Macular hole recovery?

[wwlucy]

Good evening, having gone through macular hole surgery 2 years ago, following quickly by retinal detachment repair surgery with a schleral buckle; I have a macular hole in my other eye (severe myopia both eyes).  Has anything changed?  Last time I managed face-down for barely 6 days, and the hole closed.  This time surgery will be performed sooner.  Reading that face-down time seems extremely varied; with some ? that the extreme week to 2 week periods may be obsolete thinking.  Also see posts of 20-30 minutes several times a day?  what are the latest thoughts on this with a gas bubble?  Thank you.  

[mklarson]

Here is one more website if the insurance will not cover the other product page I sent you.  They are setup to do rentals by the week:

  http://www.facedownsolutions.com/

[mklarson]

I am referring to what the surgeon "deems" a success for the procedure. The surgeon will estimate results based on eye status, size of area to be repaired, etc.  When a patient is non-compliant with regards to staying face down, healing does not complete and a host of problems arise. Some of the problems are detached retinas, higher loss of central vision, and many more.

I am giving you the name of a website that has products to help make the post-op time a little easier. They will even work with your insurance to try and get it covered as part of the procedure. Here is the website:

http://vitrectomysolutions.com/products.asp


I hope everything goes well...

[wwlucy]

Thank you for your reply.  Could you please define what is meant by success rate drops?... does that mean that the hole does not close as much as it could; or does not stay closed? or something different?  My macular hole closed last time, but there is definitely a 'glitch/dark spot' in my central vision.  With the surgery caught earlier this time; are my chances better for my central vision ?....I'm probably unrealistically shooting for 'perfect'!    Meanwhile, sleep aids or something for anxiety sound better this go around...

[mklarson]

Sadly, little has changed except some of the gadgets to make laying face down a little more user friendly.  If you fail to stay face down for 1-2 weeks the success rate drops to 50% from 95%. One trick we use to help patients through the time drag is to prescribe a sleep aids, and/or muscle relaxers.  You will spend most of the time sleeping so it is not so boring.

Talk to your doctor about possible options.

best of luck!