Vitrectomy surgery to remove eye floater

Discussion in 'Laser Eye Surgery' started by dchamberlain, Apr 30, 2006.

  1. dchamberlain

    dchamberlain Guest

    Hello

    Recently I have been to two opthamologists, one being a retinal
    vitreous surgeon, and both have recommended having a vitrectomy
    performed in my right eye to remove large floaters that appeared about
    a year ago. I've been told that I have a complete Posterior Vitreous
    Detachment and my risk of retinal detachment is low with this
    procedure.

    I would like to hear from others who have had a vetrectomy and
    understand their experiences with it, and would you have it done again
    knowning what you know now.

    Also, if there are retinal surgeons reading this, is there a difference
    in the vitrectomy procedure for removal of floaters versus the
    procedure for other serious eye conditions?

    Thanks

    Dale
     
    dchamberlain, Apr 30, 2006
    #1
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  2. dchamberlain

    dchamberlain Guest

    Hi Bill

    The floaters are pretty huge in that they extend from the top to the
    bottom of my sight in the right eye, are thick enough to distort the
    light coming into the eye (like watching a wave cross before me, and
    stay in my line of sight about 95% of the time. I've had them for about
    a year and they have not dimenished. I went to see a doctor who does
    laser treatment of floaters, and he tells me that mine are the type
    that can't be treated by laser, but did recommend the vitrectomy. When
    I asked him what the chances would be that they would eventually fade
    away, his response was "0%"!.

    A surgeon, who normally does not recommend the procedure, agreed to do
    it in my case because of the size and position of the floaters.

    Having a vitrectomy was certainly not my first choice, but 2 doctors
    have told me it is the only way to rid myself of these floaters. They
    do impair my ability to read, do things that are close up, and are
    always there when I am looking through a telescope.


    Dale
     
    dchamberlain, Apr 30, 2006
    #2
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  3. dchamberlain

    Orv Guest

    I had an emergency vitrectomy in 2001 to repair a retinal detachment. Until
    that moment I didn't even know the operation existed so the procedure
    sounded intimidating. Nonetheless, it was an interesting experience as they
    kept me awake and I could follow the discussion. In the process they
    drained the eye (my term and probably not theirs) and it slowly refilled
    over a period of six weeks. At the end of the that time the eye was not
    only functional again, but free of floaters. Vision ended up at at better
    than 20/30 after about a year. I would do it again but having no real
    choice the first time made that initial decision easier.
     
    Orv, May 1, 2006
    #3
  4. dchamberlain

    Jane Guest

    I had a vitrectomy to remove a macular pucker last January. I was
    awake and unsedated during the surgery, but experienced no pain with
    the local anesthesia. The procedure took less than an hour. That
    afternoon I walked over to the local multiplex and stayed for two
    movies. (The operated eye was patched, but I could see fine with my
    other eye.) Since the surgery, my vision has gone from about 20/50
    (with pucker) to 20/15.

    My vitrectomy was done in a teaching hospital using 20-gauge
    instruments, which require suturing. (The newer 25-gauge vitrectomy
    instruments require no sutures and are associated with a much faster
    recovery.) Unfortunately, my surgeon allowed a resident to suture my
    eye. About two weeks post-op, I developed a swollen red mound on my
    eye white (reportedly related to the placement of sutures.) Over the
    next few weeks, sharp ends of sutures poked through the inflamed mound
    to scratch my upper eyelid and make me feel like a torture victim.
    After about three months of steroid drops, the inflammation on my eye
    white still hasn't entirely resolved.

    I've been told that I will develop a cataract in the operated eye
    within two years. I fully intend to seek out a cataract surgeon (in
    private practice) who uses a "no stitch" technique.
     
    Jane, May 1, 2006
    #4
  5. dchamberlain

    Jane Guest

    I had a vitrectomy to remove a macular pucker last January. I was
    awake and unsedated during the surgery, but experienced no pain with
    the local anesthesia. The procedure took less than an hour. That
    afternoon I walked over to the local multiplex and stayed for two
    movies. (The operated eye was patched, but I could see fine with my
    other eye.) Since the surgery, my vision has gone from about 20/50
    (with pucker) to 20/15.

    My vitrectomy was done in a teaching hospital using 20-gauge
    instruments, which require suturing. (The newer 25-gauge vitrectomy
    instruments require no sutures and are associated with a much faster
    recovery.) Unfortunately, my surgeon allowed a resident to suture my
    eye. About two weeks post-op, I developed a swollen red mound on my
    eye white (reportedly related to the placement of sutures.) Over the
    next few weeks, sharp ends of sutures poked through the inflamed mound
    to scratch my upper eyelid and make me feel like a torture victim.
    After about three months of steroid drops, the inflammation on my eye
    white still hasn't entirely resolved.

