macula pucker

[edjohnson42]

I am a 73 year old active male who was diagnosed a few years ago with  a macula pucker in my left eye so at the time I was sent to a retina specialist who said he could do the surgery but most people wait until they can no longer drive, For the last couple of years I have been going to a younger retina specialist who (last June) said if it continued to decline at the same rate
she will recommend surgery this june and she would also remove the cataract at the same time and I would have to keep my head face down for a week. I went to my opthomologist  who is also my age and the doctor who was pushing for the surgery when first discovered now says if it were him he wouldn't have the surgery so obviously I am confused and I still am able to drive , read watch tv as it hasn't effected my life style but it is getting slightly worse and I am wondering if I continue to wait maybe the surgery will have less chance of being successful ?

[JohnHaganMD]

The short answer is no the longer answer is as I answered before:

If she recommends surgery given how well you are doing and the stress of surgery i would get a second opinion. Know there are many 73 year old surgeons that can operate circles around surgeons in in their late 20's and 30's. Would not proceed with the surgery unless the second surgeon also recommends surgery and states that not having surgery would reduce prognosis down the road.

JCH MD