Retinal Detachment
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Retinal Detachment
had an op last week to hopefully rectify a sudden retinal detachment in one eye thankfully.Has any colleague out there suffered the same? If yes,What was the outcome etc? Thanks Pudd
PPRuNe Handmaiden
A mate in Oz had that happen to her twice. Surgery has sorted it out. Resumed flying after a suitable period. (Flying 767's then, now 737's)
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Thanks for the info Redsnail.Two Ops!! I don't fancy going through a second op under a local again.Anyway it's good to hear she is flying after both ops.
Cheers pudd
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Pudd - sory to be a spectre at the feast, but over the last 18 months, my sister (aged 50) has had 2 separate occurrences of retinal detachment in separate eyes. The first was repaired OK, but the second became detached again and became a significant problem. Has required several operations (removing the lens and filling the eyeball with nitrigen then saline) which have led to corneal ulceration and a worse than 50% chance of recovering any meaningful vision in that eye.
Main reason I mention this is to take what your medic says seriously and if he says no flying for 6 months, stick to it, no matter how much you miss it.
Main reason I mention this is to take what your medic says seriously and if he says no flying for 6 months, stick to it, no matter how much you miss it.
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Thanks for the replies ausdoc and Circuit Basher. I had the op on the 21st which involves placing a silicone sponge in your eye to basically press the detached retina back into place.I'm 34,not short sighted and don't recall any bad knocks to merit the above,so the doc is a bit baffled as to how and why! I was told I could return to work by the surgeon in 7 days which I thought was a bit optimistic after eye surgery, however I kept an open mind on the situation.
Anyway its now the 31st and I can't even focus on large letters several inches away, so I think as you guys said a cautious approach is needed before flying again.
My revisit to the surgeon is on Apr the first, so I'll be asking both the surgeon and the CAA doc many questions.It is frustrating but I'll view this situation as a rest before the busy summer ahead!Thanks again Pudd
Anyway its now the 31st and I can't even focus on large letters several inches away, so I think as you guys said a cautious approach is needed before flying again.
My revisit to the surgeon is on Apr the first, so I'll be asking both the surgeon and the CAA doc many questions.It is frustrating but I'll view this situation as a rest before the busy summer ahead!Thanks again Pudd
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I suffered a detached retina in my right eye when at the age of 47. Prior to that I had always enjoyed excellent eyesight, and never previously wore glasses.
From the time I first noticed that something was amiss to the time I sought medical advice was about 3 weeks. I went to see our company doctor, and when he looked in the eye he knew what it was right away. He sent me to a specialist that very morning who verified his diagnosis. The specialist in turn sent me to a surgeon who operated on me the next morning. (They suggested a local anesthetic but I declined in favor of a general one).
Because of the 3 weeks I waited to seek medical help, all 3 doctors were not optimistic of successful surgery. But to my great relief, the operation turned out to be a success. (Moral of the story: if something isn't right, especially with your vision, don't wait.....get an opinion or help immediately!).
On the morning that I first saw our company doctor, he told me that I would be off-the-line for 6 months. In retrospect, he was spot-on. One week short of 6 months to be exact, to the time I got my license back.
During the 5-6 month healing process I was warned repeatedly that the healing eye tissue is extremely sensitive to any kind of pressure. I was advised not to lift anything, nor even to bend over to tie my shoes, since even the slightest strain could cause a re-detachment. I took this advice seriously.
When the surgeon had decided that the eye had healed sufficiently, he sent me back to the specialist who determined what corrective lenses were required. My right eye vision went from 20-20 prior to the injury to 20-200 uncorrected after the eye had healed. The glasses correct it to 20-20 once again, and my license medical certificate stipulates that 'glasses must be worn'.
As it was explained to me, the operation changes the focal length of the eye being operated on. Today, 6 years later and without glasses, my right eye vision is very clear to almost arm's length, then it rapidly becomes a blurr as distance increases. Again, the glasses correct this to normal.