    I've been told that I will develop a cataract in the operated eye
    within two years. I fully intend to seek out a cataract surgeon (in
    private practice) who uses a "no stitch" technique.
     
    Jane, May 1, 2006
    #5
  6. dchamberlain

    plpfoot Guest

    You will eventually get a cataract, but cataract surgery is relatively
    safe. It is possible that you will get a retinal detachment from the
    vitrectomy but that risk is relatively low, as is the risk of glaucoma,
    infection, vision loss, etc. As another said this is a big procedure
    to rid oneself of a floater but if the floater is
    annoying enough then go with the vitrectomy.

    He might tell you that you cannot fly for a period of time after the
    procedure. Plan accordingly.

    The sutures used in cataract surgery are much smaller than those used
    to close the sclerostomy. If placed correctly (that is the surgeon was
    not trying to get away without sutures but found he needed one and then
    added one) it will not need to be removed, you will never know it is
    there, and will eventually disappear in about 1 1/2 years.

    Ted.
     
    plpfoot, May 1, 2006
    #6
  7. dchamberlain

    dchamberlain Guest

    Thanks Jane and Ted,

    It helps to be armed with more info. I was planning to take a couple of
    weeks off work around the time the surgery would be performed. I
    wondered about the flying, since I do have a trip planned right after
    that two week period. I'll be sure to ask my surgeon the details when I
    go back this week.

    Thanks again!

    Dale
     
    dchamberlain, May 1, 2006
    #7
  8. dchamberlain

    dchamberlain Guest

    Hi Orv,

    Thanks for sharing your experience. You stated that your vision was
    better than 20/30 after about a year. What was your vision before the
    procedure? Did develop a cataract later?

    Again thanks,

    Dale
     
    dchamberlain, May 2, 2006
    #8
  9. dchamberlain

    dighambara Guest

     
    dighambara, May 19, 2006
    #9
  10. dchamberlain

    dighambara Guest

    Dale,

    There is laser surgery available for floaters. I highly recommend
    you research this approach before you have someone split your eye open.


    Michael Weldon
    Thailand
     
    dighambara, May 19, 2006
    #10
  11. dchamberlain

    NEPA John Guest

     
    NEPA John, May 29, 2006
    #11
  12. dchamberlain

    NEPA John Guest

    Dale, how bad is your eye site with the floaters? About a week ago, I
    experienced a retinal tear. My eye site was 20/400. The surgeon
    zapped the tear with a laser and injected a gas bubble in my eye. My
    eye site improved in 3 days to 20/60, but things are still foggy and I
    see floaters.

    I'm concerned I'll need a vitrectomy also, but I don't have anything to
    gauge against. The surgeon is very optimistic and not concerned.

    Thanks,
    NEPA John
     
    NEPA John, May 29, 2006
    #12
  13. dchamberlain

    Dan Abel Guest


    Three days is too soon to tell. You can't see with a bubble, although
    depending on what they put in, they last different periods of time. My
    first was five days, and my second was about ten. Your retina was
    damaged, and needs to heal. If your doctor thinks it's OK, maybe it is.
    Maybe it isn't.
     
    Dan Abel, Jun 2, 2006
    #13
  14. dchamberlain

    dchamberlain Guest

    Michael,

    I had already tried the laser treatment approach before I decided upon
    the vitrectomy. The laser surgeon told me that he could not treat the
    type of floater I had in my right eye because it was too close to the
    lens. He was the one who recommended the vitrectomy.

    Thanks!

    Dale
     
    dchamberlain, Jun 3, 2006
    #14
  15. dchamberlain

    dchamberlain Guest

    John,

    My floater was pretty bad. It was thick and curved like a snake and
    extended from the top of my vision to the bottom. Whenever I moved my
    eye, it would swing back and forth like a windshield wiper.

    The vitreous surgeon told me that it was an unusually large floater and
    he felt there was justification in performing the vitrectomy to remove
    it.

    On 6/1 I went into surgery. Actually the procedure went more smoothly
    than I imagined. I had no pain afterward. I wore a bandage patch for
    the first day after surgery, and the doctor removed it during the
    second day post op examination. Before the surgery I had 20/15 in the
    eye, and after surgery I had 20/30. I thought that was pretty good for
    24 hours after the procedure.

    Right now it is two days after surgery. I see the gas bubble at the
    bottom of my vision, and my vision is a bit "foggy", like being in a
    steam room or smoke filled room. The surgeon told me that the bubble
    would go away in about a week. He didn't menition the fogginess though.
    I hope that is normal too.

    I'd give yours some time yet before going into vitrectomy surgery. The
    floaters, if not too large, may appear to go away over time.

    Dale
     
    dchamberlain, Jun 3, 2006
    #15
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