What was your experience with vitrectomy eye surgery?

@slowmoe
Welcome to mayo Connect, I have no personal experience, but some other members of group have discussed.

Here is search of discussions on topic:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=vitrectomy+eye+surgery
Is your surgery scheduled?

Hi Laurie, yes my surgery is in a couple of weeks -Mike

I had a vitrectomy on Nov 11th and as of right now being 12 weeks after, i still have blurred/double vision in that eye. Was told it could take 6 months to a year for full vision to come back. I had the long lasting gas bubble in my eye from Nov 11th till Jan 9th. Had to be face down to the first 3 weeks and can get up for 10 minutes every hour. Sleep face down till Jan 7th. I got back to the doctor March 7th so if i remember i will check back in to see how you are doing and to update my progress. Hope it all goes really good for you.

I did not have your condition, but I did need/get a vitrectomy in 2018 because I had a torn retina that filled the vitreous humor with so much blood that I couldn’t see through and the ophthalmologists couldn’t see to stitch it with a laser.

My post-op experience was great. I followed the protocol as outlined above by chippy98. I did not have double vision, and only briefly blurred vision.

My wife and I had some international travel scheduled and I was told I would be OK to fly if the gas bubble were less than 1% of the eye volume. I was able to measure the projection of the bubble in my two-dimensional field of vision, and with a little spherical geometry and Excel, was able to calculate when the bubble was below 1%. My ophthalmologist accepted my analysis, and I flew and was out of the country for two months with no problem. (This was less than six months post-op.)

I was warned at the time of the operation that I would develop cataract in the subject eye within six months. In fact the cataract did not become noticeable until about a year later. The lens was replaced and the eye is fine today.

Sorry chippy 98, your experience sounds brutal. Good luck in getting this resolved.
For others on this thread, I had a vitrectomy in 2019 and while I didn’t have the very positive experience of capezinfan, I was surprised by the double vision and spatial disorientation, which lasted for several weeks. But I don’t think I fully understood at the time what the surgery entailed. When I found out, it kind of made sense.

I hope you begin to heal soon, chippy98. What a nightmare for you! Everyone on this thread can empathize because we’re all here about eye problems. Our vision is so precious!!

Hello, I just had my surgery three days ago. No gas bubble needed, not complications. But the blurry vision / distorted vision plus constant headache is rather miserable. Looking to connect with others regarding their recovery stories. I'm grateful that I didn't have to do the positioning, face-down stuff.

Hi @jkpoet4629 , your spatial disorientation---those words describe how I feel, thank goodness no double vision yet. So the spatial disorientation, can you describe in more detail please?
Thanks!

So sorry that you have had to endure such discomfort. This vitrectomy is not for the faint of heart. I am just 3 days in. No double vision and I feel very lucky that no gas bubble was needed. Headache, very blurry vision and spatial disorientation so far. Thank goodness I have my husband to be closeby; this is a feeling of vulnerability I have never experienced in my adult life and I am a healthy 67 y/o very active person. I wish you a full recovery, no matter how long it takes. Please send an update to this group!

How did it go? Just had mine 3 days ago, no fun but glad it's over. I am hoping you had excellent outcome!

I am almost 2 weeks post op and had a second follow-up exam yesterday. I had the two tears and retina detachment fixed. hopefully also the macular hole that I have been plagued with for three years.
The eye is full with a water type substance which I guess is the gas bubble. It has subsided a little but I estimate it is at the 85% level.
It is definitely major surgery. 6 to 8 weeks with this gas bubble is a long time and until it reduces in size substantially they can not run a scan to get a good look at the retina.
I'm supposed to sleep on my right side. I did spend the first 4 days trying to do the facedown 90% of the time. That is very difficult . If I have to do it again, I will buy one of those message chairs.
Regardless, I am grateful that in just one hour they can repair a retina and eventually restore my sight in my left eye. But it is a marathon recovery. not a sprint
good luck all!