FACE DOWN POSITIONING AFTER MACULAR HOLE SURGERY? NECESSARY OR NOT

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

Successful macular hole repair does not always require face-down positioning
This retrospective study reports on the largest sample size yet of patients (208 eyes)  who underwent pars plana vitrectomy, ILM peeling and C3F8 tamponade for idiopathic macular holes without subsequent facedown posturing. All patients also underwent phacoemulsification with IOL implantation during macular hole surgery. At one year, the closure rate was 81.3 percent and vision improved from 20/200 to 20/40. They conclude that isolating the macula from vitreous fluid with a large long-lasting gas-fill may render postoperative posturing unnecessary.
Retina, leading medical journal May 2012

POSTED BY THE EYE MDS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY

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

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

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

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

Yes, sometimes "less is more" witness the rapid rehabilitation now from heart attacks and childbirth.
JCH MD

[achillea]

Interesting information, Dr. Hagan.  My late mother in law, gone many years now, might have profited from this change in procedure.  Age and frailty can make that face-down position impossible for some.

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

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

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

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

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