Hold my hand and tell me about retina problems

July 4, 2018 2:32 PM

Flashes of light, cobweb and something like ink splatter all over one eye. Waiting in emergency department after talking with nurse line. Tell me what to expect once I'm seen. Hold my hand.
posted by mightshould to Health & Fitness (17 answers total)

Best answer: On my phone so typing is awkward. Sounds like a detached retina but those are treatable! You will be fine honey!
posted by Ursula Hitler at 2:39 PM on July 4, 2018 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Retina detachment, whole or partial (sounds like yours is partial) is very treatable with prompt medical attention. I'm not sure what it all will involve, but you should feel very confident that you'll have a good outcome.
posted by randomkeystrike at 2:44 PM on July 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I had a detached retina and they were able to fix it back to nearly 20/20 vision. And I was in a smaller city where the surgeon had to use a freezing protocol instead of the newer laser option. And that was nearly 20
Years ago and I’m 49 now and it’s all been fine! Thinking good thoughts for you and it’s going to be okay!!!!
posted by lucydriving at 3:30 PM on July 4, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: You’re where you need to be. That’s pretty much the classic symptoms of retinal detachment, which is easily treated these days.
posted by Making You Bored For Science at 4:52 PM on July 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Update us on what happened!
posted by Ursula Hitler at 4:55 PM on July 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: When something similar, but less severe, happened to me, I got to a retinologist's office within 24 hrs. He examined me with the aid of some optics and a very bright light. No treatment was needed in my case, but when I got back to my regular eye doctor he mentioned that cases much more serious than mine can be repaired.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:29 PM on July 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thank everyone for responding...I felt less alone and at least knew that it could be treated and was less scared going in.

They did pressure test, looked in eye and did CT scan of head....and talked to opthamologist on call. And did nothing. Because they couldn't see anything wrong and assume it's a minor detachment that will heal on its own. I still have speckles and a lesser amount of the cobweb.

I am to go in to ophthalmologist tomorrow for better look, and I hope to wake up tomorrow with it all resolved but will still go to specialist for more thorough review.

Not 100% understanding diagnosis but, there you go.
posted by mightshould at 5:31 PM on July 4, 2018 [14 favorites]

Best answer: I literally just got checked out for the same symptoms as yours--in my case, for the second time. Both times, it was not a retinal detachment but posterior vitreous detachment, which is usually harmless but needs to be checked out because in high myopes PVD can pull on the retina and cause a tear/lead to detachment. It sounds like this may be what happened to you.

If they don't find any tears and it is PVD, they will monitor you for the next few months--you'll repeat the tests every few weeks or so until they're satisfied the risk is gone. If they find other issues, they will send you for more tests. (For example, this time, I have a few other worrying symptoms like haemorrhages in my eye, so I'm being sent for additional tests including a fluorescein angiogram.) When caught quickly, as in your case, the outcome in any of these situations is usually very good.

With the PVD, it was recommended that I refrain from a few strenuous activities for a few weeks. Can't hurt.

Good luck! I know these things are scary. You are in the right place! Please do update and let us know how you're doing.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:46 PM on July 4, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: In May, I had the posterior vitreous detachment of which hurdy gurdy girl speaks. I was terrified, thinking it would be a retinal detachment and would have to go through all of that related treatment, which in and of itself, with quick seeking of such treatment, generally has great outcomes. I've had a six-week follow up, and all is progressing fine, if occasionally in an annoying way (flashes, floaters, bleah). Sending you good thoughts.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 6:14 PM on July 4, 2018

Best answer: I’ve had PVD twice - once in each eye. I was told it’s pretty normal with aging. I had no other issues either time. It was scary and I had to get lots of uncomfortable eye exams, but ultimately, it was no big deal. You should know that if that’s what it is, it will probably happen in the other eye eventually.

It can take a long time for the associated floaters to go away. Just so you know.
posted by FencingGal at 6:26 PM on July 4, 2018

Best answer: I had all the signs of a detached retina in one of my eyes about 20 years ago. I'm at high risk for this sort of thing because I have high myopia so I made an appointment ASAP. They took a look and couldn't find anything wrong except a few more floaters than normal. Said it would probably go away, and it did. I just had an exam recently and my retinas were perfectly healthy. Good luck with your eye.
posted by lagomorphius at 8:21 PM on July 4, 2018

Best answer: Retinal detachment here! I study the visual system for my job, so I was extra terrified about this. And it was totally fine. I mean, I wouldn’t elect for the surgery again (they placed a buckle on one eye and did some lasering of the retinal lattice in both eyes, because apparently my retinas are weak), but fine. I got to wear an eyepatch for a week. :)

I’ll say that if you do get scheduled for surgery, before you go n try to download tons of audio books and podcasts, switch your phone and computer to huge text using the accessibility settings, and think of what lovely recovery activities you can do that don’t involve reading or much vision at all. Keep us updated and feel free to menial me!
posted by nicodine at 9:07 PM on July 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My dad had PVD about 3 years ago. Like you he was terrified and went to a&e (in the uk). They did lots of tests and reassured him that it would clear. In his case his vision was almost gone in the affected eye, all was just shadows and sparkles. It was 90% better in a week and had completely cleared in a month.
posted by intergalacticvelvet at 4:15 AM on July 5, 2018

Response by poster: OK; it's morning and the cobweb and dots and flashing is still apparent. Will be calling Doc's office when they open. It's good to have info about the PVD stuff which I've never heard of, and y'all are hopefully spot on about it being. Will post an update after doc visit.
posted by mightshould at 4:33 AM on July 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I had the vitreous detachment described above, and instead of retinal detachment it led a bit later to a retinal tear. I was already at Mass Eye and Ear to have a checkup, so they pulled me into a procedure area and zapped me with lasers right then. The idea is to seal up the tear so that it doesn't progress to a full detachment. The lasering was a bit uncomfortable, but didn't hurt (it was just so bright, it felt like looking at the sun). It ended up fine. I still have the floaters two years later, however. They say that there isn't much to do for that except get used to it. Most times it doesn't bother me, but once in a while it's right in my eye-line while I'm looking at a monitor and it's. so. annoying.
posted by clone boulevard at 7:50 AM on July 5, 2018

Response by poster: A-OK Retina specialist says it PVD.

Nobody at the Doctor’s office could find anything useful in the Emergency Room report – they couldn’t even tell what they intended for me to do, so, it’s good that Metafilter stepped in and I took your advice.

He says it’s not an alarming case – but will monitor it until it’s fully detached. He described it like a swimming pool:

The eyeball is filled with the gel-like fluid that’s very thick; over time, the fluid becomes thinner (your Vitreous fluid). If you think of a swimming pool, the bottom is a liner (your Retina). After a while the thinner fluid “floats off” the “bottom” and this is a normal process in people if they have enough years. It usually happens without notice. But, sometimes, the pulling away isn’t easy, and some if it “sticks”. This is when you get the cobweb and flashes. But, you do want it to float away because if it doesn’t it can tear a hole in the pool liner (not good!) “retinal tear”. And if enough fluid leaks out the liner floats up (very bad) “retinal detachment”.
posted by mightshould at 1:19 PM on July 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

(Coincidentally, I’m typing this from the eye specialist’s waiting room!) I’m glad you got some answers and that it isn’t something more serious! As others have said, you may see the floaters for some time, but I do hope it settles down for you soon and that your follow ups are all clear.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:15 PM on July 5, 2018