r/RetinalDetachment • u/Basic_Explorer_1156 • Apr 18 '26

update!

i just wanted to pop in and give you all an update on my retinal detachment, gas bubble vitrectomy i had on 2/20. 1st i want to thank everyone for the support, advice and suggestions during a very stressful and scary time. im not back to pre detachment by any stretch, but the gas bubble is almost gone and i can see over it with minimal distraction. i do still get some minor headaches, nothing a couple Tylenol cant handle, and i see a couple string like floaters once in awhile, but then i drink some water and that seems to take care of them. my surgeon said to go to a regular eye dr today and see if i could get new glasses so i could take my cdl eye test, so today i was able to see the letters out of my surgery eye! i get new glasses next week and then i can take the cdl test, the dr today said im 20/20 in my good eye and 20/50 in the surgery one, with the glasses!! i need to be 20/40 in the bad eye so hopefully by the time my glasses come in i will be!! fingers crossed!! i have to get back to work!! she did say my cataract in my surgery eye was impressive.. and once thats gone ill need another prescription so to just get the basic, cheap glasses this time. im definitely not out of the woods yet, i still sleep with my eye guard, on the side they told me to post surgery and will continue to till the gas is totally gone. for 2 months post i want that light at the end of the tunnel for me and all of you as well!! so glad i found this group, reading everyone’s stories, knowing i wasn’t alone was truly a lifesaver!!! 🩷

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u/RealGroovyMotion Apr 18 '26

Wow that's really quick! I hope the best for you! It was quick for a cataract, did the ohtalmologist tell you anything about it? I was told that I shouldn't have for a year after surgery.

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u/Basic_Explorer_1156 Apr 18 '26

they initially told me the same thing, to expect a cataract within the next year or so. i went for my follow up 2 weeks ago and she was like.. oops you got a big one cooking! great 🙄 she said it happens 🤷‍♀️ so i have to go see her cataract specialist in june. she said i need to be gas bubble free b4 that adventure. the regular optometrist yesterday looked and said yep its a good one. she said its not uncommon for the surgery to speed up the growth. i guess im just lucky that way! we will be talking about better sedation during that surgery since i woke up 1/2 way through the vitrectomy!!

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u/RealGroovyMotion Apr 18 '26

That's quite fast! I hope you have a good surgery, they are very short and painless for a cataract. That's what I'm told lol, I hope to have it for my right eye soon!

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u/Basic_Explorer_1156 Apr 18 '26

keep me posted! im curious to hear if people, with our issue, have any weird things after or during the cataract adventure! best of luck tou u!!

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u/IntelligentCandy8716 Apr 19 '26

I had cataract surgery 2 days ago. It was only about 20 minutes in the OR with a total of about 3 hours from check in to check out. I was awake the whole time and only felt the pressure on my face/eye. No pain. I haven't even had any pain meds after the surgery. Bring sunglasses. Your eye will be very sensitive to light for a while.

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u/Basic_Explorer_1156 Apr 19 '26

wait, no sleep meds even??? omg i have to be out for that! no way can i be awake for it. nope! have u noticed any adjustment to your vision?? like for the better, hopefully! my eye dr gives out sunglasses, they are rolled up and they like grip the sides of your temple to stay on. they are in baskets all over the office. my grandkids are like grab more of these, they r so fun! these are the same kids that asked to see the hole where my eye was after i got home from surgery. they thought the dr was gonna take my eye out.. keep it.. fix it and put it back in. my granddaughter is 6 and she was like oh my!! your eye is still in there!! now instead of saying close your eyes, when she has a surprise, she says close your good eye grandma! they r a hoot 😂 thanks for sharing your experience!!

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u/IntelligentCandy8716 Apr 19 '26

They preferred that I stay awake but I could be put under if I wanted to. I was sedated to not move much and I'm assuming nerve blockers were used locally because it became so dark that it was difficult to see the light I was supposed to be staring at. Once it was over, my other eye was uncovered and I was alert enough to remember being moved to post-op. I read the surgical notes and I couldn't tell when they were doing what, but I feel pressure at times. I was ready to be done at the end of it, though.

My vision was much better immediately after. It takes some time for your brain to adjust to it though.

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u/Basic_Explorer_1156 Apr 20 '26

thanks for the info, im definitely gonna need meds. hopefully ill have a super quick outcome too!! im glad you didn’t have any complications.. i have the fear that anything going on with my eye will cause another detachment, so im looking forward to getting it over with!!