Let me just start out by saying that the experience of having a detached retina gets an F. Negative stars. And I'm being kind of nice about it.
Turns out being very nearsighted (up yours, DNA) means you possess a thin retina, and it can peel off just to amuse itself and ruin your life. No, you do not have to be kicked in the head. It can just happen. And it needs immediate attention. If your retina decides to fall off over a weekend during the holidays, be prepared to just want to cash it in. Especially if you are ridiculously squeamish about eye stuff, like me.
So my state of mind was not good at all when I went running to see Dr. Ravage (waves to the fabulous Melanie S. for being my escort). Please. Fix. Me. And he did. I had emergency eye surgery (scleral buckle - feel free to look this up, I decided I'd rather not know exactly what he did to me while I was gassed out) on New Year's Eve. Began 2014 wearing an eye patch and having to look down (with my good eye - pfft) at my crotch all night (bathroom breaks only) to help the re-attached retina settle (by way of a gas bubble that was injected before I woke up). I wasn't kidding about that F.
After multiple follow up appointments (I have yet to work a full Monday-Friday week this year), a gallon of different eye drops, an itchy eye (that's the stitches dissolving - ew), having to sleep on my left side for a month, the fear of needing another gas bubble (this means you get a needle in your eye, while fully conscious...did not need it, thank God), and an additional laser treatment that felt like getting hit in the head with a hammer for 15 minutes (another F...I think Dr. Ravage was ready to leave and come back with chocolate and kittens in a basket if it would make me stop crying), I think I am doing alright. My eye is stable, my vision is improving, and I am wearing eye shadow again. Looking at a picture of my eye from 1/1/14 (not posting this photo...AND YOU'RE WELCOME) to now, 9 weeks later....the difference is pretty awesome. I've still got a ways to go in terms of healing, but Dr. Ravage took me from "screwed" to "I could live like this" in barely over 2 months. I think he knows what he is doing.
I've become sort of a walking public service announcement for detached retinas...if you are highly nearsighted, talk to an ophthalmologist. If a tear is caught early, you'll fare a lot better than I did, and regardless of my experience, I still got quite lucky (some people have to stay in that face down/crotch-viewing position for WEEKS - no one's crotch can be that interesting....). If you suddenly have eye floaters, do not wait, call your eye doctor...make someone examine you ASAP. It may be nothing but it could be something. Make my bad luck your good luck.
And if you need a retinal specialist, consider Dr. Ravage or any of his colleagues at Illinois Retina Associates. They have offices all over the Chicago area and all seem very dedicated and on top of their game. And they offer free magnets and candies at the reception desk. But no kittens. 5 stars anyway. read more
