www.sightwise.org who had scleral
buckle surgery on september 12. 1999. He said his vision was clear and
became blurred during the day. I told him that I had the same
experience. Since we had the surgery about the same time we are
experiencing the same thing. I would like to hear from others who have
had scleral buckle surgery and to know if they had the same experience
and how long did it take for it to clear up?

hal@...

I set this newsgroup up at the request of several site visitors to
www. sightwise.com. Also a newsgroup on another site with many detached
retina questions was shut down and a search on deja.com turns up very
little. This may be the only game in town. Sightwise.com started in mid
Oct 99 from ground zero and we are approaching 2000 visitors in little
more than a month. People want to know about detached retina and others
have much to share based on their personal experiences. Post a
question. Learn from the experiences of others. This is an open
newsgroup. There will be some ads until I send a check into egroups to
make the newsgroup ad free.

Good Luck

Hal Moyers