Macular Pucker surgery...to do or not to do?

[homecrafter]

Hello everyone, I'm needing some shared experiences PLEASE.
Last week I was diagnosed with rather severe Macular Pucker in one eye.  I noticed a decline in vision for several months prior, but thought I had an infection from eye makeup.  Saw a retina specialist yesterday , seeing a second opinion Friday but I am expecting the same news.
The pucker is pulling on the retina and nerves a bit and has made my vision in that one eye 20/200 and no corrective lenses will help at this point.  I can still see light, shapes etc. but just cannot make out letters.  I can live with it like this, but the specialist says the tugging my cause more severe damage so I have nothing to loose by doing the surgery right away for the best chance of any improvment.

That is where I'm having the problem ,,,I am 56 and still lead an active life on the lake with waterskiing etc.  I have never needed surgery or prescriptions and take care of myself with exercise and diet.    
I do not want to enter into a lifestyle of surgeries, infections, potential real dangers with retinal detachment or reoccurance of the pucker...etc etc.  Yes, I know every surgery has risks and I should just suck it up, but the fear of making the wrong decision is stressing me greatly.  The Dr. cannot tell if the pucker stabilized or will cause more damage...so do I just leave "well enough alone here"??

Does anyone out there have a similar experience with Macular Pucker surgery ?  I would appreciate any and all comments !

[JohnHaganMD]

Here are some world experts: Tim W. Olsen MD Chair Emory U Dept of Ophthalmology Atlanta:  Steve Charles MD arguably the most well know and respected retina surgeon in the world (Germantown TN) http://charlesretina.com/team/steven-charles-md/   Carmen Puliafito MD Dean Keck School of Medicine USC California;  

JCH MD

[Ruhe7004]

Is there a retinal specialist you would recommend in the Kansas City area, for macular pucker surgery? Thank you in advance.

[GT80]

Could I ask who your Columbia world class retina specialist?  I have had two surgeries and a third is planned.  I would like to first get a second opinion, but am having difficulty getting fact-based identification of the true experts in the field

[GT80]

Could I ask the name of your Columbia star retina specialist?  I have had two surgeries now (the second for a RD), and am really struggling to figure out who the rock stars are.  I would like a second opinion before another surgery

[Robtpenn]

I wish you the very best. I do not think you can overthink eye surgery and I can relate to being a worrier. I also think it is a good reference if a doctor sends their own family to a specific doctor but it depends on what they send them for. I have a local ophthalmologist I see a few times per year. I consider him fine for routine advise and follow up. I would not use him for surgery (the types of surgery he does). He may be fine but I know there are more experienced docs. I'd say the main question i always ask once i've picked a doc is are you going to do the surgery yourself. This is especially true at teaching hospitals where the surgeons are often among the best but they may being having a doc in training doing part of the surgery. Not what I want on my eyes

[tela44]

The Phillips Eye institute is the location of my eye surgery. The doctor that would do the surgery is one my ophthalmologist sends her own father too and she said that is a good reference if an MD picks that surgeon.

My eye doctor says she has patients get the surgery done and for the most part the only complaint is less than an outcome they hoped for.  Nothing major as far as failures go.

I'm just a worrier by nature and anxiety is the way I deal with things these days so I'm probably over thinking the surgery.  

[Robtpenn]

In my experience it is almost always time for a second opinion. Google "Top Eye Hospitals" and look at the US News website. You'll' see the best. It depends on where you live and if you will travel. Top docs are a bit more difficult but if you see the head of the dept at a top hospital it is a good start. But you often do not get to see these guys/ladies next week. They are busy.