pondering Vitrectomy risks

[bobbyr]

I've seen a few posts on people who have had vitrectomy surgery (with membrane peel in my case). My surgery is a month out, and I read where there was 1 in 100 chance of retinal detachment. My left eye is 20-60 I think, but awfully blurry. Right eye is 20-30 and starting to get blurry.

The doctor who looked at my eye said I had a little higher chance of detached retina than is normal.

I guess I am wanting feedback from anyone who has had this surgery or knows someone who has...

Thank you

 

[MRG]

I recently had a vitrectomy for extreme floaters. I, too, have long eyeballs, so I have an extra risk. This surgeon had fixed my detached retina in my left eye, so she understood my risks.

The surgery was a great success, no floaters anymore, and I can see much better than an eye test can tell. My vitreous had turned hazy, and, in many places, I just saw a hazy blur.

Recovery was easy for the vitrectomy. No positioning and I just took it easy for a few days.

 

[wdwwildbill]

I had it done in my left eye due to an accident. I did have a tear in retina but believe it was from accident. Did laser repair on tear and had a gas bubble for apx 2 weeks but was no big deal.. All went fine...

 

[Katsmeow]

I had a long thread about 2 years ago about my vitrectomy saga. Briefly I noticed my vision getting worse and saw a retina specialist when I realized I had distorted vision (I was worried about macular degeneration). Turns out I had a retinal tear (he repaired that day by laser). The tear had resulted in a macular pucker. A vitrectomy to peel the pucker was recommended. The doctor felt this had a more than 90% chance of improving my vision. I had 2 things going on from this basically. A great decline in my visual acuity in the affected eye and distortion. The distortion was that vertical lines were wave, horizontal lines slanted down to the right and things with that eye looked larger.

I had the vitrectomy with no complications at all. During surgery they did find a small retinal tear which was repaired. This required using the longer lasting gas bubble (which was just a huge annoyance).

Within a few weeks after the vitrectomy my visual acuity came back. That was the main advantage of the vitrectomy. Two years later, I still have the visual distortion although some of it is not as bad. Basically I don't notice the distortion except when I just look at things with my left eye. I can occasionally in low light notice the slanting when I am reading but that is not often.

About a month after the vitrectomy my visual acuity in the surgery eye went off a cliff and became terrible. I had expected this and was warned about it. I had a mild cataract in that eye. A vitrectomy will greatly speed up a cataract getting bad. 3 months after the vitrectomy I had cataract surgery (I did both eyes a week or so apart as I recall).

Because I had had a vitrectomy I could not get the lens that I got for my right eye (Vivity lens). I needed a monofocal lens because of the vitrectomy so got the Light Adjustable Lens where the prescription can be refined after surgery. (I had prior LASIK surgery which also affected lens choice). I went with monovision so I see 20/20 with my right eye and less distance with my left. Combined I see great and don't require distance glasses.

The vitrectomy is a major surgery. To me, looking back on it, I would do it again. Without the vitrectomy my vision in my left eye (even after cataract surgery) would not be good. I would have had bad vision at all distances. So the improvement in acuity was so worth it to me. I feel I got a little unlucky on the distorted vision. I didn't get the improvement that many (probably most) people get. On the other hand, the distorted vision is not a huge problem for me. I wish I didn't have it as it does complicate my near vision a bit. But the distorted vision had nothing to do with the vitrectomy. That is, it wasn't caused by the vitrectomy.

For some people, if they have a macular pucker they can wait on the vitrectomy to see how bad their vision gets. On the other hand, it may be that the longer you wait the harder it is to do the peel. Talk to a retina doctor about that.

 

[bobbyr]

good feedback that makes me feel a little calmer...

I've been told that a follow up cataract should be expected.

 

[bobbyr]

I recently had a vitrectomy for extreme floaters. I, too, have long eyeballs, so I have an extra risk. This surgeon had fixed my detached retina in my left eye, so she understood my risks.

The surgery was a great success, no floaters anymore, and I can see much better than an eye test can tell. My vitreous had turned hazy, and, in many places, I just saw a hazy blur.

Recovery was easy for the vitrectomy. No positioning and I just took it easy for a few days.

I had to look up long eyeballs. With 30 years working behind a computer I suspect that is me as well.

 

[Alan]

A good friend had this done about 5 years ago and it was a great success although a year later he did need cataract replacement in that same eye. He had cataract surgery on his other eye a couple of years later. All good.

 

[target2019]

If I wanted a 2nd opinion about an upcoming vitrectomy (or any other procedure) I would consult with a different doctor.

Of course if I needed moral support, I'd ask on social media. It does occupy the mind as the days count down to the procedure.

I don't know anyone who has had this procedure, just those mentioning it on this forum.

 

[Katsmeow]

If I wanted a 2nd opinion about an upcoming vitrectomy (or any other procedure) I would consult with a different doctor.

Of course if I needed moral support, I'd ask on social media. It does occupy the mind as the days count down to the procedure.

FWIW, I do find often that asking laypeople for info on medical stuff can be helpful. Not because they can give you actual medical advice. That I get from my doctor. But, they can bring up things that happened to them or issues they had. Then, that can often lead me to know what questions to ask the doctor and to know if I do need a 2nd opinion.

Before I had my vitrectomy getting feedback here (and other places) was very helpful to me and lead directly to a lot of more in depth questions to the doctor.

 

[bobbyr]

FWIW, I do find often that asking laypeople for info on medical stuff can be helpful. Not because they can give you actual medical advice. That I get from my doctor. But, they can bring up things that happened to them or issues they had. Then, that can often lead me to know what questions to ask the doctor and to know if I do need a 2nd opinion.

Before I had my vitrectomy getting feedback here (and other places) was very helpful to me and lead directly to a lot of more in depth questions to the doctor.

I have done some follow up inquiries. I went to a new doctor pcp the other day for a clavical/shoulder injury (SC joint) and asked him about the vitrectomy. He knew the surgeon and responded positively. He said that was a decision where you just weigh the risks...he also said 20/60 wasn't that bad compared to what vision is for people getting that surgery. I feel my vision getting worse though and see no reason to wait.

Anyway, it is helpful to hear feedback from anyone who is familiar with the surgery and I am not taking this feedback as second opinion, just something to make me feel better.

 

[bobbyr]

I had Vitrectomy with membrane peel Monday

It was not a very comfortable surgery and the doctor was cranky and told me to quit moving my eyeball around (like I could control what my eye was doing).

Anyway, glad it is over. He looked at it yesterday and said everything looked good. Said I should see improvement over the course of the next twelve months, no definite time beyond that. Eye measured 20/60 yesterday, but it's still watering and out of sorts.

He said expect cataract surgery within the next 6-12 months.