Positive Scleral Buckle Experience
Hey all!
Retinal Detachement is incredibly scary. I wanted to share my positive experience, as it literally saved my vision.
January 2026, opthemologists found that my retina was detached after I saw a shadow in my vision for the past 48 hours. They referred me to a Fellow at the eye care specialist office. I saw her the next day. She recommended a partial victrectomy (gas bubble) and laser to fix a small hole in my retina, which was leading to fluid going behind my retina. I got a good amount of laser and a gas bubble in my eye (it felt like a moment out of a horror game, not gonna lie) and then told me to lay a certain way. I got a 2 week checkup and they said the fluid was partially draining, but not all the way gone. A few days after my checkup, the shadow came back. I was diagnosed once again with detachment as the prior treatment failed. It wasn't anyones fault the treatment failed, more that the retinal detachment needed a bit more intervention to fully heal and be supported. I was referred to get a scleral buckle.
The next day, literally the day before Valentines Day, I went in for the surgery. My surgeon was amazing. She and her team got me in at the end of the day and did their best to calm my nerves (which was quite the feat. My anxiety was through the roof). During this procedure, you go under anesthesia and are in a 'twilight state'. I thought being slightly conscious was going to be horrible. Truthfully, I dont remember the first half of the surgery. When I was slightly more conscious, I realized the surgeons and surgical staff were listing to 2010s pop music and making jokes with one another during the surgery. That, to me, was incredibly comforting. I joked around a bit too since I was able to speak. I felt or saw nothing due to the nerve block they gave me. After wheeling me out of surgery, the surgeon reported to me the buckle surgery and cryo went incredibly well, and I'd see her the next day for post-op.
The next day, she took all the bandages off and did a bit more laser to reinforce the retina in a certain area. I had double vision for a day or two after, but then my brain adjusted to my new eye shape. I had a slight headache and 'waves' of pain once and a while, but nothing major. I had some bloody tears (super scary when it first happens), dry eye, and minor discharge, which is all normal for a healing eye. I was off work for 2 weeks and played a lot of video games, worked on crafts, and binged watched TV shows. I put 3 different kinds of eye drops (atropine, steroids, and antibiotics) in my eyes 4x a day. The atropine stung a bit!
Don't get me wrong, I was anxious during the whole healing process. If any new symptom appeared, I called the eye care center nurse line to check if what I was experiencing was normal or not. I probably called around 30 times in 3ish months. Thankfully, they were understanding. I did go in once to check if some minor flashing/flickering in my side vision was complications, however it came out to just be my eye healing and adjusting to the buckle. I am still seeing my surgeon for post-ops, but she is pushing out the dates of the visits because my eye and buckle looks great.
Once and a while, I see a few flashes. My surgeon assured me this was normal and that I may have them for the rest of my life. My eyes are sometimes a bit sensitive to light, but nothing sunglasses can't fix. I have a couple floaters that hang around in my vision once and a while, but I've come to get used to them. I still have some sub-retinal fluid thats being drained by my body, but my surgeon says thats normal and can take a year and a half to fully absorb. I'm 8 months post op, and have gotten my new prescription glasses/contacts since the incident. It's confirmed I have 20/20 vision again in both of my eyes.
Of course, no one wants to go through a retinal detachment. Mine was due to my myopia, but there are many reasons why it can occur. It's a scary thing to hear you need a silicone band around your eye. In my case, it was worth it. It saved my vision. There are horror stories out there, but this isn't one of them. Whatever happens, all will be okay 🖤