r/RetinalDetachment

hello! about 2 weeks ago ive gotten a vitrectomy, is it normal for my eye to still be swollen and red? also ive been getting constant headaches that make it impossible to relax sometimes. and its only on my upper right side of my eye (i got the procedure done on my right eye) also ive noticed my vision worsening. i now have astigmatism only on my right eye and im afraid im developing cataracts. i know after a vitrectomy there is a risk of cataracts but is chronic headaches and astigmatism also a side effect?

UPDATE ON MAY 12 2026:

ok so i checked with my doctor and he said the headaches are probably because of my glasses! the prescription of my right eye has changed and the more i use my glasses the more strain its putting on it, thankfully its nothing serious

Last week I went in for a routine eye exam, my previous was 2-3 years ago. The optometrist saw the detachment and referred me to a specialist that confirmed.

She was very surprised when I told her I don't have any of the symptoms. I'm not sure if this is a blessing or a curse because she says it looks like I've had it for awhile and I have 2 lines of scar tissue.

I am seeing her again next week to do a peripheral test and then we will discuss my options further.

The laser sounds like the ideal surgery to do but from my understanding it is not recommended for large detachments and when there is scar tissue.

If anyone has some insight or advice I'd really appreciate it.

I was diagnosed with lattice degeneration in both my eyes last year. My retina specialist told me I would probably never have any issues in my life. One year later I go and he says that the lattice has progressed and I have a hole with fluid. He told me he was going to wait to do the surgery till July however I told him I can't live in that state of anxiety. I was so afraid my retina was going to detach in that amount of time especially if fluid is getting in.

My surgery is next Monday. It's a laser procedure to basically prevent the lattice from tearing or anything in the future. He told me not to even think of it as surgery because it's really not. They are putting me under anesthesia just because it's both my eyes and I have very very very high anxiety

I have never been under anesthesia before so that itself is very scary to me. And I'm just so afraid of this procedure. He says that I can return to work the next day. He says that I'm going to wake up and I'm going to be fine like nothing happened. I've asked him a million questions like if I'm going to go blind or experience any other horrible symptoms

Can you please share positive stories about laser procedures that you've undergone?

I had a Mac off retinal detachment in my left eye and keep checking my right eye. It’s tearing (no pun intended) on my mental health and I feel like I’m running to the doctor constantly if there’s a slight change. I can’t stand this!

Hello! I’m not sure if this is the place to be posting something like this, but here I am.

In the beginning of April I noticed an extra blurry part of my vision that I couldn’t blink away. I told my parents because I know my mom had also experienced RRD so I wasn’t totally unfamiliar. I also knew that being super nearsighted wasn’t helping (-12.25 L, -9.50 R). So we made an appointment to check it out, at this point it had grown bigger and darker, but I wasn’t totally convinced because I could still partially see out of it. The optometrist diagnosed me with lattice degeneration + new symptoms and referred me to a retinal specialist. Made another appointment for a week later, and by this point I knew it was getting too big. The first thing the doctor says to me is “So, how long have you had this retinal detachment?” As me and my mom are sitting there in shock, they’re shining their bright lights and talking with other doctors. Doctor tells me I have stickler syndrome and that I’m lucky both of my retinas aren’t detaching. I’m scheduled for scleral buckle, laser retinopexy and a gas bubble.

I am scared shitless.

The surgery went well and the pain was minimal. My post op looked good too, my eyes didn’t really ever feel itchy or scratchy, and the eye that had laser done had healed in a little over 3 days. I’m prescribed prednisolone and antibiotics. The first few days were good, no major migraines or pain. But after a few days I began seeing little flashes of this amoeba looking thing? it would be followed by a migraine (I’ve had migraines all my life but never this frequent) and this has been happening almost 5 times a day every day since. On my second post op I had an eye pressure of 45, so they put me on diamox (now I can’t take aspirin). And I’m pretty sure the dehydration is just making them worse.

I’m incredibly grateful and happy I can see again and if ocular migraines is what I have to endure to be able to see I am okay with that. I’m just here asking for help because never in my life have I gotten multiple migraines a day. A few of these migraines have made my vision incredibly blurry. I do know that my retina is still doing good and attached from my last visit so I don’t think it’s an actual retina issue. (For reference I’m a little over 3 weeks post op.)

I’m sorry this is long, I don’t post on Reddit often. But I beg of you for advice.

Hello, im 23 . Had my vitrectomy 5 days ago and freaking out over rapid flickeeing in my operated eye . Is this normal, this is traumatizing

I (16F) have retinal detachment, from what? i have no clue, i remember falling on my head and thinking nothing of it till a year later i started getting all the symptoms of retinal detachment such as a blind spot, floaters, flashing lights etc. when i got checked the doctor said its on both my eyes. ive done around 4 procedures total. on my right eye ive gotten a pneumatic retinopexy, followed up by a scleral buckle and recently a vitrectomy. on my left eye ive done only a scleral buckle with a gas bubble injected inside. these procedures were done all in the span of 6 months. the vitrectomys not working in my opinion, i still have a small tiny blind spot. luckily tomorrow i have a 2 week post op appointment but im scared the doctor checks my eye and says it cant be fixed. i feel like such a burden to my parents and to my friends. they already have too much on their plate and i dont wanna take up space by constantly mentioning my eye problems or my parents having to take care of me after surgery. i wish i was normal.

i just need some comfort from someone with a similar experience…also pls tell me if u think my eyes getting amputated im really scared for that

I have been in a long battle with retina detachment and my natural lens finally calcified to the point the surgeon could no longer see into my eye. He had to remove my lens and also took out the capsule without discussing that aspect with me. I now have no lens and silicone oil in that eye.

