My Husband has a hole in his retina. It is not detached. Yet.
So many technical terms here, which I don't know... as I was not at his Doctor appointment, just my husband telling me what the Doctor said.
Surgery or watching it... is advised.
Has anyone had the surgery to fix the retinal hole?
Was it successful?
I know, the outcomes can vary.... and the degree of vision after.... may be affected.
Or course, the main thing is to NOT have the retina detach. Which is then more serious... and can lead to blindness etc.
So many factors to consider.
My Husband's Doctor is the best in our city.
My Husband has had regular appointments, to check on it... and monitor it....
There is also no way to predict, IF the retina will detach. Sometimes, the hole will just be there... without it detaching. And some people have it for years without it progressing....
Anyway, my Husband's head is swimming... it is all so overwhelming as well.
He asked me if he should have the surgery... of course, I don't know....
nor does he.
His Doctor.... said, that 'current' approaches, is not just jumping to surgery... but watching it.... and also if other family members have had this problem.... it can maybe discern the severity of the condition etc.
But of course, surgery... is also something that can be done.... and there are potential affects to one's vision after.
Anyway... if any of you have any information or first hand experience with this, it would be appreciated. :)
My Husband's Doctor is a Retinal Specialist. The best in our city.
My Husband also has "floaters" in his eye.... and the 'gel' is shrinking....
More Answers
M.J.
answers from
Sacramento
on
Definitely go with what the retinal specialist advises. I had a retinal detachment 10 years ago and it was a nightmare. You want to avoid this surgery at all costs. The recovery process is NOT fun. I've found that it pays to listen to a trusted retinal specialist when it comes to deciding what to do. If he's got a good one, follow the recommendation. The risks with the procedure for fixing the hole may be riskier than just watching things. My retinal specialist restored sight into my left eye (my detachment was not detected early on and I went mostly blind in it before realizing the problem) ... a real miracle worker. I have a lot of respect for these specialists.
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J.G.
answers from
Omaha
on
Is your husbands doctor an optometrist, general opthamologist or retinal specialist? If he has not been to a retinal specialist that is who I would see. They are the ones that do the surgeries and would be the best to advise you as to what course to take. They usually recommend surgery on holes that have a higher risk of leading to a tear or detachment which is dependant on the location, size of the hole, whether not it is operculated and whether or not he is symptomatic ( experiencing flashes of light).
The surgery usually just consists of lasering off the hole with no real visual side effects. So again I would consult and retinal specialist to get his advice.
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N.M.
answers from
New York
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I had retinal holes in both eyes 17 years ago, at the age of 21. My mother had a detached retina at age 42 and lost part of her vision in one eye, so the best option b/c of our family history was to treat. I had laser surgery, done by a retinal specialist. It did not hurt but was uncomfortable. I couldn't do much for 2 weeks afterwards though. I now see the specialist once a year and an opthamologist once a year to monitor any other possible changes. The check up with the specialist is uncomfortable, not something I look forward too, but not painful either.
