Gas bubble following Vitrectomy

[Fernackerpan]

I had a Vitrectomy for a macular hole almost two weeks ago together with a cataract removed at the same time. At present I can see a black circle with a grey and white interior (very much like a camera lens) which moves or bounces around depending on the position of my head.  I am assuming this is the gas bubble and that it will get smaller and disappear over time? What is most disconcerting is that even with my eye closed I can still see the bubble. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanking you in advance.

[TennGrand]

Macular hole surgery with big bubble insertion 11 days ago.  And yes I can see the gas bubble with my eye closed.  Also my balance is off because I cannot see with both eyes.  I can see that the bubble is smaller now and hoping it will go away in another 4 weeks. Patience is not my long suit so it will be a long 4 weeks!

[JohnHaganMD]

This is not the type of surgery that can be rushed.

[niabell]

I am 47 and one week post op for a macular hole.  Guess it can happen at any age - heck, I even have a 7 yo at home still!  So pleased with my results -we found it early so my hole closed the first week.  The Bubble is dissipating very quickly but since the hole is closed, the doctor isn't worried.  7 days posturing wasn't fun, but thanks to Tylenol PM and an incredible support structure, I just slept the days away - usually 18 hours total.  I feel blessed for the whole experience - I went decades taking my eyesight for granted.  This puts it totally in perspective.

[anniesbee]

I am 46 and 4 days post op for a macular hole.  I have a 6 year old at home and an 11 year old!  Bubble still covering all vision but bouncing a little if I move my head.  Posturing is tough and sometimes depressing.  Am going to try the Tylenol PM. Thanks for the suggestion.  I too never thought about my vision until now.  Sometimes we must lose sight to gain insight.

[Allen1969]

none of my business, but is there no one who can help watch the kids for a few more days?  (and since I have Rx for alazopram,, sleep was the easiest way to get 5-6 hours of sleep.. talk to your doc.. but don't even consider Rx if kids depend on you..

I was told 10 min per hour face up for hygiene, 3 ea 30 min food/sponge bath breaks) .. since my hole was upper-outside quadrant, I was able to sleep on side with bed rail and head face down off bed's edge.. (check with doctor)

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

See my comments on the original posting. You have betteer learn patience as it may take 6 months for the final vision to be determined.

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

Your surgery is a LONG time healing and it may be as long as 6 months before the final result is known. Also see the posting below where another person can see bubble with eyes closed.

[Allen1969]

I had a macular hole repair on 7/12/22.. on 7/27/22 the bubble was rather small and fun to watch with eye closed and light passing thru eyelid.. then.. it was gone six hours later.. doctor had said 14 days.. it was actually 15 days.. I spent about 70% of my time face down and had expected to be 'scolded' and told more time was necessary, but the hole was closed completely and filling in.. I still have the wavy portion of a straight line but maximum recovery level could take 3 months.. I had cataract surgery before vitrectomy.. other than hassle of face-down position, all else was amazing.. to be able to watch (fully awake) during procedure (I didn't really like hearing metal instruments scraping each other, but it was novel.)..

even if my sight does not fully return, it beats the 20/400 outcome if I'd done nothing.. those ophthalmologists in So Oregon know their stuff!!

[DianaMark]

I had a victrectomy for a macular hole in my right eye a week ago Monday on May  13th. The bubble was dissolving fast until 2 days ago it was 3/4 gone. Now a little less the past 2 days. I have a black ring around it. It was like looking through wavy black ring around it. Monday wi8ll be 2 weeks. I have nystagmus besides and had bad cataract surgery in each eye where I got less correction than what I had b4 got cataracts/ . So my vision isn't that good in my better left eye. Monday will be 2 weeks. yY doc said I'd be able to drive in2 weeks after surgery. But last Friday he told me maybe maybe not for 3 weeks after surgery  .If the bubble doesn't go low down enough to not be destracting.  It is bouncing around with the black ring on the bottom 8th of my eye.  I would appreciate anyone to le me know when you were able to drive. Thanks

[JohnHaganMD]

Use the search feature and find the many long and detailed discussions about this type of surgery. you will find they are all different and it's impossible to generalize about your healing, the time the bubble takes to go away and your final visual acuity.  It also depends on whether air was put in eye or SF6 gas or silicone oil.  Also macular hole surgery often does not restore good vision.

[DianaMark]

I had a gas bubble put in my eye for the victrectomy for the macular hole. My vision was 20/70 in right ete b4 hole developed. But went to 20/100 b4 the surgery.  A week after the surgery went back to the 20/100. I hope to get back to 20/70.

