Oh thank you all so much, it really does help you know, knowing such lovely people are thinking of you
My poor Bb, such a shock, he quite thought he was just going for a 'yes that is a nuisance, nothing we can do, now go away'.
The consultant could see two tears, and would normally laser them, but one was large so he said he'd best go in and see properly. Then he found there were five of them, so a planned 40 minutes became an hour (but with only 40-minutes' worth of anaesthetic).
They laser/weld the tears, then put in a gas bomb, which again was planned to be small but had to be the largest they had. The gas presses onto the retina and helps it all to set.
He has a dressing and shield on which has to stay put till the morning. Tonight he must keep his head facing downwards, and must sleep face down or on his right side (it's his left eye).
From tomorrow the fun starts - we're in Debih's dad-land. For 5 days he can do almost nothing; has to keep his head resting to the right day and night, with only 10 minutes upright each hour. He has 3 different eye drops; one lot twice a day, one lot 4 times a day, one lot 5 times. Plus capsules twice a day, to reduce pressure.
He has to go back in two weeks, when they might say he can drive, so at least a fortnight off work.
And he will definitely get a cataract, and the retina may still detach. But rather a lot better than losing the eye.
Ooh how life can catch you out!
Thanks again all of you
xx