Improved
6095 HealthChanged
3772 LivesSaved
3558 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
My son insisted to fly from California to Maryland on Christmas. But he just had retinal detachment repaired on 10/10/2017 with air bubble. How safe is it to fly long distance?
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment1 Comments
Hello. Thank you for your message.
If you’ve had your retina repaired, you should only fly when your doctor says it’s safe. To repair a detached or torn retina, the ophthalmologist often has to inject a gas bubble to hold the retina in place while it heals. A gas bubble in the eye can expand dangerously if the patient flies, goes scuba diving or undergoes any other major air pressure change. If the gas expands inside the eye, it can cause serious damage and blindness. You should stay at about the altitude of your surgery until your doctor has confirmed that the gas bubble is gone. Unlike a gas bubble, there are generally no restrictions for flying with a silicone oil bubble. Again, this should be discussed with your doctor.
Helena
October 20, 2017 - 5:44pmThis Comment