Vitrectomy – anybody had one?

[Blackpuddin]

Am down for a vitrectomy at some point this year (maybe), which is the cheery sounding op in which an eye doctor pokes fibre optic, suction and inflation tools into your eyeball with a view to removing the vitreous (jelly stuff) from the eye.
Just wondering if anybody here has had one, and if so, what the post-op recovery was like.
Thanks in advance for any input.

[Mr Pointy]

Have they told you if they are going to inject gas or oil?

You'll need to allow recovery time - it can be weeks before you can drive.

[Matt Harper]

I think I'm going to be sick.....

[BabySharkDooDooDooDooDooDoo]

Never heard of it, and now I’m scared to search for it

* searches Vitrectomy anyway*

[Panamax]

Why needed?

What chance of success has been stated?

You need to be in considerable difficulties to volunteer for that one.

[BabySharkDooDooDooDooDooDoo]

Very good video here. Fast forward to 16 minutes for the actual surgery.

Warning : not for the squeamish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArQwgNoGJe0

[Mr Pointy]

Matt Harper said:

I think I'm going to be sick.....

Well in that case I won't tell about the numbing drops which work well...

...as a precursor to sticking a needle right through your eyeball to inject into the retina. While you're awake.

[jfdi]

BabySharkDooDooDooDooDooDoo said:

Very good video here. Fast forward to 16 minutes for the actual surgery.

Warning : not for the squeamish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArQwgNoGJe0

OMG you're not kidding not for the squeamish. I no longer fancy eggs for tea.

[Blackpuddin]

Mr Pointy said:

Have they told you if they are going to inject gas or oil?

You'll need to allow recovery time - it can be weeks before you can drive.

User name checks out, ha ha.
A bubble, he said, so gas I assume. Got big clumps of vitreous floating around in both eyes. Not specially bothered about the op as it goes and will be writing to doc as well as doing more research on it to get clued up but would be interested in any others' experiences. Thankee.

[Red9zero]

I had my left eye done (under GA, as I am a complete wuss. Worked for a while, but then diagnosed with cataracts, so had that done and corrective lenses at the same time. Noticed my left eye going cloudy again over Christmas, so had YAG laser on that last week. Seems to have made no difference whatsoever, so waiting for another appointment with my consultant. On the plus side, my right eye is absolutely fine.

[Red9zero]

Mr Pointy said:

Well in that case I won't tell about the numbing drops which work well...

...as a precursor to sticking a needle right through your eyeball to inject into the retina. While you're awake.

GA is available for those of us with a delicate disposition

[Blackpuddin]

Red9zero said:

I had my left eye done (under GA, as I am a complete wuss. Worked for a while, but then diagnosed with cataracts, so had that done and corrective lenses at the same time. Noticed my left eye going cloudy again over Christmas, so had YAG laser on that last week. Seems to have made no difference whatsoever, so waiting for another appointment with my consultant. On the plus side, my right eye is absolutely fine.

I've already had both cataracts done and capsulotomies (lens sacs lasered post-cataract) in both eyes so I'm hoping this will be the last ocular invasion.

[Mr Pointy]

Blackpuddin said:

Mr Pointy said:

Have they told you if they are going to inject gas or oil?

You'll need to allow recovery time - it can be weeks before you can drive.

User name checks out, ha ha.
A bubble, he said, so gas I assume. Got big clumps of vitreous floating around in both eyes. Not specially bothered about the op as it goes and will be writing to doc as well as doing more research on it to get clued up but would be interested in any others' experiences. Thankee.

Well the good news is it doesn't hurt, due to the aformentioned drops in the eye. There was a uncomfortable period when he pressed quite hard on the eyeball to reduce bruising but that was the worst bit. When you come out of the operation you'll only have vision out of one eye so you'll need someone with you.

Given that you aren't having it because of a retinal detachment then I'm guessing you may not have to posture afterwards. This is the handy instruction that you must lie in the prescribed orientation (face down is the worst) for five days (or more), with a 10 minute break every hour. It's so arkward & limiting that you can actually hire benches to support you in the right orientation:

https://www.facedownsupporthire.com/

I was fortunate in that I had to lie on my side so it was more bearable. You might want to check if you're going to have to do this & make preparations if you do.

The bubble of gas (SF6 in my case) is VERY slow to be absorbed & it will probably be 4-5 weeks before you can drive. After a couple of weeks you might be able to read more easily & see a computer screen but your vision will clear from the top down. I found that an eyepatch helped so I could operate one-eyed more effectively.

There's an absolute ban on flying for (I think) 2-3 months as the reduced air pressure would be very bad for your eyeball & you need to wear a yellow warning bracelet for about the same length of time in case you get admitted to hospital as some of things they may do can lead to raised eye pressure, which is again bad news.

If you have any more questions I'll answer if I can.

[Feirny]

Yes I’ve had this done.

Happy to answer any questions you might have, can also PM me if you wish.

[ymwoods]

Mr Pointy said:

Well in that case I won't tell about the numbing drops which work well...

...as a precursor to sticking a needle right through your eyeball to inject into the retina. While you're awake.

That's enough Pistonheads for tonight, goodnight all.

[Blackpuddin]

Feirny said:

Yes I’ve had this done.

Happy to answer any questions you might have, can also PM me if you wish.

Thank you! Happy to keep it here on the forum if that's ok with you?

[Feirny]

Blackpuddin said:

Feirny said:

Yes I’ve had this done.

Happy to answer any questions you might have, can also PM me if you wish.

Thank you! Happy to keep it here on the forum if that's ok with you?

More than ok with me!

[Blackpuddin]

Great thanks, first question is are you ok? :-)
Then just any info you feel inclined to pass on. What was your issue? When was your op? Both eyes? What was the biggest inconvenience after the op? Any pain? Did you have gas or liquid? Did you have to sleep in a particular position, and if so, for how long? If you had gas, any problems with altitude?
Thanks for any thoughts.

[Lotobear]

I had this done around 7 years ago at 53 after a detached retina op.

I had a holiday booked 3 days later up in Argyll with my son and so drove up (legally you can) - best to blank the affected eye with a patch I found.

The posturing is an absolute pain and the worst part of it - took around 6 weeks for the gas bubble to dissipate but 7 years later no ill effects and no further detachments. I worked throughout recovery as I'm self employed.

The op itself was fine as I was under general and so can't recall anything about it.

[Lotobear]

I had this done around 7 years ago at 53 after a detached retina op.

I had a holiday booked 3 days later up in Argyll with my son and so drove up (legally you can) - best to blank the affected eye with a patch I found.

The posturing is an absolute pain and the worst part of it - took around 6 weeks for the gas bubble to dissipate but 7 years later no ill effects and no further detachments. I worked throughout recovery as I'm self employed.

The op itself was fine as I was under general and so can't recall anything about it.