Bilateral Macular Holes

duckdown said...
i need to say that i have a macular hole in baoth eyes at the same time and although i have had surgery in one eye *unsuccessful( and am going through another one in the same eye i feel not enough is ever said about what you can do about not having an operation an just learning to live with the problem. so you cannot dirve read or watch tv so what there are loads of other things that you ccan do. i am not abeing negative and if you only have this condition in one eye then go for it but in two eyes (1 in 5 million) think again.
Toni Kelly said...
To Duckdown:Choosing to go through with any type of surgery is always a matter of personal choice. While macular holes rarely cause complete blindness they can very definately cause significant visual impairment and legal blindness. For many, I dare say most, not being able to read or drive is a condition not given into without at least trying to fix the problem. Certainly most of the viewers of this blog are interested in trying to fix the problem, which is why you are not reading more comments about dealing with the disability. You can probably find more information about coping with vision loss through macular degeneration support groups. I am guessing you won't find any blogs about it because it is so very hard for victims of that disease to see a computer screen!But let's talk about you and your particular case, bilateral macular holes. Yes, it is unusual to get a MH in both eyes, but not unheard of at all. There is no one who will argue that MH recovery is difficult, and to have gone through one without success must be extremely discouraging. You alone can decide what limitations you can live with as well as how much you can endure in an effort to retain functional vision. I would encourage you however to try to find the strength within you to give both eyes a chance. Do you think you could try to endure another two weeks of misery for the chance of good sight? You may sail through this time. Try to keep your spirits up, your figurative heart and your powerful brain hold the key to many of your physical defeats and successes! Let me know how your story goes, Duckdown.

How the Gas Bubble Looks To Me

steffan said...
I too, am now recovering from a vitrectomy.I was religious with the head down after surgery and use a micro panasonic video cam to see ahead and up. It worked pretty well.the doc had me down for 3days and said to come back on the tenth day which was yesterday. He said the hole is closed! And he let me taper off my steroid drops during the next three weeks.at first I had this lake that I was peering over. And today it is still there but tide seems to be going out.I thought the tide would rise and fill in the gas. but the level seems to be dropping (10 days after surgery). Is this what others have experienced?

Toni Kelly said...
The tide is the gas and as the gas dissolves you will appear to be looking over the bubble when you raise your head. You are actually looking under the bubble as it rises in your eye. Remember the mirror image of objects you see reflect on the retina as they go through the lens of the eye. The bubble is behind your lens so it doesn't get reversed in your brain! So the tide is going out and will eventually disappear.
August 21, 2008 12:14 PM
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New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology Convention

Recently I attended a convention in New Orleans that concentrated on retinal and corneal issues facing ophthalmologists today. Of course, my interest falls to the retina side, always has! There was much discussion regarding macular degeneration and the courses of treatment for this very destructive disease. There was a lot of talk about diabetic retinopathy as well. Ophthalmologists are gaining ground on both and it is very exciting for them to talk about. Very little was mentioned about macular holes. Why? Because not much is happening to change the course of treatment. The old SOP was to do the vitrectomy, maybe peel off a membrane covering the macular area then have all patients assume the face down position for at least two weeks. Now, the SOP is do the vitrectomy, maybe use some dye to visualize the membrane better before doing the peel, then have the patient remain face down for a week. Not nearly as exciting to discuss as all the new injectables available for those poor souls with macular degeneration. There are some surgeons using oil occasionally instead of gas. Benefit: positioning is not as essential. Con: You have to go back into the OR to remove the oil at some time down the road.

Here is the silver lining. Not much is changing in the treatment of macular holes because what surgeons are doing now works. It works! The success rate of the surgery is high, even higher if patient compliance is good.

Do you have a question?

I am getting a lot of verbal feedback on the website and the blog, but I am disappointed in the lack of comments posted. SO, I am going to try a new approach. If you have a question, you can ask it here as a comment. I will answer questions with a new post which shoud show up on the first page rather than responding as a comment, which shows up a little deeper into the blog. This way, I hope, your good questions will allow others to benefit from the answer too! Remember, if you are wondering about something, chances are someone else is too! So ask away. Toni

Please Leave A Comment!

Please don't navigate away before leaving a comment. Here is what you do: Click on the Comments of any particular posting to view them and to add your own. You will need to sign in, (I know, an inconvenience, but I promise no one is going to be Spamming you from this company). I do have the ability to monitor comments for content but I assure you, unless it is an unmannerly comment I will leave both positive and negative comments in place. (Boy I hope there are more positives!)Hope to hear from you!

Customer Feedback

I encourage past customers to give feedback regarding their experience with Kelly Comfort Solutions and its product offerings. I try very hard to give the very best customer service and I stand behind our products. I know you can't please all of the people all of the time, but I am hoping that most of my customers have been happy and will give a testimonial that is favorable!

Tips

I am often asked if there are any tips to getting through face down recovery. The best tip is to go into it with an "I can do this" attitude! No, it is not going to be easy but you will get through, probably not without a lot of stiffness and discomfort, but you will get through.

But I think what you are really asking for is more practical tips like:

stock up on straws to drink with

prepare some meals you will be able to eat with your hands or stab with a fork and bring to your mouth, rather than things like soup which will require you to lift your head

have any equipment you have rented or purchased set up and ready to go at least a day ahead of the surgery

get some books on tape for entertainment

Do any of you veterans have any other ideas?