Help! Unable to see in left eye after hysterectomy?!
Question: My mother just had a hysterectomy two days ago and the surgery took 10 hours. Her head was tilted below the rest of her body for all of that time and it ended up swelling dramatically as a result. When she awoke she said she could not see very well (only gray, like a film had been placed over her eye) out of her left eye. She had no vision problems before. She is a diabetic. The eye feels some pressure still and she thinks she may be ever so slowly improving but we are scared because the hospital opthamologist said very bluntly that it's likely permanent without doing very much checking. We will see her usual opthamologist on Monday and he is very sharp so perhaps it will not be so bad but we are very concerned for her. Has anyone ever been in this situation before? What should we be doing to help make sure we're doing everything we can?
Answers: My mother just had a hysterectomy two days ago and the surgery took 10 hours. Her head was tilted below the rest of her body for all of that time and it ended up swelling dramatically as a result. When she awoke she said she could not see very well (only gray, like a film had been placed over her eye) out of her left eye. She had no vision problems before. She is a diabetic. The eye feels some pressure still and she thinks she may be ever so slowly improving but we are scared because the hospital opthamologist said very bluntly that it's likely permanent without doing very much checking. We will see her usual opthamologist on Monday and he is very sharp so perhaps it will not be so bad but we are very concerned for her. Has anyone ever been in this situation before? What should we be doing to help make sure we're doing everything we can?
"What should we be doing to help make sure we're doing everything we can?"
That's the key question, and given there is no definite pain in the eye, there is very unlikely to be any specific or urgent measures (in the emergency class) that you should be taking.
The two most likely causes are blood vessel related, especially with a history of diabetes.
If it's a retinal or vitreous haemorrhage, there is a good chance of slow recovery (partial through to almost total) over the next three months.
If it's a blocked central retinal artery (which happens more commonly in the left eye than the right) the prospects for recovery of central vision are much poorer.
But unless there's a sudden change in pupil size, or of pain levels in the eye, it is quite reasonable to wait till Monday.
sound's like u had a rough time. i feel your pain but not the same way. my right eye was on the verge of getting cut out. i prayed every night for me to keep my eye and it worked. it maybe worked because a am a very cathlic/patriotic person. just try what i did u maybe fine. if u have a catholic conection with anyone.
I answered this question in women's health, but I forgot one very important thing: IF MOM TAKES BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS, BE SURE TO HAVE HER TAKE THEM AS PRESCRIBED! High blood sugar entices the body to make extra blood vessels in the eye, blood pressure causes them to burst!
I visited my Dr about more appropriate blood pressure meds and I have had NO PROBLEMS AT ALL FOR 3 MONTHS!