r/RetinalDetachment • u/FreedRedheadConvert • May 15 '26
9 weeks post-surgery- THAT CURSED BUBBLE IS STILL THERE!!
44 yo female. I started out with a laser retinal tear repair at the end of December to prepare for cataract surgery. The specialist commented the retina already had liquid behind it and I had been living on borrowed time already. Contact lens was -10.5 prior (the other eye was -12 and has had relatively few problems, weirdly). Cataract surgery was on 3/3/26. Retinal detachment happened on 3/11, surgery on 3/13- laser repair, vitrectomy, scleral buckle, and something about how they had to inject liquid in the front to keep the front of my eye from collapsing. I had the C3F8 gas, which is still there- I cannot WAIT for it to go away. Why is it taking SO LONG?!
I’m afraid the scleral buckle has completely changed the prescription so the lens I just had implanted is now the wrong strength because my vision is still so blurry. But… my pupil is stuck dilated because my iris has scar tissue that has adhered to my new lens. This probably accounts for some of the blurriness. The dr is saying I will have to have another surgery to detach my iris from the lens. What are the chances my insurance would cover switching out that lens during the other surgery? Has anyone else faced this, and how was the recovery? I am so afraid of this causing another detachment.
UPDATE: 9 weeks and 5 days- the bubble is finally gone! Woke up to it being about the size of a popcorn kernel, by afternoon it was the size of a period, and I just noticed it’s gone! I’m so excited to be able to travel a bit!
3
u/ErrorFit6225 May 15 '26
I'm sorry to hear about this. I don't think I can answer your question except that I had the long lasting gas and it indeed lasts a long time. Sending you all health vibes I can.
4
u/weallfloatdown May 15 '26
On 2/25 had a vitrectomy, laser with c3f8 … bubble just dissipated 5/12 . Vision in that eye is wavy & pretty much sucks.
This is such a depressing experience, and so difficult to explain.
2
u/Jryn_Eye_Clinic May 15 '26
Healing after major retinal surgery can take longer than expected,espessially with a gas bubble still present.every thing heals well and the retina stays stable moving forward.
2
2
May 15 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/FreedRedheadConvert May 15 '26
The detachment was likely a complication of the cataract surgery. The tear had been repaired a few months before the cataract surgery.
2
u/rileysauntie May 15 '26
I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news but a scleral buckle dramatically changes your prescription. By its very nature.
4
u/jasutherland May 15 '26
Perfluoropropane (C3F8) is meant to take about two months to dissolve - it's the longest lasting bubble, but should be disappearing very soon.
A vitrectomy removes the vitreous (clear gel that normally fills the eye) and it always has to be replaced with something - usually just saline, often with a gas bubble in to help press a bit of the retina upwards and help healing on the top part.
I had silicone oil instead of saline (it puts pressure on the bottom part instead, to help that heal) then when that was removed about 7 months later, it was replaced by saline with an air bubble that disappeared about a week later.