Aa
macular hole recovery
Can anyone tell me how their recovery went? Was the surgery painful? Did you get your eyesight back? Are you able to drive after recovery? How difficult is the face-down recovery process? Will I need help in daily care during recovery?
It's been 4 weeks since my Vitrectomy for a Stage II Macular Hole using C3F8 gas. I still have 1/3 of the gas still in the eye. I can see over the top with glaring and lots of little black floaters. When I have my corrective contact lens I see tons better. This is my former, pre surgery prescription. I still do not feel confident enough to drive at this stage. My peripheral vision is still impaired. I live in Houston where people drive like maniacs. I don't want to take a chance out there on the roads yet. I'm not sure why the gas is taking so long to reabsorb. I've read that it can take 3 months to 2 years to reabsorb. I have been using the stationary bike indoors and have even been outdoors on my regular bike since last week.
I did keep my head down for 2 weeks, using the special equipment. My Dr. only ordered 1 week, head down. In his experience, if it doesn't take in 1 week, it is not going to seal the hole. My first week post-op, I couldn't even open my eye because of the swelling from keeping my head face down. How was it that you could see right away? Wow! When I saw him at 3 weeks he was pleased with the progress. Also he was pleased that I could see at that time with that eye. No signs of cataract yet, which is good. I see him again at 6 weeks post op. I sure hope that I am driving by then. I am very lucky to have some really nice friends/neighbors/husband that have been taking me to my appointments.
How long ago did you have your surgery for the Macular Hole? When did you have the cataract surgery? What lens did they use?
Thank you.
I did keep my head down for 2 weeks, using the special equipment. My Dr. only ordered 1 week, head down. In his experience, if it doesn't take in 1 week, it is not going to seal the hole. My first week post-op, I couldn't even open my eye because of the swelling from keeping my head face down. How was it that you could see right away? Wow! When I saw him at 3 weeks he was pleased with the progress. Also he was pleased that I could see at that time with that eye. No signs of cataract yet, which is good. I see him again at 6 weeks post op. I sure hope that I am driving by then. I am very lucky to have some really nice friends/neighbors/husband that have been taking me to my appointments.
How long ago did you have your surgery for the Macular Hole? When did you have the cataract surgery? What lens did they use?
Thank you.
Hi --Actually ,I had my surgery in May 2003. Then in December of 2004,I had my cataract surgery lan Acrylic lens was implanted.
My latest eye eam was very good and the Retina specialist discharged me last October. My cataract surgeon told me in April that eery ting looked good and he owuld see me again in a year.
Do you still see your gas bubble? After 12 days , my gas bubble--which first looked like a planet in the solar system,was gone. I kept my eye closed too though but it was mostly because i was interested in looking at the gas bubble.It shrunk down to a tiny black dot and then it started moving aorund in my field of vision and it disappeared. I was driving again in two weeks.
You were fortunate to have a Stage 2 Macular hole . They can progress suddenly from a Stage 2 to a 4.Your hole was smaller.
I am surprised that you had eye swelling to the degree that you could not open your eye.
Wonder why it is takeing so long for the gas to be reasorbed? I think as the gas bubble goes ways, the eye is filling back up with fluid. I do remember my surgeon's telling me that my m.hole was not sealed completely when I returned after 2 weeks. He said it would take time to heal. At that point I felt dscouraged .But it did heal fine and so far I have not developed a secondary cataract either although I know that commmonly they do occur and are treated by laiser when they do.
My latest eye eam was very good and the Retina specialist discharged me last October. My cataract surgeon told me in April that eery ting looked good and he owuld see me again in a year.
Do you still see your gas bubble? After 12 days , my gas bubble--which first looked like a planet in the solar system,was gone. I kept my eye closed too though but it was mostly because i was interested in looking at the gas bubble.It shrunk down to a tiny black dot and then it started moving aorund in my field of vision and it disappeared. I was driving again in two weeks.
You were fortunate to have a Stage 2 Macular hole . They can progress suddenly from a Stage 2 to a 4.Your hole was smaller.
I am surprised that you had eye swelling to the degree that you could not open your eye.
Wonder why it is takeing so long for the gas to be reasorbed? I think as the gas bubble goes ways, the eye is filling back up with fluid. I do remember my surgeon's telling me that my m.hole was not sealed completely when I returned after 2 weeks. He said it would take time to heal. At that point I felt dscouraged .But it did heal fine and so far I have not developed a secondary cataract either although I know that commmonly they do occur and are treated by laiser when they do.
Yes, I still have the gas bubble after almost 5 weeks post op. It is getting smaller and less in my field of vision. It is still at least the size of a contact lens when looking down thru it. My Dr. said my gas bubble was very large from the beginning. Which probably means it will take more time to reabsorb. It might be related to the regeneration of the vitreous gel also. Maybe the gel will displace the gas??? Also, on the day after surgery he said the hole was sealed because the large gas bubble was pushing against it. 1 week post op it was still sealed. 3 weeks also, still sealed, but the area behind my eye was still swollen. The Dr. said what I was seeing as the hole(the opaque gray bullseye) would appear smaller once the swelling came down.
