Near my birthday, I noticed that I was seeing flashing lights streaking across the lower part of my left eye. There was no pain, there was no irritation, or physical response for that matter. Little did I know, while I was working myself to death through my birthday, my eye was quitting on me.
When people with higher levels of myopia visit the eye doctor, like myself, we get dilated-eye exams to check on the retina. I’ve had this procedure done to my eyes each time I get a check-up since I was in high school. My most recent eye exam was 2 months prior, during which, the optometrist concluded that my retinas were in great health.
Fast forward to the beginning of 2010 and things are different. I know that if I see strange flashes or floaters, they may be indicators of a retinal detachment and I must seek medical attention immediately. However, I noted that descriptions of flashes were different than what I was experiencing, which was actually very hard to notice. In addition, I had no severe floaters other than what I’ve seen my entire life.
Even so, I decided to go see an ophthalmologist, just to make sure. After seeing my family doc first (damn HMO), he indicated that the referral to the eye M.D. would be “urgent.” However, he told me not to worry, as flashes just happen sometimes. I first saw a optometrist who found a retinal tear in the lower right of my eye. He wanted a second opinion from an ophthalmologist who confirmed his finding. They both reassured me that nothing too severe was occurring and a tear was an easy fix, if a fix was even required.
I am then referred to a retinal specialist. I am pretty freaked out at this point. The worst medical incident I’ve ever had was a case of food poisoning. The retinal specialist was a lot more thorough and informative. He found another, much more severe, localized detachment in the upper right corner of my left eye. The retina had a larger tear there which had actually begun to detach. Way after normal office hours, he began to perform laser surgery on my left eye to save my vision.
Laser surgery is painless to the eye. It is NOT painless overall. It is a welding process where the retina is welded to the back of the eye using a focused, high intensity laser. (See: laser coagulation). There is a sharp pain as nerves in your eye are treated to the intensity of the light. It feels like a sudden, acute headache. The laser is not constant, but rather flashes whenever the doctor triggers it. After what seemed like hours, but was probably forty minutes or so, the procedure was done and my eye was sore and my head ached, but I could see.
The doctor had sealed several small tears in the lower right of my left eye. For the more severe localized detachment, he isolated the detachment using a method called demarcation laser photocoagulation. He basically sealed off the detached area so it would not grow out from my periphery.
I just had my first check-up a week after the procedure and the laser welds seem to be holding. Since I do have a detachment that is contained in the upper left portion of my eye, I have noticed some reduction in my peripheral vision of the lower right, as the eye is mirrored. Supposedly, I will eventually see a slight shadow on that end which decreases as the brain adjusts to the change.
There is some blurriness for me when it comes to near-reading which the doc said should clear up in the months to come. Apparently, the nerves behind the layer that was laser-treated have a role in the focusing in the eye. Since there is some swelling, it may take some time for my vision to clear. If not, some new glasses will be needed.
I’m still a bit concerned right now since I still suffer from flashes at times – though it is much less obvious. The doctor said it is possible that I will continue to see some for a while along with other visual artifacts (flickering) as the eye is healing and still irritated. If they increase in number or severity, I may have a problem on my hands.
Otherwise, things are okay. I’m pretty lucky as I found the issue early and was able to receive a less severe treatment because of it. (If the retina fully detaches, they must insert a silicon buckle over your eye, or insert a gas bubble to force the retina back).
I am very appreciative of all the friends and family who expressed concern and helped me through this otherwise pretty scary situation. And for those with high myopia (say, greater than -5.0, be sure to get your annual retina check-up and be on the look out for flashes, floaters, decrease in vision or shadows.
Wish me luck in the coming weeks that I can put all this behind me and worry about less important things, like cars and media centers.
‘Tis all.
Inkless 