If you've wondered why I haven't been posting as much lately.

Several months ago I started having a blind area in my nasal peripheral vision in my right eye.  I went to the optometrist to get new glasses, which I needed anyway, and he checked out my retina, said I have lattice degeneration (a thinning of the retina which is genetic most times and is usually nothing to worry about, just keep checking for holes or tears), but since I was symptomatic to go to a retinal specialist and have it checked out.

So, I did.

They checked me thoroughly and Dr. Murray came into the room and said I have a retinal detachment on the temporal side of my eye (near the temple because the retina sees images upside down and backwards).  

Fast forward, I had a vitrectomy.  Spare you the details, but you can look it up if you want.  Basically they reattach the retina after draining the vitreous gel in the eye, do some laser, etc.  They filled my eye with Silicone oil, which has to come out in three months-ish.  For a week I had to be face-down towards the floor, including sleeping, the entire time to keep the oil "bubble" pressed against the back of my eye to flatten out the macula.  My macula was not involved with the detachment, and that is what is responsible for all central and sharp vision.

The surgeon was amazing, had it done in 20 minutes when it normally takes 40 minutes to an hour.  I was supposed to not see the surgery, but I saw the entire thing.  They tape  your head down to the gurney, then your hands to the rails, then put a blue paper surgical sheet over you, which has adhesive on one side and goes down below your chest.  It's tight against your face and you can feel your breath right there on the sheet, like you're being smothered.  I had in a O2 hose in my nose, but it was pretty spooky.  It would have been nice if they had told me that's how they did it well in advance and I could have been more prepared.  At any rate, I saw the entire operation, which was pretty cool, actually.  I talked with the doctor the entire time.

Fun fact.  I got to Larkin Community Hospital at 11:00 a.m. for surgery prep.  I waited until 8:00 p.m. before I got rolled into surgery.  I was dead last of 15 patients.  Normally he does 7.  There were a lot of retinal emergencies that day.  They had given me some kind of sedative for the surgery, but two and a half hours later that was pretty much worn off, so I was alert through the entire procedure.  Normally my blood pressure is high, but that day it was skyrocketing, seriously high, much like guys before big games register astronomically high BP.  It went down right after I got home.

So, the right eye sees blurry.  I'm about 20/150 uncorrected, but it's only a week plus two days since surgery.  They say they can get the eye to 20/40 with the oil in, and we'll see when it's out but they think since the macula was not detached I should regain my regular vision after a good long healing period (sometimes over a year, it's a pretty invasive thing and the eyes are really delicate).

It sucked as an experience so far, and I don't recommend it.  Take your lutein/bilberry or Occuvite (if you're into supplements), get your eyes checked, and if you have anything that predisposes you to this kind of thing, see a retinal person at least once a year to make sure it's all copacetic.  

Around June 15, I will have my oil drained in another similar procedure.  This all coupled with the fact that I'm supposed to be moving to Northern Cali - which I will be staying in Miami until these procedures are done by the same guy as he is outstanding - makes this an "interesting" time to be sure.  

At any rate, that's why I haven't posted as much for the last few weeks.  I had big needles stuck in my eyes and I look like I went 12 rounds with a 25-year-old Ali.

Part 2 of the surgery was yesterday to remove the oil. It hurt like hell, and although I informed the doctor, he said I was "doing fine". It's not supposed to feel like anything at all. Good thing I don't have an eye phobia. I go in this morning, but it looks like I will be face down for a week again.

You get old, shit starts to break down.

Doc said I have "long eyes". He said they tend to want to change shape which could lead to future redetachments, but he did everything imaginable to prevent that, so I am going to take the right supplements and try to keep it from happening again.

Damn, I somehow completely missed this thread!    I just assumed you weren't posting much because of the offseason.

Best of luck for a quick and complete recovery!

Thanks, JMP. It sucks, but nothing compared to Bird. Of course, my eye looks like I got shot in the face and is staring off to the right, but it should heal.

HA!

Degarmo, man that sounds like a severe royal pain!

I hope everything works out for you.

finfanatic wrote:Degarmo, man that sounds like a severe royal pain!

I hope everything works out for you.

Thanks, man. I see the doc again on Monday and hopefully everything is going well. Still got an air bubble (much smaller now) in my eye that was supposed to last "a week" and the middle of my vision is blocked now by a gray blind area which may or may not resolve spontaneously. I'll see what he says about that, but I think it's probably macular edema caused by the silicone oil . . . something he really should have told me about beforehand.