[JohnHaganMD]

That is a reasonable expectation.  Do you have air or SF6 in your eye?

[DianaMark]

I'm not sure. My eye dic didn't tell me. But between Monday night  and Tuesday night the bubble which was a round circle went from the sixe of half Dollar to quarter to dine. Then disappeared Tues night at 8pm while I was taking eye drops. That was 2 weeks and 1 day after surgery. Can the bubble disappear that fast?

[JohnHaganMD]

Yes especially if air.   SF6 lasts much longer. Also depends on the amount put in.

[DianaMark]

My eye doc told me he was putting in a gas bubble. Just didn't tell me there were 2 kinds.

[JohnHaganMD]

Then you have a failure to communicate

[MrPresley]

Mine lasted about 4 weeks, but I had SF6.

[JohnHaganMD]

=

[DianaMark]

I went to my eye doc Tuesday.  He said it was. a SF6 gas bubble and it's normal to last 2 weeks to 3 weeks.

[JohnHaganMD]

Okay, hopefully he said the retina and macula were doing well.

[DianaMark]

Yes he did. The macular hole is still closed.  Everything looks fine. My vision in that eye went from 20/100 to 20/80. But my eye pressure is still high at 24 with taking the drops. I have to take the drops for another 2 weeks. Then I see eye doc again.

[JohnHaganMD]

Okay, good luck

[JohnHaganMD]

Again you will need to ask your surgeon but if a gas bubble is small it may be possible to fly  its large bubbles that cause the biggest problem.

[JohnHaganMD]

=

[Whit2357]

I'm two week post -viterectomy.  Gas bubble down to about 15%.  Is it safe to drive to a much lower altitude with a smaller gas bubble?  I live it 7400 feet in Colorado so I was restricted from going home for about 10 days post op, until bubble had receded to less than 50%.  I'm trying to go to a wedding at close to sea level, would drive it over a course of 2-3 days.  First day of travel would be 15 days post-op.

[JohnHaganMD]

It's not going to a lower altitude that is a problem its to a higher altitude. Nevertheless often good to clear with your surgeon.

[jeepgirl57]

I am 36 hrs post op my only concern so far is my right eye that was operated on is not facing straight forward it is off to the right a little bit...is this normal due to swelling and surgery? Had small macular hole found just 7 weeks ago and Dr said the surgery could have not gone any better

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

No way to tell from your description. If it's off to the right then you should have some double vision.  On the other hand if you had local anesthesia (Injection of local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia it might be normal)  ask your surgeon next time in. Double vision and droopy eyelid are not rare after RD/retina surgery

[Msubon]

I am right at 2 months post op. My doctor said I should be able to fly by June 9th. I still have the bubble and two tiny bubbles formed today. I hope that means something good. I'm getting worried it won't be gone by the 9th.  

[JohnHaganMD]

Thanks for the positive message.

[SunnyKit]

Oh, and yes, I see gas bubble when open and closed. It has been almost 6 weeks since my vitrectomy with large gas bubble.

[SunnyKit]

I understand your discouragement. My vitrectomy was 5/7/15 and have large gas bubble for macular hole. It has diminished a lot, but still there though some sight back now. Frustrating since need glasses for my non bubble eye, but when wear them I can't see with the bubble eye. Anyway, I am looking forward to getting glasses to help see better maybe in 2 months. I guess I didn't realize that my sight wouldn't really be returned to "normal", but after getting adjusted to that, I am glad I am not blind in that eye since I was for about a month after the surgery. I haven't driven and walked funny since was off balance. I am not yet 60, and didn't know this happened to people in 50's, but anyway, I'm now getting out and trying to focus on the positive - I'm not blind and getting better; and every time I get discouraged, I try to remember there are many people with way worse things than I have, and it will hopefully get better.

[Suebee644]

My op was May 5/15, I still have a perfect circle that I look through, very frustrating.  I spent 4 weeks face down, hard but I did it!  I see the doc on Wed., June 10.  I am getting discouraged, went out for the first time this week, very disoriented.  I'm a 68 yr old female.  Good luck all!

[Katnip1023]

I had a victrectomy 11 weeks ago with the gas bubble for treatment of a detatched retina   I too still have the bubble which is annoying especially when I bend over   It has decreased significantly but still present   I still have not been able to drive   About 4 weeks out from surgery I had someone take me to Walmart  while walking by myself  i had loss of navigation and had difficulty reading labels even with readers  has anyone else experienced these symptoms?