As for the cause of my detachment, I am at a loss to explain it. There was no knock or bang to the head. I was asked if I ever played any physical sports when I was younger, and I did. It was suggested that a bang or knock to the head at a younger age could have caused a weakness that waited for the natural deterioration with age to present itself, and might have been the root cause of the detachment.
I might add that at the hospital in which I had the surgery, the entire 7th floor was occupied with people with the exact same thing that I was there for. The excellent surgeon that I was fortunate to have had called mine a "spontaneous detachment", meaning there was no direct cause (no bang or knock to the head area), and that it was something that is not uncommon in people in their mid-50's and later.
My best advice is to not be in a rush to get back to work. Take seriously what the doctors recommend. Avoid any strain such as lifting, bending over, even coughing and sneezing.
The eye tissue is very sensitive and delicate, and it takes time to re-attach and heal properly.
Hope this helps. Good Luck.
I suffered a detached retina in my right eye when at the age of 47. Prior to that I had always enjoyed excellent eyesight, and never previously wore glasses.
From the time I first noticed that something was amiss to the time I sought medical advice was about 3 weeks. I went to see our company doctor, and when he looked in the eye he knew what it was right away. He sent me to a specialist that very morning who verified his diagnosis. The specialist in turn sent me to a surgeon who operated on me the next morning. (They suggested a local anesthetic but I declined in favor of a general one).
Because of the 3 weeks I waited to seek medical help, all 3 doctors were not optimistic of successful surgery. But to my great relief, the operation turned out to be a success. (Moral of the story: if something isn't right, especially with your vision, don't wait.....get an opinion or help immediately!).
On the morning that I first saw our company doctor, he told me that I would be off-the-line for 6 months. In retrospect, he was spot-on. One week short of 6 months to be exact, to the time I got my license back.
During the 5-6 month healing process I was warned repeatedly that the healing eye tissue is extremely sensitive to any kind of pressure. I was advised not to lift anything, nor even to bend over to tie my shoes, since even the slightest strain could cause a re-detachment. I took this advice seriously.
When the surgeon had decided that the eye had healed sufficiently, he sent me back to the specialist who determined what corrective lenses were required. My right eye vision went from 20-20 prior to the injury to 20-200 uncorrected after the eye had healed. The glasses correct it to 20-20 once again, and my license medical certificate stipulates that 'glasses must be worn'.
As it was explained to me, the operation changes the focal length of the eye being operated on. Today, 6 years later and without glasses, my right eye vision is very clear to almost arm's length, then it rapidly becomes a blurr as distance increases. Again, the glasses correct this to normal.
As for the cause of my detachment, I am at a loss to explain it. There was no knock or bang to the head. I was asked if I ever played any physical sports when I was younger, and I did. It was suggested that a bang or knock to the head at a younger age could have caused a weakness that waited for the natural deterioration with age to present itself, and might have been the root cause of the detachment.
I might add that at the hospital in which I had the surgery, the entire 7th floor was occupied with people with the exact same thing that I was there for. The excellent surgeon that I was fortunate to have had called mine a "spontaneous detachment", meaning there was no direct cause (no bang or knock to the head area), and that it was something that is not uncommon in people in their mid-50's and later.
My best advice is to not be in a rush to get back to work. Take seriously what the doctors recommend. Avoid any strain such as lifting, bending over, even coughing and sneezing.
The eye tissue is very sensitive and delicate, and it takes time to re-attach and heal properly.
Hope this helps. Good Luck.
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Thanks lastcall,
It has been nearly 4 weeks since the operation,there is some improvement in the vision, but I have had problems with high pressure in the eye possibly caused by a reaction to the steroid drops! The only symptoms of the above were when I stood up and the eye would black out for a few seconds.I am on different drops now so I'll have better results at my next visit to the surgeon fingers crossed.
My CAA doc has suspended my licence for 3 months pending a review,which appears quite sensible under the circumstances.The vision is 6/36 uncorrected , 6/12 corrected so I'm not far off my licence renewal limits UK.
