Diabetic Laser Eye Surgery -- QUESTION

[Jill-O]

Some of you may remember that I'd had surgery on my right eye to stop current leaking (PRC or something???). I've since had it on my left eye, too.

The recovery on my right eye was not easy. It was swollen and painful for 5 or so days, and it is STILL dilated!!! My doctor keeps saying not to worry. I see him again on 10/27.

The surgery was 7/21 on the right eye. It cannot be "normal" for it still to be dilated??? Can it?

Not sure what to do. When I saw him about a month ago for the left eye's surgery, he gave me some pilocarpine drops, and those force the pupil to be smaller, but when it wears off (about 10 hours...), it's back to huge again.

Doctor said when he looked into my eye, the muscles were contracting against the light which is good, and that the pupil was smaller though I can see no difference. It was 6wks ago that he said this.

Any advice? Should I go to another doctor and get a second opinion (in case something actually went wrong w/ the right eye surgery?). I do not want a huge pupil in one eye the rest of my life.

Thanks,
Jill

PS for the left eye surgery, I felt sick 1/2 way through. Doctor paused, laid the chair back and I FAINTED! Never in my life have I before. They'd given me tylenol 3 and something else to settle me down (was worked up) and I think that caused it. My glucose was 104 when we checked so it wasn't a hypo. Battin' 1,000 here....................

[Jill-O]

Anyone have any insight about the right eye still being hugely dilated (surgery was almost 7/21 -- 2.5mos ago).

Not sure if this could be in the range of normal? Do I see another eye doctor?

My left eye is slightly dilated still but only slightly and that surgery was maybe 3wks ago.

[parrotletzoo]

Are you seeing an ophthalmologist (one that covers all kinds of eye disease) or a vitreo-retial specialist (one that specializes in diseases of the vitreous and retina only)? And even more important are they checking your eye pressure each visit? The reason I ask is I saw a vitreo-retinal specialist for my retinopathy and my glucoma went undiagnosed until I saw my regular ophthalmologist. Slow or sluggish pupil response to light can be a symptom of optic nerve damage from glaucoma and / or optic nerve neuropathy.

After I had my laser surgeries my eyes were dialated for about two weeks at most, but that was almost 10yrs ago and I'm sure they're using different meds to dialate now.

Anyway, I'm not sure this is helpful in the immediacy lol but I'd insist on being checked for glaucoma as a precaution the next time you see your ophalmologist.

[Jill-O]

Thanks for the input :)

Yes, he is a retina specialist (all he does) and they do check the pressure in both eyes each visit. It's usually around 17 I think.

When I use those eye drops, it will close my pupil up but when it wears off, right back to way too big.

[RobiJo]

You should see someone else. Even if it IS normal...the 2nd doc will tell you that. There is no harm in going to get a second opinion. Heck, I even got a third opinion.
Even after my vitrectomies...the dilation was completely gone after 6 weeks or so....

[genie86333]

I'd definitely get a second opinion.

I had the same problem & same laser surgeries & was back to normal by the end of the day, both times. (surgeries were at 11 am, then actually went in to work early while I still had a ride - by the time I was off work at 9 pm, I was able to see & drive without a problem.)

Even if there's not a problem, it wouldn't hurt for another doc to take a look.

[Jill-O]

Thanks, folks http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys-91853/aiw/smile.gif

I've got an appt with my eye doctor on the 27th and will take it from there http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys-91853/aiw/yes.gif

Last year, I had a less indepth laser surgery and the recovery from that was instant. But this time on my right eye, the recovery was long and my eye all swollen (nearly shut), etc. Lefty this time was easy, too, nearly as easy as the first kind I had on Righty.

[parrotletzoo]

Thanks, folks http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys-91853/aiw/smile.gif

I've got an appt with my eye doctor on the 27th and will take it from there http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys-91853/aiw/yes.gif

Last year, I had a less indepth laser surgery and the recovery from that was instant. But this time on my right eye, the recovery was long and my eye all swollen (nearly shut), etc. Lefty this time was easy, too, nearly as easy as the first kind I had on Righty.

My experience with laser surgery was the more surgeries i had and the closer they worked to the optic nerve the more it hurt, the more swelling there was, and the longer it took to recover. However, like i said before, the dilation didn't last as long as yours has.

[Vince Duncan]

Hi....

I've been receiving laser treatment for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy for more than 20 years now. Initially, I used to be OK with just the eye drops that anaesthetise your eye, but I now have to have injections ... due to the amount of laser treatment I've received over the years.

Incidentally, the injections don't go directly into your eye. They go into the areas surrounding your eye, so there's no way that they can actually go into the retina, which is, as I'm sure you're aware, at the rear, and on the inside of your eye....

[Jill-O]

Yes, I know the shots for this don't go in my eye. He uses my lower eyelid for this numbing shot. I've had avastin shots in my eye, though.

i was to have seen my eye doctor again about a week ago, but he had to reschedule due to someone else's surgery. My client schedule didn't let me do it last week so I will see him this coming week.

My right eye is still "dilated", with the surgery having been 3.5mos ago now. This cannot be normal...