Torn retina cryotheraphy

[Hamperman]

Has anyone any experience of having this done?

11 days ago I got hit by a ball playing football in the eye. It hurt and was a little blurry. A couple of trips to different opticians who dilated my eye and said I was ok. I didn’t feel right so went to an eye consultant privately. He told me I had torn my retina. I then had cryotherapy on it on Tuesday this week and now recovering,

It’s quite painful, still a little blurry and the eye is generally swollen and bloodshot.

What recovery have others had?

[Acuity30]

It depends entirely on where on the retina the tear occurred. Assuming the macula stayed on your final outcome should be pretty much as good as your vision before it happened. You might just have a small visual field defect as a result, which you wouldn't notice unless you covered your other eye.

[Hamperman]

Thanks for the reply. My recovery for the first 6 days was slow and quite painful. However in the next 48 hours it hugely improved and now, 15 days after the op I have zero pain.
I do still have a smallish blurry patch which I mainly notice when I’m working at a screen. I’m due to go back to see the eye consultant in 2 more weeks so I’m hoping this will have got better or something can be done. It looks a bit like frog spawn and as if my glasses need cleaning. Do you think this is permanent?

[Acuity30]

Hamperman said:

Thanks for the reply. My recovery for the first 6 days was slow and quite painful. However in the next 48 hours it hugely improved and now, 15 days after the op I have zero pain.
I do still have a smallish blurry patch which I mainly notice when I’m working at a screen. I’m due to go back to see the eye consultant in 2 more weeks so I’m hoping this will have got better or something can be done. It looks a bit like frog spawn and as if my glasses need cleaning. Do you think this is permanent?

Glad you're on the mend. It's impossible to say without seeing a fundus photo. You can request a copy of one from your consultant, though they might sigh at the request if it's not something they get asked often.
Cryotherapy basically involves a tiny probe on the outside of the eye to freeze the torn part of the retina, creating scar tissue which seals it back up. The process kills photoreceptors in that area, so depending on where 'that area' is, you might have a permanent blind spot in your vision. IIRC it can take a month to 6 weeks for the final result though. If you experience flashes of light and/or a sudden large increase in floaters go back to the hospital ASAP.

[Hamperman]

Thanks, my floaters and the main floating patch is the same one I had before I had the op when I didn’t know I’d torn my retina. The eye consultant seemed to think the floaters would be much better in a months time, I’m only 2 weeks since seeing him so hopefully he’s right and that fits with the 4 to 6 weeks you reference. Are you a medic/eye professional?

[Acuity30]

Hamperman said:

Thanks, my floaters and the main floating patch is the same one I had before I had the op when I didn’t know I’d torn my retina. The eye consultant seemed to think the floaters would be much better in a months time, I’m only 2 weeks since seeing him so hopefully he’s right and that fits with the 4 to 6 weeks you reference. Are you a medic/eye professional?

Floaters don't go away (as in the little tadpole, dark looking things), your brain just learns to ignore them. I'm in that field yes.

[Hamperman]

I have a ‘foggy’ patch that is more than the floaters which don’t really bother me. This patch wasn’t there until I got hit by the ball in my eye and it’s this patch I’m hoping something can be done about.

[jules_s]

Cataract?

My missus has had tears/detachments (The tear was lazered) so you have my sympathies

[Hamperman]

Can you get a cataract from trauma?

[jules_s]

Hamperman said:

Can you get a cataract from trauma?

I'd have to defer to Acuity on that - I know the better half had cataract/lens replacement after surgery for the detachment.

She definitely had 'foggyness' at that point, but clearly im talking from second hand experience..

Back to your consultant would be my advice - and never ever delay if you have any worries