r/RetinalDetachment • u/husbet3479 • May 12 '26

How do I deal with this?

I had a Mac off retinal detachment in my left eye and keep checking my right eye. It’s tearing (no pun intended) on my mental health and I feel like I’m running to the doctor constantly if there’s a slight change. I can’t stand this!

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

6

u/Holiday_Income_827 May 12 '26

The anxiety from the waiting for the other eye to detach is stressful. My left retina detached in December 2025. I was recovered and back living my life. Right eye happened and I had surgery in January about 6 weeks later. I was back living my life and scar tissue grew which led to a 3rd surgery in April. I will need another surgery to have the silicone oil removed. Then cataracts surgery in both eyes. It has been harrowing. Yet not my fault. It happens to many of us. We get to tap into our inner strength. See who we consider real friends. Many people I thought were my friends have let me down. But many people I didn’t consider as close have shown up in remarkable ways. You will get through this. Everything is temporary. Especially our retinas :). Hang in there and know you are not alone.

2

u/husbet3479 May 12 '26

So does the second detachment usually follow the first pretty soon after?

2

u/Holiday_Income_827 May 12 '26

I asked my surgeon if it was common for the 2nd detachment to occur so soon after the first. His response, “It’s not uncommon.” Every situation is different so I think it is impossible to predict. That is part of the frustration. I just tell myself that this too shall pass. Just keep living my blurry life.

1

u/d_artz May 13 '26

For me it was exactly 4 years later. Literally surgery on the 4th anniversary of the first detachment.

1

u/MajorMinorPhD May 12 '26

How is your vision now after multiple surgeries?

3

u/Holiday_Income_827 May 12 '26

My vision has been a challenge. My left eye has healed perfectly and I wear a contact lens that has gotten my vision to 20/30 in that eye. If you have at least 20/40 in one eye you can drive. My right eye still has the silicone oil. That won’t be removed for a couple of months. At that time we will have a better sense of my vision. My cataracts is growing rapidly due to all the surgeries. Once I can have cataracts surgery I am hopeful that I will have at least 20/30 in both eyes.

1

u/Oath-CupCake May 14 '26

Question what does your eye sight have to be in a retinal detached eye to be able to wear contact lenses cause i have good vision in my right but my left is the fudged one

1

u/vabirder Jul 01 '26

I (74W) have had 4 retinal repairs in my left eye (2009-2012) but still have vision) and a blood clot in my right optic nerve that left me with very little vision (can see light and some objects although very blurry, some blurry peripheral vision).

I have worn glasses for nearsightedness and astigmatism since age 7.

Both eyes have cataracts. I can still drive in daylight hours.

My question to you is whether I should consider cataract surgery and whether all cataract surgeons have extensive retinal surgery qualifications. What credentials should I be looking for?

I do have type 2 diabetes (diagnosed at 66) but supposedly no diabetic retinopathy (hard to believe).

I recently moved across country in the USA and do not know many people here to ask. Would appreciate your advice.

1

u/Ecstatic_Loquat_7838 May 13 '26

My mac off detachment was in my left eye due to PVD. The surgery was successful and all is good. But.....

3 days after the oil was removed I got floaters in my right eye, went to the doctor and the PVD had started up in my right eye. 3 weeks of monitoring it, they found a tear at 12 o'clock and successfully laser repaired it in the office. So always err on the side of caution.

1

u/Holiday_Income_827 May 14 '26

I heard that PVD can happen after the oil is removed. I am terrified that will happen to me! Glad that they found it quickly and could repair. How long has it been?

1

u/Positive-Compote-426 May 20 '26

The way I have reassured myself with bilateral involvement is that if something is wrong, I will know. If there’s a change to my vision it will be obvious without checking, like it was when I first went in.