Warning about your eyes!

[Teasy2007]

Hi, Mike noticed something in his vision last Monday which just would not clear. On Wednesday I rang the opticians and they made him an appointment for the following day. The optician was excellent, explaining that we needed to go to hospital and she would make an appointment and call us later. She did and the appointment was for the following day!

We were surprised and didn’t really understand, everything was moving so fast. When we arrived at hospital he was seen very quickly, Mikes eyes closely examined and then told they would be operating straight away!! He had laser surgery and the consultant said he had a retinal tear, which if not treated urgently could have resulted in blindness.

Thank goodness we went to the opticians. Please if you have anything similar get it seen to straight away. When we got back from the hospital I looked it up on the Internet.



Detached retina (retinal detachment)
A detached retina is when the thin layer at the back of your eye (retina) becomes loose. It needs to be treated quickly to stop it permanently affecting your sight.

Get an urgent opticians appointment if:

• dots or lines (floaters) suddenly appear in your vision or suddenly increase in number
• you get flashes of light in your vision
• you have a dark "curtain" or shadow moving across your vision

These could be symptoms of a detached retina.



If you can't get an urgent appointment:
Go to A&E or call 111 for advice straight away.



Treatment for a detached retina
You'll be referred to hospital for surgery if tests show your retina may be detached or has started to come away (retinal tear).

This will usually stop your vision getting worse.

What happens during surgery for a detached retina or tear
Recovery time after surgery varies. But as a general guide, for 2 to 6 weeks after surgery:

• your vision may be blurry
• your eye may be sore and red – take paracetamol if you need to
• you may need to take time off work
• you may not be able to drive
• you may need to avoid flying (if you have had a bubble of gas put into your eye)

Most people are eventually able to return to all their normal activities.

Important
Call the hospital or go to A&E if the pain, redness or blurriness gets worse after surgery. You may need further treatment.

Causes of a detached retina
A detached retina is usually caused by changes to the jelly inside your eye, which can happen as you get older. This is called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

It's not clear exactly why PVD can lead to retinal detachment in some people and there's nothing you can do to prevent it. But it's more likely to happen if you:

• are short-sighted
• have had an eye operation (such as cataract surgery)
• have had an eye injury
• have a family history of retinal detachment

Important
You can get a detached retina more than once. Get medical help as soon as possible if the symptoms come back.

Page last reviewed: 27/11/2017
Next review due: 27/11/2020

 

[Jim]

Hope Mike's OK

 

[Baileysbus]

Hope Mike is recovering well. I had the same thing in 2007. It was like a shutter coming over the eye in my case and after several days I eventually went to A+E and was operated on that day as an emergency procedure.
If they’ve removed the gel from his eye and replaced it with a fluid, the next 5 days or so will be difficult. He’ll have to stay in one position all the time (pretty much) and will see things upside down until the fluid clears away. Medium term, he may get a cataract too Long term, he’ll be fine.
How did it happen? Bang to the head/fall or something? As it happens mine came out of nowhere and 11 years on, there’s now a thought that it might be genetic.
Anyone with similar symptoms as above, get to A+E pronto.
@Teasy2007 if you want any more info, just pm me

 

[StephandJohn]

Thanks for the warning.
My ophthalmologist told me to be aware that this could happen to me. The reasons are:
I'm very shortsighted
Have glaucoma
and cataracts.
The glaucoma was picked up late and so I have some damage which can't be rectified so its very important to have regular eye checks. These are free if glaucoma runs in the family.

 

[ambulancekidd]

A classic case of "a stitch in time" & a sober reminder that we need to take good care of eyesight instead of taking good vision for granted.

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[Puddleduck]

I hope Mike is making a good, pain free and complete recovery.

I've had a torn retina rather than a detached retina. I was sent to the hospital as an urgent referral. They put a patch over the eye and told me not to make sudden eye movements.

It did repair itself without surgical intervention. I have also been told not to have retinal photography in future.

Look after your eyes, get regular checks. It's surprising how much a good optician can pick up long before there are other symptoms.

Having said that I went for my eye test last week and they refused to do a normal test without the retinal photography so I had to leave without the sight test. Now I need to find an optician that will listen to me.

