Off-Topic Detached Retina! (longish)

[Karen Beckwith]

Originally Posted by jusca

Thanks for the info!! I didn't know such a surgery exists. Gonna read up on it now just in case I may need it in the future. Luckily I only have 1 floater which is invisible most of the time and haven't gotten any in the last 3 years.

This is related to Vitreous Degeneration or Detachment. What they do is remove your vitreous (gel in the eye) and replace it with a saline solution. Since the floaters are in the vitreous, they are removed along with it. I think that's pretty close to what happens. My doctor said it used to be considered a pretty risky surgery but they have improved it a lot so that it is now considered easier.

[donnamp]

Originally Posted by Karen Beckwith

This is related to Vitreous Degeneration or Detachment. What they do is remove your vitreous (gel in the eye) and replace it with a saline solution. Since the floaters are in the vitreous, they are removed along with it. I think that's pretty close to what happens. My doctor said it used to be considered a pretty risky surgery but they have improved it a lot so that it is now considered easier.

I would love to have that done b/c since my vitreous detached I have so many annoying floaters and they have not really abated much in the 3+ years since it happened. Sure, I don't have the light flashes any more, but I do have what I describe as a "swirling mist" in my vision most of the time. I do have regular check ups with an ophthalmologist and my eyes are otherwise healthy.

Donna

[Carol K]

I'm a medical coder for a university teaching hospital and I code lots of vitrectomies that are done for lots of different reasons (retinal detachment, macular holes, diabetic proliferative retinopathy, etc), but I've never seen one performed for a detached vitreous and no other reason.

[Karen Beckwith]

Originally Posted by donnamp

I would love to have that done b/c since my vitreous detached I have so many annoying floaters and they have not really abated much in the 3+ years since it happened. Sure, I don't have the light flashes any more, but I do have what I describe as a "swirling mist" in my vision most of the time. I do have regular check ups with an ophthalmologist and my eyes are otherwise healthy.

Donna

Donna - you should definitely look into this. The doctor you need is called a Retina Specialist. I "only" had floaters for a year and a half and it was just awful so I can't imagine having them for more than 3 years. I went to a Retina Specialist soon after the floaters began. He told me my brain would adjust within a few months and I would forget they were there. That never happened for me. The day after the Floaters Only Vitrectomy (by a different RS), when they removed the eye patch, I could immediately tell the floaters were gone. I appreciate that every day!

[donnamp]

Thank you, Karen! My DH sees a retina specialist due to his eye issues, so I may book a consult with him to see what he thinks. My brain never got used to them either - my floaters are more like a swirling grey-ish mass. It is sort of like looking through a dirty windshield only the spots move.

Donna

[Salamander]

Hi and thank you for the support! All these stories are so interesting.

I had my follow up appointment yesterday- 6 days after surgery. Im doing well. I am now able to sleep on my left side, instead of on my face, and I can hold my head up during the day. (Talk about appreciating the small things in life). Just no laying on my back for at least a couple more weeks.

My vision has improved a bit since the day after surgery, but as long as the oil bubble is in my eye, it will be hazy (it's like a thin coating of vaseline.) I am good to drive and hoping to get back to work tomorrow.

I'm not cleared to do yoga yet because he doesn't want my head to go below my heart. I can do light things like walking. I might try TA arms, using 2 lbs or less. Piyo and Chalene will have to wait a bit longer for me.

[Carol K]

I'm so glad you're doing well. One of my co-workers had the surgery you had with the bubble and she had to lie on her back for 10 days with her face pointing downward. I can't imagine. She had a less serious detachment in her other eye and just had to have a laser treatment for that.

[Karen Beckwith]

Originally Posted by donnamp

Thank you, Karen! My DH sees a retina specialist due to his eye issues, so I may book a consult with him to see what he thinks. My brain never got used to them either - my floaters are more like a swirling grey-ish mass. It is sort of like looking through a dirty windshield only the spots move.

Donna

Donna - that's a good description for my floaters too. It also seemed worse under fluorescent lights. And it made me a little dizzy under the lights.

I sure hope this can work for you too!

[donnamp]

Hi Salamander - So glad to hear the good news. When I had my PVD my eye dr. advised me also not to do yoga or any high impact, I think it was for about 6 weeks.

Karen - it is a relief to have someone who understands how annoying these floaters are! I think I will talk to DH's retina specialist about it at some point. Doing anything w/ my eyes makes me nervous - but the floaters are annoying and I read and write all day for a living.....so it is really a pain to see the swirling mass in my vision constantly.

Donna

[Karen Beckwith]

Originally Posted by donnamp

Hi Salamander - So glad to hear the good news. When I had my PVD my eye dr. advised me also not to do yoga or any high impact, I think it was for about 6 weeks.

Karen - it is a relief to have someone who understands how annoying these floaters are! I think I will talk to DH's retina specialist about it at some point. Doing anything w/ my eyes makes me nervous - but the floaters are annoying and I read and write all day for a living.....so it is really a pain to see the swirling mass in my vision constantly.

Donna

Donna - my floaters were only in my left eye. Are yours in both eyes? That would be really awful! I also wanted to let you know that, not only did the surgery not require face-down recovery, I was allowed to do any exercise right away. I was kinda nervous to do anything too strenuous right away so I did gentle yoga for a couple of days and then went back to Callanetics.