The plan was simple—two surgeries per eye. First, a procedure to repair the retina. Then, six months later, another to remove the silicone oil keeping it in place.

But nothing about this journey has been simple.

Six months turned into fourteen. One surgery became three—and that was just for one eye. Each setback tested my patience, my endurance, and my hope. But through it all, I kept going.

Because when your vision is at stake, giving up is never an option.

The Battle with Complications

Recovery was anything but smooth. Four times, I woke up with unbearable pain—each a pressure spike that sent me rushing back to the hospital. And each time, the cycle began again:

✅ Steroids to control inflammation.
✅ Antibiotics to prevent infection.
✅ Lubricants to keep my eye from drying out.
✅ Pressure drops to manage dangerously high intraocular pressure.

At one point, I was applying 15 to 20 drops a day, every two hours, while also taking oral medications for pain and infection. The routine was exhausting, but I had no choice—I was fighting to protect what remained of my vision.

And then came the harshest reality: I would also need cataract surgery. It wasn’t a question of if, but when. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), the procedure used to repair my retina, made cataracts inevitable.

One battle was ending, but another was just beginning.

Another surgery.

Another recovery.

Another test of endurance.

Weight of the Unfinished Battle

My right eye—the stronger one—had been working overtime for years, compensating for the weakness of the left. But now, it too was failing. The retina was detached, and surgery was inevitable.

Carrying this knowledge felt like walking with an invisible weight, one that grew heavier with each passing day. I wasn’t just healing; I was bracing for the next fight.

After everything I had already endured—the surgeries, the pain, the endless medications—I couldn’t shake the question that lingered in my mind:

How much more could I take?

To be continued…

Glossary

Retinal Detachment:– A serious condition where the retina pulls away from the back of the eye, leading to vision loss if untreated.

Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV):– A surgical procedure where the vitreous gel is removed from the eye to repair a detached retina.

📝Missed Part 1? Read it here: https://fgcwarri2000.org.ng/welcome-to-beyond-the-blur-my-life-with-bilateral-retinal-detachment/