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 !

[GT80]

How can I know which are the top rated eye hospitals?

Are there any ratings for doctors?

I am facing my second macular pucker surgery and am now thinking it is time for a second opinion

[Gusmana]

I was diagnosed with macular degeneration and macular pucker in my r eye 18months ago. My distortion has rapidly increased since, and my doctor thinks I am ready for surgery at this point. i can still drive and faces on tv seem distorted viewing from that eye, but the fact that my left eye compensates, makes me still able to manage stuff on my own. I am rather scared to go for the surgery as I've been told it's a very delicate operation and might lose part of my centre vision which is still intact at this point. Any suggestions anyone, pls?

[calmeye]

I just had my 3rd or 4th control for a pucker, with macular edema. I began (2012) with pains, deep in the puckered eye after the first assessment in the clinic. No specialist could explain it.
I found out they better when I close my eye for some times. Also I use them as a signal that sunlght is coming from behind or the side into my sunglasses, refelecting the UV directly in the eye.I waer a wide-brimmed head and make quick accomodations when I feel that pain. This helps to diminish the pain or to let it go away. I think my pain has got something to do with sensitivity to light. Yesterday with the medicla control it started after the warming up of the puckered eye with a very extended OCT. (new apparatus).I minimise the OCT's as much as possible, because I have not been able to find research on the possible harm of the used laserfrequencies.

[pinhole]

Have you asked your surgeon whether there's a patient you might speak with about their experience? The result from any surgery will be highly individual, of course, but if it's the actual experience of having the surgery starting with arriving at the hospital for the procedure until a month or more later when you can stop taking the eye drops, maybe they could put you in touch with someone. You could get an opinion outside the practice where you've already been seen. There are a few different retinal practices in the TC. Do you know which hospital the surgery would be done in?

[Robtpenn]

Few things more scarey than eye surgery. I know you have seen two docs but maybe another opinion would help. I've found each time I learn more but I really prep for the appointment. You are not near any of the top rated eye hospitals but the Mayo Clinic is usually in the top 15 rated by US News for eye problems. Very specialized surgery and need very good retinal surgeon. I always ask each do who they would use if they needed this surgery and your partners could not do it (good way to get 2nd opinion), how many have you done, have you done this surgery on any MD's (the Md's know the besy docs for their eyes, any new processes or equipment at the teaching hospitals not yet available to most  docs (sometimes new equipment makes a big difference but it is still too expensive for your local doc) etc

[tela44]

That is a good question-I was first checked last Aug. and the doctor said it was up to me to decide when/if to have the surgery. In April I had a re-check in the same practice but with a different doctor. She said it was worse even though both told me I have 20/40 vision in that eye. She suggested surgery sooner rather than later because they can fix it better early.
If I knew it would stay like it is I could live with it but you never know what it will do, I guess.
I just don't want it worse in any way due to surgery. I wish the doctor doing the surgery could let you talk to former patients of theirs to get the truth on what really happened to them--was it better, worse, how is it now????