Macular Hole Surgery without Face Down Recovery Period

Posted by johnrb @johnrb, Oct 19, 2022

I have a macular hole which my ophthamologist tells me will require a 7-day "face down" recovery period after the surgery. In researching the subject, I came across an article published in 2012 by Mayo Clinic's Dr. Raymond Iezzi Jr. where he describes a method that is highly successful without the face down ordeal. His article, and a video describing the process, is on the Mayo Clinic website. My ophthamologist knows of Dr. Iezzi's study, but is not aware of any wide-spread acceptance of this method throughout the field.
Is anyone familiar with the method developed by Dr. Iezzi, and whether it has been adopted as a "preferred practice" by the Mayo Clinic?
Or, if you have actually had a macular hole repaired without the face down recovery period, I would love to discuss your experience with you!

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msboyd | @msboyd | Dec 27, 2024

I recently had a vitrectomy after a retinal detachment. My first surgery was scary, but this one wasn’t as bad. I was instructed to stay face down for three weeks, which has been very challenging. I did my best to maintain the face-down position, especially in the first week, but it became more difficult by the end of the second week. Despite the difficulty, I’ve noticed some improvement. I can see my phone up close, though the central vision is still distorted. I believe I’m seeing some progress, as it seems better than before. I still have the gas bubble in my eye, and I’m hopeful that as it shrinks, my vision will continue to improve. My next check-up is on January 2, where I’ll get a better assessment of how things are healing.