HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Causes A Bubble Floater In Right Eye Post A Laser Treatment?

Posted on Tue, 19 Apr 2016

Question: I had been seeing a new floater in my right eye that acted life a "bubble level" it's position depended on how I tilted my head, tilt up no floater, tilt down it moved upward across my vision. I also was beginning to see occasional "flashes" in my peripheral vision of that eye. I was diagnosed with tears on the upper and lower portions of the retina of my right eye two weeks ago and had laser treatment that day to repair them. I was instructed to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting (not sure what meets the criteria for these, the heaviest thing lifted since was 16# of groceries a couple days ago), and not bend over (also assume not tilt head downward). I was told a week ago I was healing slowly. The flashes stopped with the surgery, the "bubble floater" remains. How can I tell if the tears are healing properly, is there anything else I should or shouldn't be doing, what qualifies as heavy lifting/strenuous activity?

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Refrain from strenous activities

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Thanks for sending your query to us.
laser treatment as you said makes a barrier around the tear so that the retina does not detach from that place leading to retinal detachment, where surgery is the treatment.
We look for the level of scar tissue formation to put a barrier, which in your case is progressing slowly.
Lifting weights say around 20 lb is the upper limit. Heavy activities where you are straining, like shifting of bed and lifting a bucketful of water are to be avoided. This precaution is to continue for a while and slowly you may revert back to normal lifestyle.
Games like badminton, tennis, volleyball, where you are having sudden jerky movements are to be avoided.
You will not be able to monitor the progress as other than flashes you did not have a symptom which is relieved by laser. This laser is done to prevent a catastrophe of retinal detachment.
Your floater is a small issue which may go away with time and doesn't need treatment.
Any further issues please do get back to me.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (41 hours later)

"Heavy activities where you are straining, like shifting of bed and lifting a bucketful of water are to be avoided". Were you referring to shifting a bed such as moving a heavy object or shifting in bed such as strong motions while asleep or while getting out of bed (I have been sleeping on my back and getting out of bed by gently pushing with my elbows and forearms). The heaviest lifted load aside from moving my own body was lifting and carrying 16# (7.5kg) of groceries 25 feet. Would the scare tissue from the laser procedure act as an "anchor" to help hold the retina to the back of the eye to reduce the probability of a future detached retina, does the body/eye manufacture vitreous gel or fluid to replace the vitreous gel that may have escaped through the tear and is now encapsulated by the scar tissue and the back of the eye, is the encapsulated material reabsorbed into the body?

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You are good

Detailed Answer:
M y dear,
Thanks for getting back to us.
Good for you to clarify finer details. My mention was shifting a heavy load,like pushing the heavy bed or lifting a huge bucket of water.Such strains which can be avoidable should be avoided.
A retinal tear is a break in inner layer and fluid can keep seperating layers of retina causing detachment. Once laser is done there is a inflammation around tear and the scar of burn prevents such detachment to occur.
There was no vitreous gel in that area otherwise it would have caused detachment, vitreous is replenished in the eye but at a slow rate.
Carry on with day to day activities and just avoid straining .
Please do get back to me in case of any further query in this regard.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Deepak

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (46 hours later)

If healing of the scar forms an attachment between the area of the retina around the tear to the back of the eye as the scar heals, would tilting of the head downward such as to read a book or to write on a piece of paper interfere with the process (I know that bending over is to be avoided), if the scaring for some reason does not hold the retina to the back of the eye for some or all of the tears and the first laser treatment does not succeed, what is the normal follow-up treatment, also when the vitreous is eventually replenished would the new floaters that appeared with the tears be expected to dissipate?

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Laser treatment

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Thanks for getting back to me.
Tilting the head and reading is not prohibited after laser,that is part of normal routine activities. Bending down puts lot of pressure on the eye so should be avoided.
In worst case scenario where laser is not effective,it can always be repeated.
The floaters do not occur due to lack of vitreous but due to appearance of opacities in the existing vitreous, they may get absorbed or as the aging goes on new ones may appear ,they being the least significant of issues.Importance of floaters is only when a new bunch suddenly appears.
Any further issues, please do get back to me.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad