Role of Counselling in Deciding the Fate of a Patient with Retinal Detachment: A Case Report

Abstract

A 28-year-old female, presented with complaints of diminution of vision in left eye and floaters and flashes in right eye. Her visual acuity was 6/9 in right eye and counting fingers- ½ meters in left eye. Patient had high myopia and her posterior segment showed total retinal detachment in left eye. She was advised for surgery and visual prognosis was explained. The patient however was not convinced and was lost to follow up. The patient came back one year later with loss of vision. Her visual acuity in both eyes was then perception of light +ve and projection of rays inaccurate. She gave history of switching to alternative medicine in the intervening period. Had our counselling been proper and treatment initiated at the right time, we could have restored vision in left eye and also retain some useful vision in the right eye. We aim to highlight the importance of counselling through this case report. Keywords: prognosis, compliance, counselling