I'm in a similar situation to yours except in reverse order. I had a Vitrectomy in each eye for floaters only and now have a cataract in one eye. I'm also wondering if the lack of vitreous will affect my vision with one IOL or another. By the way, one of the best decisions of my life, but still a tough choice to make. If it bothers you that much...?
Dear hsum4,
A vitrectomy is a surgical procedure in which the vitreous jelly inside of the eye is removed. Floaters result from an aging process where the jelly shrinks. In most cases, floaters are annoying and over time, become less noticeable. When associated with symptoms a sudden change in the number of floaters occurs, one may have a retinal detachment which requires immediate treatment. Most of the time floaters do not require surgical intervention.
Dr. Feldman
Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California
I can see that the doctors would do it for the money. Ask them carefully--maybe 3 of them--about the risks. Listen to Feldman and Dr. Hagen
Mariannne
Dear hsum4
For retinal surgeons who perform vitrectomies all the time, they can be quite skilled at this procedure. However, all surgeries including vitrectomy are associated with some risk. One of the major risks is a retinal detachment which can occur at any time. Other risks include bleeding in the eye as well high pressure. I think one of the answers you have received outlines this risk. I would speak more with your retinal specialist especially regarding the benefits and risks and the times that the floaters affect your vision. Most people with floaters report improvement and less bother over time.
Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California
I do not mean to make any one feel bad at all , but I do not understand how a doctor could recommend these vitrectomies. I woul not let any one do anything to my eye, if it were not necessary.
I lost most of my vison in my left eye, because of 5 surgeries and retinal detachments.
My new ophthalmologist said the best thing for the survival of that eye now is to leave it alone. My retinologist agrees.
I think it will be a long time before you know the full effect of having a vitrectomy. I do not mean that any of you have been damaged by one, but I believe that a vitrectomey can increase your chances of a retinal detachment. I hope nothing like that happens to any of you. Learn the signs of a retinal detachment, including flashes, floaters. Learn how to cup each eye as you look in all 4 directions, for a huge floater in the periphery. It is always called a curtain, but I think that is not a good comparison. It is more like an irregular piece of smoky glass, that obstructs you vision.
Also, a vitrectomy can make floater worse, in som circumstances.
Hi: My name is barbara and i have annoying vitreous floaters with pvd. Just diagnosed pvd. Would it be possible for me to get a vitrectomy? I also have scar tissue would that be erased as well? Thank you. How successful are vitrectomies? and does anyone in pennsylvania do vitrectomies?
Dear Doctor Feldman:
I appreciate your answer, but what if I decide to go ahead and do the Vitrectomy because the IOL has made the floaters even more noticeable and hard for me to see. It is dangerous to take out these floaters in view of the fact that my eyesight is comprimised? I can't see out of this eye in the sun as the floaters block my vision. I was told the procedure has become safer and someday will be as safe as cataract removal. What happens down the road as you age after a Vitrectomy?
Thank you
Dear AnnaE:
Did you have vitrectomies performed on the eyes with the retinal detachments?
Thank you
hsum4
Dear Anna:
I thought the smokey piece of glass that you speak of is the vitreous detachment not the retinal detachment. Everyone goes through the process of the vitreous shrinking and tearing away from the eye don't they? It is just whether it takes some of the tissue from the wall of the eye when it tears away and then it becomes a serious retinal detachment. I was told the smokey piece of tissue I saw was the bag associated with the vitreous. I no longer see floaters in the eye after the vitrectomy and I don't think my retinal specialist would have done the surgery unless he was skilled. He also pioneered the surgery here in California. My sister is highly myopic and has never done anything surgical to her eyes yet the doctor is telling her she can have a retinal detachment. Are the doctors selling these operations to us?
hsum4