 

[davejen]

I had a similar experience after being hit from behind a few years ago,went to opticians who sent me straight to hospital.
Turned out I had 2 detached retinas, a few blasts of the laser spot welded them back and have been ok since.
A painless procedure just shots of extremely bright light.
Cheers, Dave

 

[Teasy2007]

Hope Mike is recovering well. I had the same thing in 2007. It was like a shutter coming over the eye in my case and after several days I eventually went to A+E and was operated on that day as an emergency procedure.
If they’ve removed the gel from his eye and replaced it with a fluid, the next 5 days or so will be difficult. He’ll have to stay in one position all the time (pretty much) and will see things upside down until the fluid clears away. Medium term, he may get a cataract too Long term, he’ll be fine.
How did it happen? Bang to the head/fall or something? As it happens mine came out of nowhere and 11 years on, there’s now a thought that it might be genetic.
Anyone with similar symptoms as above, get to A+E pronto.
@Teasy2007 if you want any more info, just pm me

They said it was a tear in the retina and were able to repair it with laser surgery. He had strict instructions about going back to A&E if there were any further symptoms and we have another appointment in 4 weeks. It came out of the blue, no fall or anything but he did have cataract surgery about 3 years ago.

 

[Baileysbus]

Sounds like staying alert would be appropriate ( I was going to say keep an eye on it ) and also that he’s not had the gel replacement job so that’s good. Curious there wasn’t some sort of “trauma” that set it off. All the best and If I can help further just let me know

 

[Baileysbus]

I hope Mike is making a good, pain free and complete recovery.

I've had a torn retina rather than a detached retina. I was sent to the hospital as an urgent referral. They put a patch over the eye and told me not to make sudden eye movements.

It did repair itself without surgical intervention. I have also been told not to have retinal photography in future.

Look after your eyes, get regular checks. It's surprising how much a good optician can pick up long before there are other symptoms.

Having said that I went for my eye test last week and they refused to do a normal test without the retinal photography so I had to leave without the sight test. Now I need to find an optician that will listen to me.

Helen

A bit out of the way for you I’m sure but I highly recommend this place https://www.cameronoptom.com/
Ian Cameron is a top guy and has looked after my eyes post surgery. They have the best of kit and are very used to dealing with unusual conditions

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[Puddleduck]

Helen

A bit out of the way for you I’m sure but I highly recommend this place https://www.cameronoptom.com/
Ian Cameron is a top guy and has looked after my eyes post surgery. They have the best of kit and are very used to dealing with unusual conditions

Thanks. I have just made an appointment elsewhere but will try Ian Cameron in future should I not be happy with the people I have booked with.

 

[sueandjohn]

Sorry for your problems but thanks for sharing. You very well may have saved someone’s sight.

 

[wingman]

I can only echo the sentiments outlined by the OP. I’m so pleased that it had a good outcome.

A few years ago, my lad (aged 33) kept seeing the occasional yellow blur in his vision. Went to opticians, who sent his straight to hospital. That hospital referred him to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London with melanoma of the eye. Moorfields found a 3cm tumour and gave him two options; to implant radioactive ‘seeds’ in his eye to shrink the tumour, or removal of his eye. He opted for the latter!

He’s fine now, thank God and has adjusted well to having only one eye. But for that optician, he may well have had the cancer migrating into his brain. If you have ANY vision probs, get it checked!

 

[BobtheBass]

My friend had detached retinas in both eyes a couple of years apart, which he was told was almost unheard of unlucky. He was however a carpet fitter and a drummer, both of which involve impacts on his body and rapid sharp movements which may in some way have been responsible.

 

[DJA]

Had a torn retina 38 years ago. I was in the office and suddenly it seemed as though it was snowing such that if I quickly turned my eye the snow swirled. Problem was the snow was Black, it was snowing inside the office as well as outside and it was not snowing if I only looked with my Right eye.

I was operated on within 24 hours and after 3 days sent home and told to watch the TV rather than read a book. I have had one visit to A & E recently because I was concerned but was given the all clear.

I had no pain before or since the OP but was strongly urged to go to the hospital if I had any concerns.

When they operated they looked at both eyes and said that I had a number of suspect areas so they tack welded the retina. They did it by freezing the eyeball causing it to have areas of Frost Bite which when it healed caused a stronger attachment of the retina. Didn't even have an eye patch.

