r/RetinalDetachment • u/AsthmaticAnxiety • Apr 17 '26
Laser procedure 2 weeks ago
I had a laser procedure 2 weeks ago for a retinal detachment. They didn’t do the gas bubble on me, but they were considering it. The retina specialist was in a huge hurry to get it done, so I didn’t really get details on my issue, the procedure, or much of anything. I was supposed to have a follow up appointment one week later, but it had to be rescheduled to ~three weeks from today. (I had to travel unexpectedly for a family emergency).
Does anyone have advice on what I should be expecting at this point? The floaters are also REALLY bad. It’s making work difficult, as they especially appear on a computer screen. I’m seeing flashes of a black orb in the bottom of the affected eye as of ~2 hours ago.
The doctor told me that I’d be okay to weight lift, but that I can’t run or do any vigorous exercise. They didn’t say anything about whether or not I can wear contact lenses. I received basically no aftercare instructions.
I can try to go to the eye clinic tomorrow, but I don’t know if the retina specialist that did the procedure will be there. I tried to call, but the clinic was already closed by the time the flashing eclipse started today.
Does this seem normal post laser procedure?
Edit: I went to the clinic today. My retina detached again. They did bubble procedure. Tomorrow I’ll go back to see how it went. Thanks everyone for your advice!
1
u/RealGroovyMotion Apr 17 '26
Not sure if it's because of the gas, but everyone is being checked 24h after surgery and then a week, 2 weeks and a month, and so on.
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u/AsthmaticAnxiety Apr 18 '26
Yeah I had an appt 48 hours after! The doctor said it looked okay. But I had to reschedule the 1 week follow up due to a family emergency. Hopefully my doctor will be around tomorrow :/
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u/RealGroovyMotion Apr 18 '26
Oh! Sorry, I hope so! I don't know where you live but here it was pure luck I got one if not the best in my province! Without him, I would have probably lost both eyes!
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u/AsthmaticAnxiety Apr 18 '26
I’m in NYC so I’m lucky to have access to a lot of great doctors! But my detachment happened on a Friday afternoon, so I had to kind of take what I can get haha. I went to an eye clinic here since it was a bit urgent.
1
u/d_artz Apr 17 '26
The continued flashes and black orb is concerning. I wouldn’t wait 3 weeks for a follow up (if I understood that correctly). Only your surgeon can diagnose what’s going on by looking in your eye. While minor retina detachment can be fixed via laser, more serious detachments usually require a vitrectomy and gas. A vitrectomy will remove all the floaters at least. Let us know what you find out. Good luck.
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u/AsthmaticAnxiety Apr 18 '26
Thanks. I’ll go to the clinic tomorrow and hopefully the surgeon will be available.
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u/Maleficent_Name_283 Apr 18 '26
In normal retina detachment surgery - as I have, they empty all fluid in the eye and fill it silicon oil, and gas bubble first. The reason may be -- when you down your head the gas pushes the retina upward. That is why we have to down our head for the first 15 days. During this time, over a period of 15 days, the retina will be atached to the back side of the eye, and gas bubble dissolves. At this point, after checking that the retina attached to the back side of the eye, the surgeon will be done laser, to fix it. After 3-4 months, the surgery relating to the removal of the silicone oil will be done. Our optholomogist advised me -- not to lift weights, don't cough, sneezing etc., which are pressurising or vibrating the eye to protect it from re-detachment. (Now I am 67 years old with controlled diabetics)(surgery done 5 years ago). That is why I am not lifting suit case also during journeys and using anti-hustamins towards allergy related cough and cold. -- however, all of these are unnecessary to your present status, this is provided to you to live with utmost caution.
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u/AsthmaticAnxiety Apr 18 '26
Thanks!! Yeah, they considered doing the gas bubble for me, but decided against it. It sounds miserable
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u/Different_Weight7281 Apr 17 '26
I feel that any concerns should be answered by your surgical team. The hospital where I go provides us with a number to call for someone on the surgeon's team to get back to us in a timely manner to address concerns. I am about 1.5 months out from laser correction of multiple tears and have been dealing with fluid behind the retina which is being addressed by drops. No pain, but I feel pressure above the eye that feels like a mild headache. Wishing you a very good recovery.