Retinal Tear

No, not a new free agent signing. My annual eye check yesterday revealed a small tear in one of my retinas which prompted an immediate referral to Harrogate hospital. I got a call within two hours saying come in today so I have an appointment this afternoon.

It’s likely they will be zapping it with a laser and I’m a bit worried about that to be honest. Has anyone here had this treatment and is there anything you can tell me about it? After effects, pain etc etc?

 

They did that to my grandad and he went permanently blind in one of the eyes

 

At least it's not a rectal tear!

 

Brother in law had it done and said he didn't feel a thing.

Mother had cataracts done in both eyes (not laser), one was fine, other she has a bit of discomfort with.

 

Not what I’d like to hear!

 

Praise to the NHS.

 

Like somethings are better off left unsaid!

 

Agreed

 

That’s a heartwarming reply

 

Yes, so much for long waiting lists. Referral to Outpatients in one day.

Hopefully when I get there at 2.40 there aren’t loads of people ahead of me.

In case anyone is interested I’ll report back once it’s all over - provided I can see of course

 

A friend of mine had it done here in Tunisia and he said it felt weird but had no bad effects and fixed the problem.

 

I had a shadow in my vision, about 6 years ago. Slight blurring, right eye.
They called it a retinal bleed.
For two or three years, every 6 months I had to have an injection in the eyeball, to 'reduce the swelling'. This was supplemented by one round of laser treatment. The only downside of that for me, was that for a while afterwards, if I blinked I saw the 9 dots. I could live with that.
Whether the injections sorted it, or the laser, I don't know. Not perfect vision in that eye, by any means, and still a bit of a blur, albeit mostly when reading.

Laser was infinitely more comfortable than the injection. I still don't understand the nurse's words of reassurance every visit ........ "try not to look"

 

Funny you should say that. I was bent over adjusting the lawnmower yesterday afternoon when I suddenly started seeing flashes in the peripheral vision of my right eye, followed by some new and noticeable floaters to add to my collection (stop it, @Stephen Dawson). My last couple of checkups showed PVD (Posterior vitreous detachment), which is of course pretty common as one gets older (I'm 54), and this kind of thing is associated with that but my ophthalmologist and Dr Internet agree that such changes need to be checked for complications, such as retinal tears, so I'm off in to get it looked at this afternoon. So do keep us informed, @Prince of Risborough, partly in case I have to follow you down that route. Thanks.

 

Floaters has not been an unusual thing over the years but it seems to have got worse recently. The retinal tear shown to me is not too serious and I was told that a simple laser treatment should seal it and prevent it from getting worse.

I’ve never fancied the idea of having laser beams shone into my eyes so I’m naturally a bit anxious. The good thing though is that it will hopefully have been caught early so all should be well.

My late Dad had glaucoma and didn’t know until it was too late and he went blind. Different generation I suppose. I have had annual pressure checks for some years and there’s no sign of that for me. You just can’t be too careful with your eyesight.

 

Sounds horrific. I don’t like needles anywhere!

 

My Mum has glaucoma so I get regular checks too, but like you my pressures have been OK up to now (touch wood). All the best for your appointment.

 

Watching last night made my eyes bleed is that same ?

 

Aren't all your tears supposed to be retinal ones?

Or do other people cry from different orifices?

 

Ha! An eye story I can relate to! I’d recommend regular eye health checks to everyone, even if you don’t have need of glasses or contact lenses. It could save your sight, or even your life.

I have ongoing check ups and abdominal scans following treatment for a ‘choroidal melanoma’, which the optician found and referred.

I opted for stereo-tactical (gamma knife) treatment, which in itself is just lying in a tunnel for 40 minutes whilst listening to the music of your choice as the offending object is blasted from multiple angles . The prep for that is less nice though, and involves 3 anaesthetic injections directly into the eye to stop it moving during treatment, and a carbon fibre frame screwed directly into your scalp to keep the head perfectly still.

 

Read the room maybe...