You will need 2 to 4 weeks to recover before returning to your normal activities. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
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.
If the macula was involved for less than 1 week, vision will usually be improved, but not to 20/20 (normal). If the macula was detached for a long time, some vision will return, but it will be very impaired. Often, it will be less than 20/200, the limit for legal blindness.
The most common restrictions following retinal detachment repair include avoiding air travel, maintaining certain head positions, and avoiding high-level visual tasks. A retinal detachment occurs when the retina spontaneously separates from the back of the eye, most commonly between the ages of 50 and 70.
If your retinal detachment resulted in vision loss, sometimes it can be restored with surgery. However, for some patients, vision loss can never be fully restored even if they have a smooth recovery.
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.
Living with the effects of retinal detachment can be daunting at first. Treatment is available, but its success can depend on how quickly it happens – and how much damage has already occurred. However, most people live independently with a good level of vision following retinal detachment surgery.
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.
What Are the Risks of Surgery? Any surgery has risks; however, an untreated retinal detachment will usually result in permanent severe vision loss or blindness. Some of these surgical risks include infection, bleeding, high pressure inside the eye, or cataract.
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.
Glasses may or may not help with vision after surgery. The retina is very similar to the film in a camera. It has to be healthy to get a clear picture. In a camera with damaged film, having a more powerful lens on the front of the camera may not result in a clear picture.
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.
If you have symptoms of retinal detachment, go to your eye doctor or the emergency room right away. Retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss — but getting treatment right away can help protect your vision.
The most common cause of tractional retinal detachment is diabetic retinopathy — an eye condition in people with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy damages blood vessels in the retina and can scar your retina. As the scars get bigger, they can pull on your retina and detach it from the back of your eye.
If you frequently experience stress you might wonder, can stress cause retinal detachment? The simple answer is no, stress cannot cause retinal detachment.
Some swelling is normal for about a week after which it will gradually decrease. Swelling may worsen or last longer if you are maintaining face down positioning after surgery as instructed by your doctor. The eye will be red after surgery. You should see gradual decreasing redness over the first 3-4 weeks.
Joseph Pulitzer
The newspaper publisher behind the well-known Pulitzer Prize had a retinal detachment at the age of 42. Although blindness eventually meant the end of his 16-hour workdays, Pulitzer continued to manage the New York World newspaper from home up until retirement.
The clear benefit of retinal detachment surgery is that it prevents you from blindness in that eye. The degree of recovery of vision is dependent upon a multitude of factors.
After some types of retinal surgery, you will need to keep your head in a face-down position. This is because a gas bubble has been put in your eye. Recovering with your head down allows the bubble to float into the correct position. The bubble holds the retina in place to heal correctly.
If you have a gas bubble in your eye, you CANNOT legally drive until the gas bubble is gone.
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.
It's possible to get a detached retina more than once. You may need a second surgery if this happens. Talk to your provider about preventive steps you can take to protect your vision. If you notice symptoms returning, call your provider right away.
If you have a retinal detachment, you may need surgery to reattach your retina to the back of your eye within a few days. After surgery, you may need to stay in the hospital for a short time — and it might take a few weeks before your vision starts getting better.
Always keep your hands clean and avoid rubbing or touching your eye. Follow and adhere to the prescription of the eye drops. Make use of eye shield for at least one week post operation. Always use clean and fresh tissue to clean the eye surface.
Avoid quick head movements and avoid doing anything strenuous, such as lifting, cleaning, gardening, etc. Depending on the work you do, you should consider taking anywhere from 2-4 weeks off of work. Only drive when your vision allows you to.