When the surgeon described that your retina is like wallpaper and the tear allows the fluid in the eye to get between the retina and the eyeball. Just think what happens if you get damp behind wallpaper. I told him that explained why the only after effect of the Op was my eyelids were sticky. I assume he used Polycell.

Don't think twice about checking any concerns.

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[Lisa]

Hi Ginny, so glad that Mike was sorted quickly and hopefully on the road to a speedy recovery.
Send him our best
Lisa & Terry xx

 

[quickweh]

Ginny, its good to hear that Mike was sorted quickly and is recovering well. Wishing you both a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Pauline and Mike

 

[Munchie]

Just been hrough that! had a fully detatched retina. In for op next day. Fluid removed from eye and replaced with gas. Takes a month for body to absorbe gas and replace with fluid.
Day 30 op failed so back next day for another op.
Eye ok now but pupil is bigger so slight flare when i shut good eye. Also if i over exert myself op eye blurs till i rest. I have read it can improve for up to two years! Fingers crossed!

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Wow, Ginny how scary was that good to hear Mike was sorted quickly and will recover OK. A good heads up to react quickly to changes in eyesight.

 

[Teasy2007]

Ginny, its good to hear that Mike was sorted quickly and is recovering well. Wishing you both a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Pauline and Mike

Thanks Pauline and Mike, we also wish you a Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you both again in the new Year.

Ginny and Mike

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[Teasy2007]

Hi Ginny, so glad that Mike was sorted quickly and hopefully on the road to a speedy recovery.
Send him our best
Lisa & Terry xx

Thanks Lisa and Terry, he is fine, he can still see the laptop and watch his football, so he is content. Man United have won, so everything is well with the world again!

Have a good Christmas and we will see you in the new Year.

Ginny and Mike

 

[Carol]

Ginny just seen this, so pleased you caught it in time. x

 

[Chocy boy]

Glad it's good news, looking forward to seeing you both soon.
. Take care.

 

[cliffanger]

So glad Mike was sorted quickly. Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery, and look forward to seeing you both (and the gorgeous Charlie) soon xx

 

[Hollyberry]

I got referred to hospital too by an optician, much quicker appointment than if I'd gone from optician to GP to hospital. After quite a few examinations they found 4 things wrong with my eyes, none of them serious just " interesting and unusual" apparently.
Always worth having the regular eye checks and if you suspect a problem most optician's are happy to take a look and advise.
Hope your husbands eyes make a quick recovery.

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[Teasy2007]

Wow, Ginny how scary was that good to hear Mike was sorted quickly and will recover OK. A good heads up to react quickly to changes in eyesight.

Thanks Jim, it was scary as you don’t expect to have a hospital appointment the following day and to have the laser treatment there and then. All done and dusted now and its just a matter of waiting for the eye to clear.

Have a great Christmas and we will see you in the New Year, love to you and Lynn.

Ginny and Mike

 

[Teasy2007]

So glad Mike was sorted quickly. Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery, and look forward to seeing you both (and the gorgeous Charlie) soon xx

Thanks Geraldine, best wishes to you and Cliff for Christmas and the New Year,

Ginny and Mike

 

[DJA]

Thanks Jim, it was scary as you don’t expect to have a hospital appointment the following day and to have the laser treatment there and then.

When I arrived at A & E having been sent straight there by an Optician and with a Doctor's Letter they found the tear in the Retina and I was advised that they would be operating that day. I was not even allowed to walk to the ward and when I got there was told to lie still on the bed not even allowed out to go to the toilet. The important thing to remember is there was a total lack of pain or discomfort. In fact the next day after the Op when SHMBO came to visit I was sat up in bed and her first question was "Have they not done the OP'" as I had no bandages or even a black eye. It was true to say that the vast majority of people in the Eye Wards had no visible signs of any problems.

Hopefully your op is a successful as mine has been which was at the same time as Maggie Thatcher has her eye done but by Laser when that was a fairly new technique. The one thing that my Surgeon recommended was to watch the TV rather than read a book and I am sure he would have said Laptop as well. With the TV he says you stare at the screen and you do less eye movement as a result rather than holding a book and moving your eye to read it.

 

[canopus]

Glad to know you're sorted and on the mend Mike.

K & L

 

[daveandsan]

Great to hear Mike is on the mend Ginny, just tell him to take it easy.
Hope he didn’t miss the last Grand Prix, I know how he loves to watch that.
Best Wishes,
Dave & Sandra xx

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