Retinal Tears

[rmaynard 15,417]

Back in July, 2019, I reported that I experienced eye floaters and bright flashes of light in my left eye on the way home from the Big Show. Turned out that I had a torn retina. After a hurry-up trip to a retina specialist, he repaired the tear with a process called cryotherapy where they freeze the area around the tear. I won't go into all the details, but it wasn't pleasant. Three weeks later I went in for a follow-up and the tear was successfully mended, but a new tear had developed. Same procedure was done again. So all has been well until my regular check-up today where the opthalmologist tells me that I have another tear. So off to the torture chamber again Wednesday. Why does this always happen right after the Big Show? Coincidence?

[ol550 830]

[midpack 862]

I had a tear fixed years ago, but they used a laser then. I have to watch for flashes and extra floaters

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

I have developed floaters in my eyes but the left is worse and its starting to look like there is a shadow or curtain across my vision in that eye, looking at bright backgrounds shows it up. It's affecting me driving and watching TV and even reading.

Went to opthalmology depth at our local hospital (long time to get an appointment and over three hours to get to see doctor for five minutes) and the eye doc said he couldn't see anything wrong.

Now I can see something, so why can't he? Can they see these floaters or what.

Made me feel I was making it up, but its really affecting my sight and making me squint to see.

I go back in 2 months, I get the feeling I was fobbed off to see if it goes away or I get used to it. Our NHS is so stretched they do that kind of thing a lot. 

 

[peter lena 8,579]

@rmaynard  went to a retina specialist  months ago , with the usual heavy floaters , background color changes , and  black spots , turned put it was a blood return vein under the eye , got a series of injections into the eyeball , you are  numbed  out for the  inspections and shots . was there weeks ago for a check , 20 / 20 vision . go back in 4 months for a final ,  stay after medical issues . pete 

[rmaynard 15,417]

I don't like the needles in the eye, and the freeze probe, but I don't like the alternative, losing my sight. I don't know if the retina doc is going to do a laser or a freeze this time around. For those who have never experienced it, a freeze probe is used to create scar tissue around the tear. Each application of the probe to the eyeball is like the worst brain freeze you've ever had while eating ice cream too quickly. He does it 8 or 9 times in a row. As far as the laser, that I don't have experience with. I have had laser treatment of small blood vessels on the bridge of my nose. That feels like someone stinging you with a rubber band. 

Edited July 25, 2023 by rmaynard

[rmaynard 15,417]

14 hours ago, Mickwhitt said:

...NHS is so stretched they do that kind of thing a lot. 

Mick, I'm sorry to hear this. I hate to say it, but there-in lies the problem with socialized medicine. Our healthcare is expensive, but wait times are not bad. When my opthalmologist saw the tear yesterday, he immediately contacted the retina specialist and got me an appointment for Wednesday. If you are seeing curtains or shading, that is serious and should not be "fobbed off".

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Curiously enough Maynard, our own NHS website says exactly that, medical emergency seek treatment at once. Then when I get there its a case of they can't see anything wrong. Well I can see something from my side and I'm not imagining it. 

I pay my national insurance to cover the care I need, plus thecare of others like children. Unfortunately we are now caring for so many people who have never and will never pay into the pot. Health tourism and migration is such a problem but government wont admit it. It was designed in the 1950s when life expectancy was way lower, now people are living longer with more complex needs.

I wouldn't object to paying for my own health care, but we cannot opt out of the NHS so we have to pay twice. I do object to that. 

[wallfish 16,980]

My eyes are so bad, I read the title as  RENTAL TIRES

Was thinking --  Why would anyone want to rent tires! LoL

[rmaynard 15,417]

25 minutes ago, wallfish said:

My eyes are so bad, I read the title as  RENTAL TIRES

Was thinking --  Why would anyone want to rent tires! LoL

Well that's funny, I don't care who you are 

[dcrage 625]

Don’t you love the examination retinal specialists do to you??!! That metal rod with the ball on the end(?) and the ungodly bright lights!! I still don’t understand what they actually do to your eye when examining/viewing. And my physician assistant daughter who.was in the room (granted a couple of years before she got her degree) couldn’t tell me what was happening. She said she couldn’t stand watching?  For me it was uncomfortable but bearable. My repair was done under a ‘general’ so no procedure discomfort there. I believe it was so laser technique. It is amazing to experience how fast you can get into a retinal MD when there is the possibility of damage of retinal nerve!!!

[Wheel-N-It 2,968]

Its amazing how many people suffer with eye problems as they get older. I have been battling glaucoma since first diagnosed at 38.  By the grace of God and advancements in modern medicine, I still have my vision. Hang in there Bob, and rejoice for each day.

Van

[rmaynard 15,417]

Well I am back from the retina specialist. A U-shaped tear at the 7 o'clock position. I was first treated with a laser. 185 total pulses. All were extremely bright, but 3 out of 10 were painful. After that, he was not finished. Off to the cryotherapy room where I got the lidocaine needle in the eye, then 10 hits with the freeze probe. That's a total of 10 brain freezes. When he finally said "we're all done", I could have cried, which I think I actually did while he was probing. But after a couple of hours, I was okay. My eye feels bruised, but my sight has not been affected 

So my advice to anyone over 60. Get an opthomolic eye exam once a year. Have them specifically look for tears in the retina. It happens with age as the fluid in your eye starts to decrease. If not treated, a tear turns into a detachment which can lead to blindness. 

 

 

 

Edited July 28, 2023 by rmaynard

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

OK, so an update on my ocular aberrations. 

After the initial visit to hospital I woke up a few days later with blood all round the white of my left eye, the one with the problem. I know it's not necessarily a problem but I called the eye clinic to check. 

They said I could come in if I thought it was worth it, well yes indeed, I think my eyesight is worth it, so off I went again.

This time another doctor said there were field test problems with my left eye (same as before) and that it was probably something wrong with the machine! She didn't believe I couldn't see the dots because her tests didn't show anything. 

She told me to see a glaucoma specialist in three weeks. 

Only 9 days later I get a text to attend an appointment the next day with said glaucoma guy. Turns out this appointment had been organised by the first guy without telling me, not the woman who referred me to Mr. Glaucoma. 

In a very matter of fact way he said I had glaucoma and would need drops for the rest of my natural, and then he dropped out I also had early cataracts and would I like to be referred for surgery. 

I walked out in some kind of a daze, I'm only 57, I'm not old! Or am I? 

Oh well, at least I can still see, it could be worse. 

Best regards Mick 

 

 

 

 

[oliver2-44 9,674]

@Mickwhitt My wife started using those Glaucoma drops about age 50. She has needed stronger drops over the years. The drops she has now are quite expensive for the little bottle.