Washoe Medical Center 77 Pringle Way Reno, NV 89502 or Surgical Arts Surgery Center 5411 Kietzke Ln Reno, NV 89511.
Day of Surgery
You will be given detailed surgical instructions from our surgery scheduler. In addition to instructions regarding the surgery, the scheduler will give you a pack with a steroid eye drop, an eye wash, and eye pads. You will also receive a prescription for an antibiotic eye drop. Surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia, often in conjunction with local anesthesia, and is a day surgery. We will see you in our office the following day. You should plan on bringing a driver with you to surgery.
Post Operative Instructions
You will be given instructions regarding the need for positioning from your surgeon and the postop care nurse. We generally recommend that you keep your eye patch on until the evening of surgery at which time you may remove it and begin your eye drops. There may be a moderate amount of bloody drainage on the eye patch you remove. This is normal. This drainage may continue for several days. Your surgeon may also instruct you to use ice packs or cold compresses for 10 to 15 minutes every hour while awake for the first day postop.
Eye drops
Generally, you will take an antibiotic drop and an anti-inflammatory drop (steroid) every four hours while awake. You should wait several minutes between drops. You will use the antibiotic drop for 7-10 days and the steroid for about a month.
It is generally easiest to recline, pull down the lower lid and squeeze one drop from the bottle, without touching your lid.
Bring all eye drops to every post op visit.
Postoperative Positioning
If you require a gas bubble during surgery, you may need to be in a certain position for up to two weeks. It is very important that you follow these instructions in order to maximize your chances of a successful surgical result. It is not uncommon that you will need to be a face down position. We have several massage chairs in our office for loan that may facilitate such positioning.
Postoperative pain
Some discomfort and eyelid swelling is expected following surgery. Generally, aspirin, Tylenol, advil, and icepacks are sufficient to control pain and swelling.
Postoperative Limitations and Restrictions
If a gas bubble is placed in your eye, it can be dangerous to ascend to higher altitudes or travel by air. You will be given detailed instructions regarding this.
In terms of daily activity, you should avoid strenuous exercise and heavy exertion for at least two weeks. You may engage in light activity including most routine chores. However, if you are asked to stay in a given position by your retina surgeon, you should maintain this position 90% of your waking hours for at least one week.
You may resume sexual activities about one week after surgery.
Vision
Generally, the first concern is reestablishment of normal retinal structure. Once normal retinal structure is obtained, visual improvement will gradually follow. However, this may take up to six months.
If a gas bubble is placed in your eye, as it diminishes in size you will begin to see the edges of it. Eventually you may see many small bubbles. This
is normal. The bubble will be replaced by aqueous fluid from the eye.
You may also notice occasional floaters and flashes after surgery. This is normal.
Warning Signs
You should call us if you have severe pain, nausea, or a sudden drop in vision. We are on call 24 hours a day.
