Wait a year for anisekonia improvement?

[sma3760]

Following a victrectomy for a retinal tear I have experienced the difficulties of aniseikonia. The retina doctor indicated that it takes up to a year for the photo receptors to possibly find their correct location which should help. I am 4 months post surgery and would like to hear of when others experienced their best improvement time periods for this image size difference.  Does it really improve?
There appears to be options for measurement/lens options at universities and optomolgists that utilize the Shaw lens method.  Has anyone in this group have a Shaw lens success story?
This site has provided much needed information and I am grateful to have run into it during my desperate google searches for information!

[curio255]

It is just over 3 weeks after my vitrectomy and have significant aniseikonia (micropsia) in my operated left eye. Everything in the left eye is about half the size of the good eye. I have heard many say that this may resolve itself by the photoreceptor cells adjusting on their own. However, the studies I see on this give it a 50/50 chance of doing so. The general consensus I am hearing on this is that the vision at 6 months will be the final vision. At that point, I am told, if there is still an issue, people can seek assistance with lenses. We will see and I have my fingers crossed.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

This 'conversation' is from 9 years ago

[curio255]

Hi Doctor. Yes, I figured I would share my experience for the database in cases others search for this topic as well.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Thank you.

[leejosepho]

I had a vitrectomy along with an ERM (epiretinal membrane) peel while hoping to reduce macular pucker about 10 months ago, and now that eye permanently sees rectangles as squares and vice-versa.  During the first few days following the vitrectomy and while still looking through a bubble, I watched that eye switch several times from what it should see to what it now sees, and I was certainly disappointed when the receptors finally "stuck" where they did.  I have since had cataract surgery in both eyes, and that has not had any effect on my aniseikonia that is actually a disparity of shape rather than merely a disparity of size.  I have an appointment to see about Shaw lenses in a couple of weeks, and all of my investigation so far suggests Shaw lenses can at least help alleviate a condition even such as mine.

[melissard]

Leejosepho,

I realize this is an old post but I'm researching the Shaw Lens as we speak.  Did this help you?  I have Aniseikonia due to scleral buckle surgery for a retinal detachment.   My Retina Specialist thought contacts would help but they did not.  They only made the disparity more obvious.   Right now I have no other choice but to "dumb down" the prescription in that eye and let it go blurry.  It's the only way I can get relief.  Unfortunately it's not ideal.

[MrPresley]

A member on here (CBCT) reported a solution for this condition a few years ago that involved simply placing a small square of Scotch tape on a pair of glasses in the center of the lens over the affected eye. My aniseikonia (which was never exceedingly bad)resolved itself over the period of about a year following a vitrectomy/ERM peel, but that was a simple solution I was willing to try had it not done so.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

There are a large number of posts by JodieJ in the past on this that you might be able to find.  Corneal refractive surgery is another option when your retina Eye MD gives okay.

[sma3760]

Thank you for your response.
Yes, it was a retinal detachment, macular off.
The question I am confused with is how long one waits to seek a lens solution?  Is there a period of time where improvement in the image size disparity is possible? The information I received was the photo receptors were 'flattened' during surgery and will rise over time.  This process could improve the size of the images of the affected eye.
Am looking for an average time period when the majority of size improvements are achieved. It would make sense at that point to seek the lens solutions.
Thank you

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You probably had a vitrectomy for a retinal detachment or a macular hole.  A vitrectomy is not done for just a retinal tear.

Your anisokonia should be helped by a contact lens.

Dr. O.