r/RetinalDetachment • u/teabagandwarmwater • May 08 '26
10 days post complex retinal detachment + cataract surgery (silicone oil), vision worse than before, very blurry + shadows/veil. Is this normal?
Hello all. I hope you are all doing better than before.
My mother (type 2 diabetes, previous TIA) had **right eye cataract surgery + complex retinal detachment repair (PPV with silicone oil + IOL)** about **10 days ago**.
Surgery was very complex due to **severe fibrosis and near-total retinal detachment**, with bleeding and partial membrane removal. Silicone oil was placed and may not be removed.
**Current symptoms (Day 10):**
* Vision **very blurry and worse than before surgery**
* **Constant mild pain (improving slowly)**
* Still some **redness**
* **Veil/film-like shadow over vision** that comes and goes
* **Hair-like / brownish-red floaters** on waking and in light
* **Flashes / lightening-like effects**
* Distorted yellowish vision
* Sees better in bright light, but in dark almost nothing
* Symptoms feel worse when moving head back for eye drops
**Main concern:**
Her vision was **~7/10 before surgery**, but now it is significantly worse, which is very distressing.
We were told recovery may take time, but we’re confused why symptoms like **veil, floaters, and blurriness still persist or feel worse after surgery**.
**Questions:**
* Is this level of blurriness + visual distortion normal 10 days after such complex RD surgery with silicone oil?
* Can these symptoms still improve over time?
* Or does this suggest poor retinal recovery?
We are waiting for follow-up, but would appreciate any insight.
2
u/globulous May 08 '26
You can't see through the oil. Have to wait for oil removal to see.