Facing vitrectomy for macular pucker. What was your experience?

Did the doc say why and how the vitrectomy would help? Asking because I had that surgery myself almost 5 years ago. I’m a 73 yo female.

It’s because of the macular pucker. Central vision is very poor in my right eye and cannot be corrected - we tried contacts but little improvement. That was 3 months ago and it has only gotten worse.
The retinal surgeon explained how, by removing the source of the “pucker”, the macular will relax and straighten out. However, it’s like a piece of tissue paper. Once it’s crunched, it will never be completely straight. The vitrectomy will stop the progression and I’ll gradually see improvement.
Why did you get the vitrectomy?

Do you have epiretinal membrane? I was recently diagnosed with that and they told me it’s an extra layer of tissue that can pucker and cause vision distortion or loss and then I would need to remove it. I take an online test every week looking at a grid to see if the lines are wavy. So far so good. Are lines wavy to you?

For sregiani
Good luck with your surgery. It sounds like you are in good hands with your retina specialist. Crossing my fingers for you that remaining vision can be preserved. I know how difficult and frightening vision loss is.

Cliff notes version of my story: I was diagnosed with a malignant ocular melanoma following cataract surgery. VERY RARE! No one reading this should worry! In any case, the vitrectomy was necessary to implant a
“marker” for targeted radiation, which was successful in destroying cancer cells. Unfortunately, radiation destroys a lot of other things as well so it’s been an ongoing journey with still uncertain outcomes.

I am a 71 yr old male.
I had a macular hole a year ago.
A vitrectomy was done to repair the hole and get the retina back in place.
Complicated!
I had gas inserted in my eye for healing.
The gas slowly evaporated over a few weeks.
Now I have a little waviness but otherwise vision is real good.
I am glad that I had it.

Glad your surgery turned out well. Anything with eyes and vision is so scary.

Yes, it’s an ERM. What looks like grid paper to my left eye has rounded corners, blurry center, and wavy lines in my right eye.

Thank you for responding. I pray that all goes well with your surgery.

I was diagnosed with macular puckers 12 years ago. I few weeks ago, I had cataract surgery on left eye, and had initial elevated eye pressure post-surgery and also words/letters wavy now, whereas before surgery words/letters were not wavy. I was wondering if this could be the result of temporary inflammation or as the Dr suggested having enhanced symptoms from the macular puckers as result of cataract removal. Has any one else had a similar experience? Everyone said that cataract was most successful, but now I'm afraid to have on my other eye. In order to read I have to read with my left eye closed, so lines are straight.

Oh, boy, I hear you! I learned I had an Epiretinal Membrane when they were doing the measurements for my right eye cataract removal. That surgeon said if it didn’t bother me, not to worry. It did stop him from doing the triple implant - near/mid/far distance. Mine is mid and distance only. All seemed well for 2 years.
My optimetrist said removing the cataract “probably” didn’t affect my macular pucker. Some people have these for years and never know because their vision is fine.

Like you, I still wonder about the coincidence. We will never know.

Do you have the same issue with your other eye? I did end up having the other cataract done after the first. The left eye was successful. Hope yours will be, too.