My vision otherwise seems good wearing a contact lens. I'm sure I'll have to go to a stronger prescription in that eye. I am still not driving because I feel the peripheral vision is still not as good as it should be to drive. I might give it a try in a few days. My 1 cat was just diagnosed with diabetes. I give him insullin injections twice daily. He has to have a glucose check every 2 weeks. The vet is close to home, so I'll try to drive there.
I am back to riding my bike outdoors for 50-60 minutes a day. Hope it doesn't interfere with the healing process.
I am still pleased with my progress so far. My vision is much better than it was as a Stage II Macular Hole with 20:100 vision. Like you said your vision improved to 20:25. I never thought I would be able to have vision in that area again. I know that it was a good decision to have the surgery immediately after it went from a Stage I hole to a Stage II hole. It had progressed so quickly to Stage II that I didn't want to risk the chance of it going beyond that.
My next appointment is next week, 6 weeks post op. I'm sure I'll be hearing good news.
My vision otherwise seems good wearing a contact lens. I'm sure I'll have to go to a stronger prescription in that eye. I am still not driving because I feel the peripheral vision is still not as good as it should be to drive. I might give it a try in a few days. My 1 cat was just diagnosed with diabetes. I give him insullin injections twice daily. He has to have a glucose check every 2 weeks. The vet is close to home, so I'll try to drive there.
I am back to riding my bike outdoors for 50-60 minutes a day. Hope it doesn't interfere with the healing process.
I am still pleased with my progress so far. My vision is much better than it was as a Stage II Macular Hole with 20:100 vision. Like you said your vision improved to 20:25. I never thought I would be able to have vision in that area again. I know that it was a good decision to have the surgery immediately after it went from a Stage I hole to a Stage II hole. It had progressed so quickly to Stage II that I didn't want to risk the chance of it going beyond that.
My next appointment is next week, 6 weeks post op. I'm sure I'll be hearing good news.
It does take time for the gas bubble to go away and the swelling to subside. My guess is that our retina surgeons have different ways of explaining to patients what is occurring.However, my specialist did not want me wearing contact lens in that eye until all the redness in the white of my eye from the surgery was gone.
I had and still have some tiny broken bloodvessels where he put the incisions in my eye. My opthalmologist told me it was okay for me to use the contact lens even though the redness was still there (tiny visible blood vessels)but that was over a year later!!He added that my retina specialist had not wanted me to wear contact lens in the eye while there was any swelling there.
there is a visual test they can do in the Retina Doctor's office (seems like the abbreviated name for it is OTC --and it will show the extent of healing of the hole.It is a simple test but very valuable to the trained eye in seeing what the hole is doing.)
I am concerned that your doctor has put a gas in your eye which is taking so long to be absorbed. In my opinion, you should have been seeing spendidly after 14 days.There is no need for you to have to go so long with a gas bubble in your eye and I would love to know what advantage this will gain for you?Will it hasten the development of a cataract? the whole purpose of the gas bubble is to press against the back of the eye --not the front of the eye where it is right now. I am thinking you may already have the cataract and that is why you cannot see well.
But I would definitely not wear the contact lens yet--confront your doctor about my questions and let me know what he says. I realize every surgery and patient is different but I am thinking you may need to pop into another docotor's office real soon for a second opinion because t he informatin you are sharing is not at all what I would have thought would have been
the result of Stage 2 surgery.
In two weeks after surgery ,I was at 20-30. My vision stayed that way until my cataract was fully developed at which time I was legally blind in the eye (again).But within 6 weeks after my cataract surgery I was at 20-25 and that has been holding up now for over a year.
I had and still have some tiny broken bloodvessels where he put the incisions in my eye. My opthalmologist told me it was okay for me to use the contact lens even though the redness was still there (tiny visible blood vessels)but that was over a year later!!He added that my retina specialist had not wanted me to wear contact lens in the eye while there was any swelling there.
there is a visual test they can do in the Retina Doctor's office (seems like the abbreviated name for it is OTC --and it will show the extent of healing of the hole.It is a simple test but very valuable to the trained eye in seeing what the hole is doing.)
I am concerned that your doctor has put a gas in your eye which is taking so long to be absorbed. In my opinion, you should have been seeing spendidly after 14 days.There is no need for you to have to go so long with a gas bubble in your eye and I would love to know what advantage this will gain for you?Will it hasten the development of a cataract? the whole purpose of the gas bubble is to press against the back of the eye --not the front of the eye where it is right now. I am thinking you may already have the cataract and that is why you cannot see well.
But I would definitely not wear the contact lens yet--confront your doctor about my questions and let me know what he says. I realize every surgery and patient is different but I am thinking you may need to pop into another docotor's office real soon for a second opinion because t he informatin you are sharing is not at all what I would have thought would have been
the result of Stage 2 surgery.
