scar on retina

If one's double vision is monocular ghosting due to scar near the macular area of the operated eye,
1) Is this an emergency situation where the patient has to see the retinal specialist right away before it is too late? or does the scar need to stabilize first before removal?
2) how can this be treated?
3) does the scar need to be removed or operated on first before the double vision, lopsided vision, eye and a half vision feeling will go away?
4) what are the treatments for scar near the macula of the eye?
5) how soon can the operation can be done to remove the scar after PPV with gas bubble?  6 months...8 months....a year?
6) can scars be the doctor's fault for not being careful during surgery?  

7) can the scar go away on it's own in time, therefore restoring vision in time?


Thanks sincerely in advance for your answers.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You really need to discuss these questions with your doctor.

Scar can be removed.  One should wait until it stabilizes. However,  I had my pucker peeled much sooner than I would like to since the vision dropped to 20/400.  My peel was about 6 weeks after my last surgery. The double vision will not improve until the scar is removed.  However, you really have to determine how much of the double vision is from the retina versus the cataract or cornea.    A hard contact lens over refraction will determine how much is from the cornea.

Scaring is not the fault of the doctor.  It is the healing of eye.  Retinal detachment failure is mainly due to scar--PVR is the extreme of a pucker.

Dr. O.

[corks100]

Thank yo so much for your help Dr. O.  My doctor is not very helpful with my questions.  I have a hard time getting even a few questions answered by him.  This is the reason why I am now looking for a new retinal specialist and have posted recommendation requests (NJ retinal specialists) here from doctors and patients.

Your answers are so helpful.  I wanted to ask a few more, please:

1) is surgery (vitrectomy) the only solution/cure for the scar?  I am just worried about my eye and the threat of another retinal detachment.  It took almost 2 months before the blood in my eye got re-absorbed.

2) how much time to wait for the scar to stabilize is good?  I am 3.5 months post PPV and gas bubble...is 6-12 months good.  what is your recommendation?

3) do scars go away on it's own in time, therefore restoring vision in time?

4) scars in the eye...pucker, epiretinal membrane....are these all the same?  Im just a little confused when im doing research on them.  can you very briefly tell me what they are and their dfii

5) How do i determine how much of the double vision is from the retina versus the cataract or cornea?  do I tell my soon to be new doctor about this and then he will tell me what to do and how to proceed?  it is really bothering me and I just try to relax a lot because i know I am still healing.  it is weird daily for me...when i go with my family to the mall, church, stores....my vision is lopsided and i feel like i have an eye and a half working.  the double vision happens when i am on the computer and sometimes the tv.

I want to thank you in advance Dr. O.  I sincerely appreciate all your answers to my questions.  Im due to see 2 to three more doctors in the next few weeks to decide which one to take.  I need one that answers questions and cares about his/her patients.