[peppersimone]

I also had a hole in my macular , cataract removal and a iris reshaping   Gas bubble placement 2 weeks ago.  Doing very well. When can I resume exercise. Didn't ask the doctor. Any input would b greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance

[jlr1971]

yes i to have an gas bubble till have it been so far 10 wks i think hope it goes away soon i see the dr again in 2 wks

[jlr1971]

yes i have saw the bubble with eyes open or clossed i just don't understand no bending down & no laying or the back or picking any thing up when my 4 wks up it will make 11 wks having an bubble in the eye the hole is doing very very good so far but days i wake uo so tired & full  of pain cause can only sleep on sided i fill so weaK HADLY CAN WALK HOPE IT GOES AWAY SOON  I USED MY LEGS TO MOVE A FEW BOXS ANY WAY DO U SWEAP THE FLOOR MOP THE FLOOR WASH CLOES & OTHER HOSE WORK WHILE THE GAS BUBBLE IS IN THE EYE I STILL CAN'T DRIVE & I SURELY MISS IT SO IS THERE ANY ONE WHO CAN ANSWER ANY OF MY ???/ MAY I ASK

[mjryorkie]

Victrectomy for tearing.  The Gas bubble is going, but slowly.  It is now 8 weeks since the op and the bubble is now covering about 20% of  the vision  (immediately post-op it was 100%).  However as this is a sphericle bubble, the apparent rate of shrinkage is accellerating as it gets smaller. It is annoying as it moves... wobbles about. (but it keeps me level headed!!!). What I also get is other slight optical effects - such as internal reflections rom the bubble within the eye that cause little lines to appear.  I want to get back to wearing my contact enses but am waiting for the bubble to go completely as i think my vision is still distorted.  I will be annoyed if it is more than 2 weeks now.

[Ronnie238]

Post vitrectomy

[Ronnie238]

I am now 4weeks post op vitrectomy with gas bubble--I still have a large black circle(much like an eclipse)which is present all the time and bounces around with my eye movement.Has your bubble gone now FernackerpanI .Has anyone else experienced this?

[Pegdub]

I'm 10 days after surgery.and I see well over the bubble. The bubble has had a black line around it and looks 3/4 gone. The hard part is sleeping with my head way up and on my back. I go back to Retinal Dr. in 3 weeks.

[Pegdub]

The surgery was Jan.4,2017

[JohnHaganMD]

=

[larryng]

It's thirty days post-op and I still
have about 40% gas bubble. The gas used is C3F8 which is a long acting gas with a long half life. My doc told me three days ago that it will take another two to three weeks to reaborb completely. After that, he will give the prescription for new glasses as my eye has become short sighted and astigmatism has set in. Good news is that the cataract is reduced since the first week the head down posturing helps to prevent gas induced cataract, so all that hard work and suffering was worth it.

[Psyklops]

Mine just disappeared a minute ago, almost two weeks to the day after scleral buckling, vitrectomy and laser.

What you see is the shadow of the bubble, originally it obscures the vision, but becomes progressively smaller over time (I had the faster acting SF6 gas). It becomes a button sized ball and if it was like mine it just goes 'poof' and gone.

I could see mine with my eyes closed and it was quite pretty, purple in the middle and red on the outside, with a sort of light that looked like an eclipse.

Scary at first check out this guys website - http://www.jimlawton.info/myeye

[matt_ret_d_vitrectomy]

I had a vitrectomy, but had long lasting gas bubble. What you see is very normal, you're lucky  it wasn't for 12 weeks like with my case. I don't remember seeing the gas bubble with my eye closed.   However I also had PFO (a dense liquid) placed in the eye during surgery and there are still some bubbles after a year and a half. And I can see those with my eye closed, even in the dark!  My guess is the bubbles touch my retina and stimulate the optic nerves and I "see" an image.
Eyes and ophthamalogy are wonderful things, and I've seen and learned so much. I appreciate my vision and eye care daily!

[eyesonyou]

I am glad to hear this.  My gas bubble is still there a little bit, and I had to descend lots of stairs today.  Looking down through the bubble throws off my equilibrium. I just held on to the stair rails and went slowly.

I can't wait until it is gone!

[Fernackerpan]

The gas bubble has disappeared this morning after shrinking rapidly yesterday. Everything still looks very blurry and I've got small black spots floating about but I guess this is all part of the recovery process. I've got a follow up hospital appt next Tues so should know then if all is in order. Hope your eye is healing too.