Eye Floater Removal Surgery (Removal) Anyone had it?

[ShokWaveRider]

I have VERY bad eye floaters in my left eye along with a small kink in the membrane directly over my Retina right in my line of vision. Tomorrow I am going to a highly regarded retina specialist in our area. I will first have an exam (again), and I am sure he will recommend something. There are 2 ways of removal that I have read about, Laser & Vitreous Humor replacement. I may also have the membrane kink addressed (Peeled off).

As you can imagine I am very skeptical / nervous about this and am seeking some reassurance from folks with some experience or knowledge.

 

[braumeister]

I have a very annoying floater in one eye, but I've never heard about a procedure to eliminate them. Please keep us informed.

 

[MRG]

I have a very annoying floater in one eye, but I've never heard about a procedure to eliminate them. Please keep us informed.

+1

Had them all my life. One's annoying as all get out.

 

[Sojourner]

I have a very annoying floater in one eye, but I've never heard about a procedure to eliminate them. Please keep us informed.

+1

I actually have floaters in both eyes (one much more noticeable & distracting than the other), and when I mentioned this to my eye doctor many years ago, he said there was nothing that could be done about it. I would be very happy to know that an effective treatment is now available.

 

[Calico]

I have floaters in my right eye - they arrived with a bang about 5 months ago, but have improved a great deal since then. Apparently they have largely "settled" at the bottom of the vitreous fluid (for now).

When they first surfaced, my eye doc told me about the two options the OP mentioned, but he said those would only be used as a last, drastic resort, and only if the floaters severely affected quality of life, which mine definitely do not.

OP: Best of luck to you. My eye doc did say that when the surgical options are used, they can be very successful and make a huge change for the better. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

From what my Eye specialist has been telling me, I have both floaters and a "Macular Pucker". Vitrectomy is the procedure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrectomy

 

[NW-Bound]

A few months ago a floater suddenly developed in my right eye. I went to an opthalmologist for an examination to be sure, but he confirmed that it was benign, and nothing to be done.

Information on the Website says it happens with age, and is quite common. In talking to people, I learned that my sister-in-law who is much younger has suffered this through her life.

Mineis getting a bit better as the doctor said it might happen.

 

[Alan]

I have VERY bad eye floaters in my left eye along with a small kink in the membrane directly over my Retina right in my line of vision. Tomorrow I am going to a highly regarded retina specialist in our area. I will first have an exam (again), and I am sure he will recommend something. There are 2 ways of removal that I have read about, Laser & Vitreous Humor replacement. I may also have the membrane kink addressed (Peeled off).

As you can imagine I am very skeptical / nervous about this and am seeking some reassurance from folks with some experience or knowledge.

Not sure if this is the same thing but earlier this year a good friend had an epiretinal membrane peel, and vitreous removed. I drove him to and from the eye hospital and it was an overnight procedure. For the first couple of days after surgery he said it was like looking out of a half full tank of water slopping around as he walked, but that soon stopped as the water was absorbed or drained away and he is delighted with the results.

 

[JoeWras]

Not sure if this is the same thing but earlier this year a good friend had an epiretinal membrane peel, and vitreous removed. I drove him to and from the eye hospital and it was an overnight procedure. For the first couple of days after surgery he said it was like looking out of a half full tank of water slopping around as he walked, but that soon stopped as the water was absorbed or drained away and he is delighted with the results.

A friend had a detached retina. They removed some of the vitreous, tack up the retina, and fill the eye with a gas bubble. She had to lay (or sit) face down for 23 hours a day for a week or two. The air "pushes up" against the retina while it heals.

I don't think this is required for a floater removal of the vitreous, but it gives an idea of worst case scenario for recovery.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

DW has a bad floater and was offered a surgical option (sorry I don't know the name of it). She's very squeamish and nervous about her eyes, as am I, and doesn't want to have it done. OTOH, the floater is annoying her worse and worse.

Yes, please update us on the outcome. And best of luck to the OP!

 

[johnnyfuego]

If the floaters increase and/or you see flashes, get to the ophthalmologist quickly. Do not expect pain with the detachment as there is none. Holding the head down after a vitrectomy however is tough. A detached retina is nothing to waste time about. Been there...

 

[target2019]

I have VERY bad eye floaters in my left eye along with a small kink in the membrane directly over my Retina right in my line of vision. Tomorrow I am going to a highly regarded retina specialist in our area. I will first have an exam (again), and I am sure he will recommend something. There are 2 ways of removal that I have read about, Laser & Vitreous Humor replacement. I may also have the membrane kink addressed (Peeled off).

As you can imagine I am very skeptical / nervous about this and am seeking some reassurance from folks with some experience or knowledge.

I have floaters too. You need to be certain you understand the risks with any procedure. I was told to wait for improvement.

Since each situation is different, it's not right to reassure you. Everything depends on the surgeon's experience, and how well prepared the facility is for things going wrong, how staff responds, etc.

Since my spouse has always worked in ophthalmology, I have picked up from her that it is always wise to be cautious, and try to get a read on the doctor's reputation. The facility is very important too.

 

[Alan]

I have floaters too. You need to be certain you understand the risks with any procedure. I was told to wait for improvement.

Since each situation is different, it's not right to reassure you. Everything depends on the surgeon's experience, and how well prepared the facility is for things going wrong, how staff responds, etc.

Since my spouse has always worked in ophthalmology, I have picked up from her that it is always wise to be cautious, and try to get a read on the doctor's reputation. The facility is very important too.