In two weeks after surgery ,I was at 20-30. My vision stayed that way until my cataract was fully developed at which time I was legally blind in the eye (again).But within 6 weeks after my cataract surgery I was at 20-25 and that has been holding up now for over a year.
The gas is behind the eye. It appears that you are seeing through it and it looks as if it's in front of the eye. It is definitely the gas because it is one big blob like a contact lens with dark edges, floating at the bottom(which in reality is a the top and behind the eye). Could it be that you had the SF6 intraocular gas and not the C3F8?? Maybe it reabsorbs more rapidly. Or just that you heal quicker than I do. Another article said the gas can remain in the eye up to 2 months. Also that the eyes own natural fluids eventually replace the gas.
At 3 weeks post op there was no sign of a cataract. I asked then if I could wear the contact in that eye. The R. Specialist told me that I could as long as it did not irritate my eye. Also at 3 weeks I could not read the eye chart, but could see other things. So, my Dr. thought that it was excellent that I was regaining my eyesight already.
I will have another recheck next week at 6 weeks post op. I know that I still have swelling behind the eye. When that improves, the size of the reflection of the hole will get smaller too. Yes, my Dr. uses some instrument with a bright light to examine my eye. That's how he tells if there is a Macular Hole and the Stage it's in. Also shows him if it is sealed after the surgery. I do have very high regards for my Dr. I just must be slower at recovering. My vision is much better now than before the surgery in the portion of the eye that I can see out of(which is about 2/3's). You were just very lucky to regain your vision so rapidly. I'm hoping it will be at least a year or more till a cataract forms in my eye. I will keep you informed. Thanks it helps to compare notes.
At 3 weeks post op there was no sign of a cataract. I asked then if I could wear the contact in that eye. The R. Specialist told me that I could as long as it did not irritate my eye. Also at 3 weeks I could not read the eye chart, but could see other things. So, my Dr. thought that it was excellent that I was regaining my eyesight already.
I will have another recheck next week at 6 weeks post op. I know that I still have swelling behind the eye. When that improves, the size of the reflection of the hole will get smaller too. Yes, my Dr. uses some instrument with a bright light to examine my eye. That's how he tells if there is a Macular Hole and the Stage it's in. Also shows him if it is sealed after the surgery. I do have very high regards for my Dr. I just must be slower at recovering. My vision is much better now than before the surgery in the portion of the eye that I can see out of(which is about 2/3's). You were just very lucky to regain your vision so rapidly. I'm hoping it will be at least a year or more till a cataract forms in my eye. I will keep you informed. Thanks it helps to compare notes.
Hi again.
It is good that you have high regard for your doctor.Yes, everyone heals differently.I am not sure what gas was used but I do know that I was in an airplane going to NYC 7 months after my surgery and most of the articles on the internet say that you can fly again after 2 months.Most articles I have read say the gas bubble and air are gone by 2 to 3 weeks.
Did your doctor say you had complications of any kind?
Maybe your gas bubble will be gone within the next couple of weeks. When it leaves, it goes fast--mine started shrinking on my drive to work and by the time I got to the office it had left my visual field.It reminedd me of the air going out of a balloon and the balloon gets smaller and smaller. Also, when it got real tiny,it started moving all around in my visual field --like a floater in a race. Then it was gone.
A year later when I had the cataract surgery, I had alot of floaters and read about it in my eye book and I think I had some sort of vitreal separation but they are harmless and the floaters disappeared in a few days.
It is good that you have high regard for your doctor.Yes, everyone heals differently.I am not sure what gas was used but I do know that I was in an airplane going to NYC 7 months after my surgery and most of the articles on the internet say that you can fly again after 2 months.Most articles I have read say the gas bubble and air are gone by 2 to 3 weeks.
Did your doctor say you had complications of any kind?
Maybe your gas bubble will be gone within the next couple of weeks. When it leaves, it goes fast--mine started shrinking on my drive to work and by the time I got to the office it had left my visual field.It reminedd me of the air going out of a balloon and the balloon gets smaller and smaller. Also, when it got real tiny,it started moving all around in my visual field --like a floater in a race. Then it was gone.
A year later when I had the cataract surgery, I had alot of floaters and read about it in my eye book and I think I had some sort of vitreal separation but they are harmless and the floaters disappeared in a few days.
You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Archive Forum
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Eye whitening, iris color change, and eyeball "bling." Eye expert Dr. John Hagan warns of the dangers from these unnecessary surgeries.
Eye expert John Hagan, MD, FACS, FAAO discusses factors to consider and discuss with your eye care team before embarking on cataract surgery.
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
Protect against the leading cause of blindness in older adults
Got dry eyes? Eye drops aren't the only option! Ophthalmologist John C. Hagan III, MD explains other possible treatments.
