I’m 26M from Toronto. I had a macula-off retinal detachment and underwent vitrectomy with SF6 gas on October 8. Unfortunately, my retina detached again within two weeks, and my vision is now much worse. I can barely see from my right eye.
I’ve seen different retina specialists, and they’re recommending completely different approaches:
Option 1: Repeat vitrectomy + silicone oil + cataract surgery. My original surgeon wants to remove my natural lens for better visibility during surgery.
Option 2: Pneumatic retinopexy + laser treatments over several days, with different positioning instructions. If it fails, the backup is a scleral buckle with gas. The surgeon estimates around 50% overall success.
I also have multiple retinal breaks and mild/early PVR (scar tissue).
This is an emergency, and I know I need treatment urgently, but I’m genuinely so confused about which option to choose. I’m only 26, and I’m terrified of permanently losing my vision or undergoing multiple unnecessary surgeries.
Has anyone experienced a failed vitrectomy? Did pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckle, or silicone oil work for you?
I’d especially appreciate input from retina specialists or anyone who’s been through something similar. I’m overwhelmed by the conflicting recommendations and just want to make the right decision before it’s too late.

It’s really hard to have a discussion with the ophthalmologist because they’re so busy.

Has anyone been able to chat with a doctor about this or the ophthalmologist? Basically, I’m wondering if the vitreous gel has been removed in both eyes does that lower your risk of a

so, is there anyone out there experiencing pain and told everything is healing nicely? Real pain, like a knife twisting inside your eyeball pain - still 2.5 months after vitrectomy and follow-up laser 10 days after that. And pain with quick eye movements? The pain really started with the laser, not the vitrectomy. Drs office acting like my pain is abnormal but just telling me to ice it. I take hydroxychloroquine for a scalp issue and wondering if I have a new inflammatory issue triggered by the surgeries that’s slowing my recovery. I’m stumped.

hey all

I was curious about what kind of optical illusions. Do you guys see what silicone oil in your eye?

For example, like splotches is moving around sometimes when I open my eyes or like pinpoint in my eyes. anyone also have this or more?

after getting a scleral buckle and three vitrectomies (1 gas, 2 oil) this year, im nearly six months post op from the third attempt and facing a new risk i didnt even think was possible when this all started.

my doctor was originally planning to take the oil out six months after my third attempt but at my appointment last week, he's decided we need to wait indefinitely because i have new scar tissue and overall, my eye has not healed fully. this is likely because i had so much done to my eye in a short timeframe and my eye was never given a proper chance to heal in between all the surgeries. i do have PVR and scar tissue buildup is what caused my retina to re-detach after the first two surgeries, but my scar tissue has been stable for months so this came out of left field. because of the PVR and the history of my retina re-detaching, my doctor is concerned about doing another surgery on my eye. hes concerned i could grow even more scar tissue and not only lose my vision, but im at risk of losing my entire eye. i cant even wrap my mind around that. losing my eye was never something i thought could happen during all of this.

my doctor said he would take the risk of doing surgery if i had the potential for good vision again, but ive also lost that potential. he thinks my vision in my detachment eye will likely never be any better than it is right now. i dont currently have peripheral vision because of where my scar tissue is located, i cant make out anything with my glasses or not, my vision is basically nonexistent in this eye and it will never get better. the only thing that should change is the double vision caused by the oil.

i dont know how to cope with this new risk and knowing i likely wont actually get my vision back to something normal. its completely unexpected and i cant process it all. everything was good for months and now this is a major disappointment i wasnt ready for at all. i'd been bracing for the other shoe to drop because thats unfortunately become a normal outcome for me since this started, but something like this just feels too unreal. i did everything right, i did everything i was told to do to protect my vision and my eye and i could still lose both. it doesnt feel real at all.

i dont know if anyones been in a similar situation since this is pretty extreme, but if anyone wants to give advice or even just share their own story, i'd appreciate it because i dont know where im supposed to go from here. i dont know how im supposed to move past this disappointment and anxiety like i have the other times ive gotten bad news. i dont know how im supposed to be optimistic about my eye anymore