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Macular Pucker surgery...to do or not to do?

Hello everyone, I'm needing some shared experiences PLEASE.
Last week I was diagnosed with rather severe Macular Pucker in one eye.  I noticed a decline in vision for several months prior, but thought I had an infection from eye makeup.  Saw a retina specialist yesterday , seeing a second opinion Friday but I am expecting the same news.
The pucker is pulling on the retina and nerves a bit and has made my vision in that one eye 20/200 and no corrective lenses will help at this point.  I can still see light, shapes etc. but just cannot make out letters.  I can live with it like this, but the specialist says the tugging my cause more severe damage so I have nothing to loose by doing the surgery right away for the best chance of any improvment.

That is where I'm having the problem ,,,I am 56 and still lead an active life on the lake with waterskiing etc.  I have never needed surgery or prescriptions and take care of myself with exercise and diet.    
I do not want to enter into a lifestyle of surgeries, infections, potential real dangers with retinal detachment or reoccurance of the pucker...etc etc.  Yes, I know every surgery has risks and I should just suck it up, but the fear of making the wrong decision is stressing me greatly.  The Dr. cannot tell if the pucker stabilized or will cause more damage...so do I just leave "well enough alone here"??

Does anyone out there have a similar experience with Macular Pucker surgery ?  I would appreciate any and all comments !
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177275 tn?1511755244
Thanks for the suggestion  JCH MD
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Avatar universal
I was diagnosed with a macular pucker in my left eye last year, but it is progressing at a slow enough rate for me to postpone surgical decisions for now.  I DO appreciate all the input about getting second and third opinions, etc.  Wanted to pass along something I discovered that was a real, well, 'eye-opener'.  I found these rather 'silly' plastic glasses at the dollar store that are supposed to provide 'rest for weary eyes' while you keep your eyes open.  They are essentially black plastic glasses with dozens of tiny pinholes in each lens.  Because my right eye is fine, I punched-out that black lens and kept the left one intact.  When I wear the glasses, it's as if I'm giving my brain a rest from the usual slight distortion I'm having all the time.  In short, it's like wearing a patch over the bad eye, but without losing any depth perception, because you are still getting light in the 'bad' eye thru the pinholes.  Those of you who are resorting to patches, try taking one and simply adding some tiny pinholes and you'll see what I mean. It's like a whole '3rd' way of seeing; like a welcome 'trick' to the brain
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177275 tn?1511755244
=
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Avatar universal
Thank you Dr. Hagan.  I will update this again when I see my ophthalmologist for another follow up appointment next month.
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177275 tn?1511755244
Excellent news JCH MD
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Avatar universal
Returned for a follow up today (10/13) with my ophthalmologist.  He said everything looks fine, macular pucker has been corrected and two peripheral retinal tears revealed during the surgery are holding fine after laser treatment.  Vision in affected eye 20/50 and unaffected eye 20/20 (both with glasses), IOP 14 mm Hg in affected eye and 13 mm Hg in unaffected eye.  Still some distortion, but both he and I are pleased this far with my results.
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177275 tn?1511755244
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