Watching TV and reading will cause no harm. Your vision will remain blurred / poor for several weeks. Often the vision is distorted after surgery. This will vary depending on the type of operation, e.g. if a gas bubble is inserted into the eye, as the bubble shrinks you might see the edge of the bubble.
Don't do things where you might move your head. This includes moving quickly, lifting anything heavy, or doing activities such as cleaning or gardening. You will probably need to take 2 to 4 weeks off from work.
You may see a flashing light when your doctor uses the laser. After this treatment, your doctor may give you special eye drops to help keep your eye from swelling. You may need to avoid some activities, like vigorous exercise or heavy lifting, while your eye heals.
Until the retina heals and holds its position, you may see bright spots or your vision could be blurry. However, reading or watching television won't harm your eyes, and there is no reason not to try to read if you feel so inclined.
You must not drive or operate machinery within 24 hours of having any anesthetic or sedation. If you were driving before the surgery, and your vision has not changed or is improved, you can drive 48 hours after the surgery if you feel visually comfortable.
Avoid any bending or lifting for 1 week after surgery. After 1 week, you may do light housework and bend over to pick up light objects. Then, gradually resume your regular activities.
After surgery for retinal detachment
During the post-operative period: Your eye may be uncomfortable for several weeks, particularly if a scleral buckle has been used. Your vision will be blurry – it may take some weeks or even three to six months for your vision to improve.
You should avoid exercising for at least 2 weeks following your surgery. You may resume normal activities, little by little. After week 1, you may start by walking as much as a mile. You may advance to 2 miles, in the second week and can typically run by week six.
In the 7 to 10 days after the operation, the gas bubble slowly starts to shrink. As this happens, the space that was taken up by the gas fills with the natural fluid made by your eye, and your vision should start to improve. It generally takes 6 to 8 weeks for the gas to be absorbed and vision to improve.
However, we do recommend wearing sunglasses or prescription glasses during the day and a fox shield over the operated eye at night when sleeping for the first week after surgery.
Signs and Symptoms of Retinal Tears
Black spots in field of vision. Flashes of light. Blurry vision. Darker/dimmer vision.
Retinal tears and holes are quite common. In fact, they're found in about 10% of the population. A healthy, intact retina is essential for clear vision. When a crack develops in this thin tissue, it's known as a tear.
Aging is the most common cause of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. As you get older, the vitreous in your eye may change in texture and may shrink. Sometimes, as it shrinks, the vitreous can pull on your retina and tear it.
No strenuous exercise.
Large spikes in your heart rate can raise eye pressure, which can disturb healing of the eye. Avoid lifting weights or other heavy objects. Don't put your head below your waist, such as with yoga positions.
Retinal tears can lead to a retinal detachment, which requires immediate attention. Retinal tears can be a very serious condition that can impact your vision, so if you are experiencing any symptoms associated with a torn retina, contact our offices as soon as possible.
With laser treatment, black dots are common. Expect your eye to be swollen. If you are posturing after surgery often this swelling can get worse after the first day and can affect the fellow eye. This is quite normal and can look like one large “blister” on your eye lid.
It is recommended to sleep on either side or even your front, but not sleep on your back as that would make the bubble move away from the macular hole.
For airplane travel, the answer is easy. No flying until the bubble is gone, without exception. Even a small bubble may expand enough for a dangerous IOP elevation, particularly in an eye with impaired outflow.
You must stay face down at all times, unless your eye surgeon tells you otherwise. This means staying face down when you stand, sit, eat, walk, and sleep. To stay safe, have someone with you when you walk around. Your surgery may not work if you do not recover in the recommended position.
You need to maintain a specific head position for at least three days after surgery. You will need to sleep with head tilted to the side opposite to where the retina break is found at the time of surgery to allow the gas bubble to keep the retina in place around the break area until the retina seals in that area.
You may shower and wash your hair carefully the day after your surgery. Do not scrub your head vigorously. Avoid getting soap and water in your eye.
Do not lie flat on your back until the gas has been fully absorbed: this can be up to eight weeks; this varies depending on the concentration and type of gas we have used.
The simple answer is no, stress cannot cause retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is due to tears in the peripheral retina. Retinal detachment occurs in less than 1 in 10,000 people and can occur at any age but is more likely to affect people over age 40.
With a 99.3% reattachment rate for primary RRD repair after one or more surgeries, the Mass Eye and Ear Retina Service continues to maintain high success rates for this procedure. For the past 10 years, the Retina Service has consistently met international benchmarks of 97% to 100% for successful RRD repair.
Retinal tears are not as serious as retinal detachment, but they can lead to retinal detachment if they are not treated properly. Retinal tears most often form when the vitreous gel within the eye pulls on the retina and gradually weakens it. Retinal tears can also be the result of an eye injury.