This is exactly the advice DW has been given. Wait for improvement but go back
immediately there is any big change, particularly bright flashes.

She got floaters pretty bad in her right eye a couple of years ago. After a while the brain adjusted and mostly ignores the floaters.

Two months ago a load of floaters appeared in her left eye, she said it was like looking through a lace curtain. She immediately went to see an ophthalmologist who examined her, confirmed that her retina was healthy, and told her to wait for improvement.

 

[target2019]

When this first came up, and a year later, they captured images of my retina. This was to establish a baseline, so that during future visits we have something to compare against.

 

[googily]

Ditto along with other folks that a few years ago I had a sudden batch of floaters in both eyes (once looks like it's at least an inch long, though usually it snakes around). Two different eye doctors said that my retinas were healthy, and eventually the floaters did go from dark to "clear," but have not truly disappeared. They now really only bother me when I look at something white surrounded by less-bright areas--like, say, looking at a computer screen in the dark, or driving on an overcast day. But even that "bother" is just more annoyance.

 

[Danmar]

I also have floaters in both eyes resulting from detached retinas. The retinas have been fixed (laser surgery) but the floaters remain. A little irritating for sure. Never heard of removing floaters. Keep us informed.

 

[Car-Guy]

About two years ago, I started seeing a lot of floaters in both eyes. It seemed to start rather suddenly and was very annoying and concerning. Over the next few months it seemed to be getting worse. After a lot of reading on the subject, I was "considering" going to a eye specialist to be checked out. Anyway, I didn't go and now two years later, the floaters are gone. (or I don't see them anymore)

I mentioned this in another thread recently, but over the past few years I've noticed my vision seemed to be getting better. I've needed to wear glasses most of my adult life to drive. Last year I passed my drivers vision test for the first time in 40+ years and now I don't wear glasses at all.

 

[FiveDriver]

I'm wondering if there's any Vitamin supplements that would hasten these floaters away ?? Like Vitamin E maybe ?? Or those Preservision-type supplements ??

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Not sure if this is the same thing but earlier this year a good friend had an epiretinal membrane peel, and vitreous removed. I drove him to and from the eye hospital and it was an overnight procedure. For the first couple of days after surgery he said it was like looking out of a half full tank of water slopping around as he walked, but that soon stopped as the water was absorbed or drained away and he is delighted with the results.

Alan: Very promising, that is exactly what I have.

 

[Sunset]

....

I mentioned this in another thread recently, but over the past few years I've noticed my vision seemed to be getting better. I've needed to wear glasses most of my adult life to drive. Last year I passed my drivers vision test for the first time in 40+ years and now I don't wear glasses at all.

Often that is a sign of cataracts which are only a problem when they become cloudy.

 

[Car-Guy]

Often that is a sign of cataracts which are only a problem when they become cloudy.

I had an eye doctor tell me that some years ago but so far, if it is cataracts, it's making my vision noticeably better. (at this point in time) Even my night vision is much better and daytime vision is excellent. I haven't had to wear my "bifocals" this year. No clouding, blurring, etc. If it stays that way, I'll take it.

 

[eytonxav]

I have had an epic-retinal membrane (pucker) for several years and a large floater that moves up and down constantly. It affects my softball game, and I've thought about having it addressed, however, every Ophthalmologist that I've spoken too advised against it unless my vision is significantly affected. It does seem to be gradually getting worse, so I may need to address it in the near future, but that surgery and recovery scares the hell out of me. I hear that vision may only get about a 50% improvement after such surgery, although your floaters should be gone.

 

[madsquopper]

I had floaters in both eyes due to posterior vitreous detachments after cataract surgery (it's not clear if the surgery actually caused the PVD's but it does increase the risk). Anyway, it left me with some very annoying floaters, mostly Weiss rings in both eyes. After a year of online research plus input from my ophthalmologist (who said don't do it) and my retina doctor (said it's unlikely to make things worse and could make things better but no guarantee) I decided to do the laser method.

At the time there were basically 3 recommended doctors doing this and one was in my area so ended up having him treat both eyes. At least for me the results were incredibly good and I've had no further problems or any new floaters. Mine were the type that supposedly were the easiest to treat. Based on all I read it's impossible to predict beforehand exactly how good the results will be, but at least most of the people said it helped at least somewhat.

Here's the place I went to https://www.eyefloaters.com/ and it has a lot of good, general info.

Larry

 

[ShokWaveRider]

OK Update: Had appointment with the Retina Specialist. He has done 16,000 Vitrectomies and said there are all but Zero complications (Yes he said that). He said his happiest patients are those with bad floaters. He said he could peel my "pucker" off while he was in there, and it added another 7 minutes to the procedure.

I signed up and will have my left eye done in a couple of weeks. (TBA)

Look him up. Dr John Sullivan retina specialist Jacksonville Florida.

 

[Calico]

OK Update: Had appointment with the Retina Specialist. He has done 16,000 Vitrectomies and said there are all but Zero complications (Yes he said that). He said his happiest patients are those with bad floaters. He said he could peel my "pucker" off while he was in there, and it added another 7 minutes to the procedure.

I signed up and will have my left eye done in a couple of weeks. (TBA)

Look him up. Dr John Sullivan retina specialist Jacksonville Florida.

OK, I looked him up!

Checked him out at the American Board of Ophthalmology. It appears he has continuously maintained his board certification, and is currently participating in the Maintenance of Certification program, both of which bode well for his credentials.

Of course, there are always risks with any surgery, and they should explain all of those risks to you prior to the surgery. Good luck and keep us posted!