# Got My Retina Fixed, Probably... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 21, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341 "2007-11-21T18:25:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/1 "2007-11-21T18:25:23Z")
I shouldn’t be posting, really. The doc said not to read until Monday. Nor driving, nor walking around, except in “slow, fluid motions.” I had a tiny tear in my right retina, allowing liquid to sneak through, and a big corner of it came lose. I had a scary, kinda painful procedure, involving cryogenics and a gas bubble, on Monday. It seems to have worked just fine, but it still is fragile. I had to lie on my left side for 48 hours, with no reading. :eek: I went back today. He says I can stand up straight, now, but no reading until Monday, and all sleeping must be on the left side. I followed his instructions carefully, until this post. I won’t read your replies until Monday, unless I can talk Mrs. Nott into standing in for me. I suppose I could feel very lucky to have come close to right-side blindness, and coming out okay. I’m barely past the fear and pain, though. When I’m allowed to read again, I’ll feel a lot better. Thanks for listening. I’ll be back Monday. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/2 "2007-11-21T18:57:40Z")
Dude! That sounds scary. I hope you’re feeling better and okay and everything…hugs! ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/3 "2007-11-21T19:08:42Z")
Yikes. I’ve got what the opthalmolgist classified as a “ding” in my retina, and standing instructions to run to him if I ever see fireworks without being at a fireworks show, or part of my vision goes blank. So far, it’s been stable. \ Here’s hoping you’re well past the bad parts and your recovery is easy, if a bit boring. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/4 "2007-11-21T19:16:41Z")
A “gas bubble”? Was a gas bubble part of the procedure or did you cut a gas bubble so big you tore your retina? If it’s the latter, we owe you a trophy. Regardless, hope you rehab quick, enjoy your Thanksgiving and we’ll look forward to a report next week. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/5 "2007-11-21T20:00:05Z")
No fun! Sending healing thoughts your way. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/6 "2007-11-21T20:13:51Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] A “gas bubble”? Was a gas bubble part of the procedure or did you cut a gas bubble so big you tore your retina? If it’s the latter, we owe you a trophy. Regardless, hope you rehab quick, enjoy your Thanksgiving and we’ll look forward to a report next week. [/QUOTE] [Pneumatic Retinopexy](http://www.eyemdlink.com/EyeProcedure.asp?EyeProcedureID=52) aka “Put the bubble on the trouble” - the gas bubble acts as a sort of splint to support the retina as it heals. Recovery time is in the four to six weeks range, and a good improvement in vision should be apparent at around two weeks post-op. During the first month, the eye is still quite fragile, so you need to avoid eyestrain, prolonged reading or TV watching, and no physical abuse like rollercoasters, boxing, vigorous dancing, driving on rough roads, etc. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/7 "2007-11-22T19:23:39Z")
Mrs. Nott as Scribe: I can see pretty well, but I am getting sinus headaches. The gas bubble is distracting sometimes. It looks like a big black outline of a TV screen. I can sorta see through it fuzzily. Maybe the worst part is not being able to read. I have several newspapers waiting for me, and a _Rolling Stone_ or two, and _Seven Pillars of Wisdom_. I am sooooooo bored. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/8 "2007-11-22T20:33:12Z")
Dude, if the doctor said don’t read anything, get off of the Dope. Eye injuries are not to be treated lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/9 "2007-11-22T22:49:18Z")
[QUOTE=Rysto] Dude, if the doctor said don’t read anything, get off of the Dope. Eye injuries are not to be treated lightly. [/QUOTE] The OP seems to be getting the missus to read things for him at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2007, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/10 "2007-11-23T03:21:44Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] I shouldn’t be posting, really. The doc said not to read until Monday. Nor driving, nor walking around, except in “slow, fluid motions.” I had a tiny tear in my right retina, allowing liquid to sneak through, and a big corner of it came lose. I had a scary, kinda painful procedure, involving cryogenics and a gas bubble, on Monday. It seems to have worked just fine, but it still is fragile. I had to lie on my left side for 48 hours, with no reading. :eek: I went back today. He says I can stand up straight, now, but no reading until Monday, and all sleeping must be on the left side. I followed his instructions carefully, until this post. I won’t read your replies until Monday, unless I can talk Mrs. Nott into standing in for me. I suppose I could feel very lucky to have come close to right-side blindness, and coming out okay. I’m barely past the fear and pain, though. When I’m allowed to read again, I’ll feel a lot better. Thanks for listening. I’ll be back Monday. 😃 [/QUOTE] Fellow survival of multiple retinal tears, here. Dude! Keep getting the lovely wife to read for you. Eyesight is so precious, doncha know? Don’t hold your breath and strain, remember to _breathe_ when you bend over, and watch out for building up pressure behind your eyes when you have a coughing fit. A retinal tear sucks donkey balls, but a retinal detachment is a zillion times worse. I’ve had laser surgery more than once to repair the tears, and one time, the freezing surgery. So very not fun. And the friggin’ floaters stayed behind as a memory. But, yeah. It could have been so much worse. Watch out for strange things in your vision in the future, get to a doc asap if it happens, and speedy healing. NO READING. NO COMPUTER. I know, that stinks. Watch TV, instead. (The image moves, your eyes stay kinda still, according to my doc. Whereas reading/computer work involves jerky minute movements of your eyes.) This is the time to stay still, and watch some DVDs. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/11 "2007-11-23T05:00:25Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] Yikes. I’ve got what the opthalmolgist classified as a “ding” in my retina, and standing instructions to run to him if I ever see fireworks without being at a fireworks show, or part of my vision goes blank. [/QUOTE] Or a whole ton of “floaters” when normally you don’t have any or only a few. **AskNott** , glad to hear you got patched up and I’m sending my best wishes for a good recovery and as little boredom as possible. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2007, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/12 "2007-11-25T04:42:16Z")
Mrs. Nott is writing here again: Thanks to everyone for your good wishes and advice. It’s going pretty smoothly so far. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/13 "2007-11-25T04:47:09Z")
AUDIO BOOKS. Dude, get some audio books. Seriously. I’m also under strict “Get thee to the ER, stat” if I have certain visual cues that indicate detached retinas. I hope I never have to. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2007, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/14 "2007-11-25T04:49:30Z")
How awful! I have a very high nearsighted prescription and have been warned that I am at high retinal risk myself. They keep telling me not to rub my eyes so naturally I think about doing that a lot. I’m so glad they caught it and fixed it for you. Prayers for a quick recovery. ---
**Author:** ![kortia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba9def/32.png) [@kortia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kortia)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2007, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-my-retina-fixed-probably/427341/15 "2007-11-25T05:37:07Z")
I actually just did an article for uni on a research project developing a new treatment for this! From what I understand, at the moment the gas bubble is basically used to hold the retina in place while it heals itself. In this new treatment the idea was that a magnet is inserted behind the tear and a bubble of magnetic nanoparticles is used instead of the gas. So this bubble is drawn to the right place and held there, and you don’t have to be immobile for ridiculous periods of time. Best wishes for a quick and thorough recovery.