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.

You asked for it!

Welcome to my latest effort to reach out and offer reassurance, advice and my service to those about to go through vitrectomy surgery and the misery of face down positioning. I started Kelly Comfort Solutions, specializing in face down recovery equipment, in 2002 when I saw the need to do SOMETHING to help the poor folks coming in after surgery in such discomfort, not from the surgery itself, but from holding their head in a position that is sheer torture to the neck and back muscles. My company has grown from a local service to a nationwide distibutor of both rental and purchase items to help make the recovery at least a little more comfortable. No one is going to tell you they breezed through macular hole recovery because they had devices to help support the weight of their head for a week or more, but certainly I have been told by more than one person they don't know how they could have done without it. To be fair, others have also said they COULD have done it without equipment, but they are definately fewer in number. But that is not what this blog is about. I have had MANY people say to me " I have never heard of this problem before" and true, macular holes are not everyday problems like, say, cataracts. People want to talk to others who are going through, or better yet, have been through, the procedure and the fears and the recovery. That is what this format is all about. So, let's here from you!