My question is whether anyone here has had a new lens implanted without a capsule to hold it. I’m hoping the oil can be successfully removed in 4-5 months. Did this doctor destroy my chances of having some functioning vision? I have no idea how a lens could be implanted without the capsule.

Hello 23F . Is it normal after 5 days of operation i start having flickering of light in my operated eye? Did anyone experience this

Hi all, I’m 4 months post scleral buckle surgery in 1 eye and laser treatment to the other. I had lasers on both eyes 8 years ago for tears as well.

My recovery has been steady so far but it’s been 2 months since I last saw my specialist and he said I’m alright just still had some swelling and fluid that will eventually go away. But I’ve had the same quality of vision this entire healing process that I’ve had since before the surgery. Right after surgery of course it got significantly worse for a week or two then improved to my new “baseline” if you will but still my vision is really not good. I had my prescription updated about a month ago and the operated eye went from -6.5 to -9.5 but they only put -8.5 in my lenses to not strain my eyes too much, and the lasers only eye went from -6.5 to -6.75.

I have a frightening amount of floaters in both eyes to the extent that it feels like “visual snow” and it almost feels like I’m progressively getting more. The distortion actually has decreased but is still present which I understand is normal. I still have a curtain in my vision in the operated eye but my doctor said it could go away in a year or so, or it could be permanent damage from the severity and placement of my detachment. It was in a really dangerous spot from what I understand.

Overall though I can’t help but feel depressed and worried about how poor my vision is. Going outside and being in a dark room I can’t help but fixate on the weirdness happening in my eyes. There’s floaters, flashes in the corner of my eye, blurry/blind spots and shadows, the curtain, afterimages, random blobs of color that flash in and out, and just horribly low clarity in general. There’s a persistent fuzziness and inability to see through the noise to focus on details unless I’m up close to something. There is so much noise at all times.

My next appointment is in 2 days. I guess I’m just venting, but also looking for input from those of you who have been through this too. Has anybody felt like this so far out from surgery? Is something wrong? If it’s just my new quality of vision, it can still improve with time right?

In February I had a vitreous hemorrhage. Have had some shots for the diabetic retinopathy and the blood vessels as well wait for the blood to clear. Yesterday I noticed the shadow/veil thing going on. Called the after hours line and retina dr got me in today. Found a tear. He told me he’ll do a vitrectomy and repair and laser the f out of my eye this week(Wednesday or Thursday) then expect to be face down for 3-7 days. I’m also going through a divorce and planning to move out at the end of the month. I don’t know what the f I’m going to do. I’m so scared

Hi! I'm a 43 year old engineer. My job is a mix of computer work (writing documents, using excel for data and reading regulations) and visiting industrial sites (indoors & outdoors, including sampling wastewater). When i am onsite i can drive as little as 20 minutes or as much as 3 hours, though typically on the shorter end of the spectrum. Work will allow me to be desk-bound as long as needed within reason. I often work at home when able.

I am having scleral buckle surgery and possibly a bubble put in at the same time. My doctor suggested i could drive myself to my follow up appointment the next day, but that seems... a lot? He wouldn't give me any indications on how long i will be out of work.

HR wants me to fill out forms for short term disability & paid leave, but i'm getting no information from the doc on what to expect work-wise.

Dr Google seems to indicate a lot of people go back at 2 weeks, though there are some follow up appointments? I know everyone heals differently, but i just want some sort of rough plan. Can anyone advise me here? I'm already anxious enough, and i don't even have a surgery date.

Hello all. I hope you are all doing better than before.

My mother (type 2 diabetes, previous TIA) had **right eye cataract surgery + complex retinal detachment repair (PPV with silicone oil + IOL)** about **10 days ago**.

Surgery was very complex due to **severe fibrosis and near-total retinal detachment**, with bleeding and partial membrane removal. Silicone oil was placed and may not be removed.

**Current symptoms (Day 10):**

* Vision **very blurry and worse than before surgery**

* **Constant mild pain (improving slowly)**

* Still some **redness**

* **Veil/film-like shadow over vision** that comes and goes

* **Hair-like / brownish-red floaters** on waking and in light

* **Flashes / lightening-like effects**

* Distorted yellowish vision

* Sees better in bright light, but in dark almost nothing

* Symptoms feel worse when moving head back for eye drops

**Main concern:**

Her vision was **~7/10 before surgery**, but now it is significantly worse, which is very distressing.

We were told recovery may take time, but we’re confused why symptoms like **veil, floaters, and blurriness still persist or feel worse after surgery**.

**Questions:**

* Is this level of blurriness + visual distortion normal 10 days after such complex RD surgery with silicone oil?

* Can these symptoms still improve over time?

* Or does this suggest poor retinal recovery?

We are waiting for follow-up, but would appreciate any insight.

I am 4.5 weeks post op with a gas bubble (about 50% gone) and I’m seeing double vision/a fainter second image from the surgery eye when both eyes are open is this normal? I was thinking it’s because of the gas bubble but now I’m not sure. It’s kind of dependent on what I’m looking at/position/light but the “ghost” image is to the left and a bit lower than the image from my good eye.

Is this possible or is it being done in any labs..anything possible in the next 10 to 20 years....

I did read few months back about chip implants in back of eye to take the role of retina but not sure how viable they are

Experts pl share your view..

Hi! I had scleral buckle and vitrectomy with silicone oil 2 weeks ago, and I’m returning to work next week. I have a desk job (working with computers). I would like to ask how it was for you when you returned to work? Thanks!

I’m 20 I just had the scleral buckle surgery and I wanna smoke and chill out with my friends and calm down is it worth it?