Did you see double for a while when wearing glasses due to the difference in both eyes? Glad to hear you fully recovered!
Thanks again for the info Pudd.
It has been nearly 4 weeks since the operation,there is some improvement in the vision, but I have had problems with high pressure in the eye possibly caused by a reaction to the steroid drops! The only symptoms of the above were when I stood up and the eye would black out for a few seconds.I am on different drops now so I'll have better results at my next visit to the surgeon fingers crossed.
My CAA doc has suspended my licence for 3 months pending a review,which appears quite sensible under the circumstances.The vision is 6/36 uncorrected , 6/12 corrected so I'm not far off my licence renewal limits UK.
Did you see double for a while when wearing glasses due to the difference in both eyes? Glad to hear you fully recovered!
Thanks again for the info Pudd.
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pudd
I had the operation in July '97, and it was around mid-November before the surgeon released me from his care, which comprised visits every 2 weeks where he would inspect the progress of the healing.
During that period I, too, had to put drops in my eye several times a day, but can't remember exactly what those drops were. As the eye healed, anything more than 2 feet in front of me was a blurr as seen from the right eye. My left eye during all this was it's normal 20-20 self, so you can imagine that it was more than a little disconcerting with peripheral vision on my right side, especially while driving.
As the eye was progressively healing itself, it was quite pointless to be fitted for glasses until the surgeon released me back to the specialist in November.
When I saw the specialist, he tested and fitted me for glasses, which had a corrective (coke bottle-like) lens for my right eye, and just glass with no correction for the good left eye.
This being my first time wearing glasses, I didn't find much adjustment was required to wear them. In fact, I found it quite a relief to once again have what appeared to be normal vision, with normal peripheral perception. And I don't remember ever seeing double.
The only thing I can once again recommend, as it was stated to me on numerous occasions, be very careful about placing any stress or strain on your eye. And this includes lifting, bending over, or even deep coughing or sneezing. A successful recovery will take time, so you will have to be patient.
Good Luck for a successful recovery.
I had the operation in July '97, and it was around mid-November before the surgeon released me from his care, which comprised visits every 2 weeks where he would inspect the progress of the healing.
During that period I, too, had to put drops in my eye several times a day, but can't remember exactly what those drops were. As the eye healed, anything more than 2 feet in front of me was a blurr as seen from the right eye. My left eye during all this was it's normal 20-20 self, so you can imagine that it was more than a little disconcerting with peripheral vision on my right side, especially while driving.
As the eye was progressively healing itself, it was quite pointless to be fitted for glasses until the surgeon released me back to the specialist in November.
When I saw the specialist, he tested and fitted me for glasses, which had a corrective (coke bottle-like) lens for my right eye, and just glass with no correction for the good left eye.
This being my first time wearing glasses, I didn't find much adjustment was required to wear them. In fact, I found it quite a relief to once again have what appeared to be normal vision, with normal peripheral perception. And I don't remember ever seeing double.
The only thing I can once again recommend, as it was stated to me on numerous occasions, be very careful about placing any stress or strain on your eye. And this includes lifting, bending over, or even deep coughing or sneezing. A successful recovery will take time, so you will have to be patient.
Good Luck for a successful recovery.
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Hi Last Call,
Had the all clear from the doc's this month,my eye has improved (more so recently) to a point that I don't need glasses to fly. Thanks for your reply,happy flying, PUDD
Had the all clear from the doc's this month,my eye has improved (more so recently) to a point that I don't need glasses to fly. Thanks for your reply,happy flying, PUDD
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Pudd
That is VERY good news indeed. Not having to wear glasses after eye surgery for retinal detachment is quite an accomplishment. You must have had a very fine surgeon. Congratulations on your speedy and successful recovery.
Many thanks for the update. Happy Flying!
LastCall
That is VERY good news indeed. Not having to wear glasses after eye surgery for retinal detachment is quite an accomplishment. You must have had a very fine surgeon. Congratulations on your speedy and successful recovery.
Many thanks for the update. Happy Flying!
LastCall
