This is far from my usual topic, but I’m hoping I might help one of my wonderful readers.
I’m a very lucky person. Today, 15 months after I had emergency surgery for a detached retina, I got a clean bill of health from the surgeon. My vision is stable, no vision was lost. Many people are not so lucky.
Retinal detachment has symptoms, but I didn’t put two and two together and say to myself “oh my, I am going blind.” Most people don’t, until it’s too late. A tear often can can be repaired with a laser. A detachment requires immediate emergency surgery to prevent irreversible blindness.
Symptoms began with intermittent light flashes while I was in London in August 2006. I assumed it was an aberration, or that someone nearby was taking photos. (Yes, that is ridiculous, I know.)
I had a persistent black spot in my field of vision in my left eye for a week or so, but kept thinking it was something wrong with my contact lens, and kept throwing them away. (Yes, I know. pretty stupid.)
Then one day I woke up, looked in the mirror, and could only see half my face. I remember calling my sister, who said I probably had a migraine. But I called the eye doctor. His secretary said “Take a cab over here and be prepared to have surgery.” Right! I thought, what an alarmist.
A few tests confirmed that I had a detached retina and two hours later, I had surgery. “If you don’t have this surgery now,” Dr. John Woo, the most wonderful retinal specialist on the planet told me “you will lose sight in this eye.” I said “Let’s operate.”
An elegant procedure
The procedure, Pneumatic retinopexy, which is relatively new, and which he described as “elegant” involved injecting a gas bubble into the eye. Then I had to lay on my side for a week while it pushed the retina back in place. I watched Honeymoomer videos and every Fred Astaire movie ever made. Trust me, if he told me I had to wear a clown nose and stand on one foot to save my sight, I would have done it. Many, in fact, most people aren’t so lucky.
A retinal tear can happen to anyone. And since I had mine, I have learned that many people I know have had them too, including an artist, a writer, and a couple of other people whose livelihood depends on their eyesight.
So please, please, dear readers, if you have not had your eyes checked in the past year, or if you’ve noticed floaters, get your eyes checked.
My dad had this same procedure about two years ago. Woke up and “a curtain fell” over his sight. All OK for him as well.
I had a small detachment a few months back – zero symptoms. LASER fixed it same day. I was really lucky that I had an exam when I did. Doc’s still watching another spot that might need LASER zapping. Curse of extremely bad near-sightedness is that the retina is stretched, making detachment more likely.
Glad to hear it all went well.
Over the years I had several patients with similar symptoms,most had no problems but one or two were caught just in time to have sight saving operation.
Everyone really needs an annual eye check up even if they do not wear glasses.
I had this about eight years ago. Flashing lights in the pool while swimming. Same comment from doctor: get over here and prepare for surgery. I don’t have any vision loss, but I’m really aware now.
It is very important to get regular eye exams, particularly as people age and become more susceptible to eye disease.
It is believed that the visual system requires up to 25% of the nutrients we take into our bodies in order to stay healthy. Impaired circulation and/or poor absorption of nutrients can significantly contribute to eye disease.
There is a great deal of peer review research now showing the vision can be preserved through a proper diet and specific nutritional supplementation.
Nutrients such as lutein, zeaxanthin, grapeseed extract, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium are examples of nutrients that can help keep the eyes strong and prevent the onset of eye disease.
Great post. My retinas are fine but at the young age of 30, I was diagnosed with glaucoma which can have serious consequences as well. I also urge everyone to have regular eye exams.
Great post. I’ve got a friend had his repaired before it fully detatched. My mom is blind in one eye because of it.
Get your eyes checked regularly!
Everyone really needs an annual eye check up even if they do not wear glasses…..