What was your experience with vitrectomy eye surgery?

Thank you. Since the surgeon had promoted as “no risks” AND I had had same surgery previously in each eye, I approached my surgery as “routine.”

My honest take is that these surgery centers take these surgeries as “routine” too. They attempt to set records for surgeries completed in a day and that can cause lapses in sterilization protocol.

And, in my case, the surgeon is so used to success, he didn’t react properly to the hemorrhage and infection symptoms. The fact that I reported my worsened post-surgery condition at 1 AM on a Saturday was, certainly, a factor as he wanted to sleep on his weekend rather than treat my emergency.

It stinks. But, I hope my report helps people like you. So glad your surgery went well and hope you don’t have complications. Good luck!

Do you have to be face down most of the day? Was your surgery for a macular hole or a pucker? Thank you.

I had to stay face down for 5 days. It was brutal, but the doc said I could sleep on my side not on my back and had to stay face down other than that. I got a chair for massage therapists, where you can relax face down and that helped a lot. It was brutal, but I'm very glad I did it. My vision is greatly improved.

Thanks for responding. Was your surgery for a macular hole or a pucker? I have read that you probably don't need to be face down after pucker surgery, but I have also seen the opposite. So confusing.

Yes, it's confusing and scary. I was terrified but faced it anyway. I'm so glad I did. It was a hole caused by macular traction. He gave me the choice have it done twilight or full anesthesia and I chose full. I did not want to know what was happening. Fortunately, it was like a time warp. The last thing I heard was, "Ok, we're giving you the sleepy juice" and next thing I knew it was over. So glad I chose full knock out. Kaye46 ,I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

I didn't have to be face down. My surgery was because of bad floaters.

I haven't been able to connect with anyone having surgery for a macular pucker, as I'm having that surgery in the fall. I was hoping that someone who had had that particular surgery could tell me if they needed to be facedown afterwards. I only have general info from the surgeon's office that doesn't differentiate between the different surgeries. Thank you.

Yes, I initially had vitrectomy surgery in July 2024 for a macular pucker after about 8 months of drops, and watch and wait.

I had a gas bubble inserted and 1 week of face down.

all seemed to be going well until August when I had a detached retina in that eye, so I had vitrectomy #2 when oil was put in for 4 months.

vitrectomy #3 to remove the oil was in January 2025, luckily, facedown was not required!

Thanks for responding. I'm very worried about the face-down position. I'll try to get info from my surgeon's office, and if that's likely to happen, I think I will cancel the surgery. The pucker isn't so bad that I can't live with it.

If you prepare well in advance, you can survive face down recovery with your sanity intact. Get a face down chair used by massage therapists. I spent most of my time in that chair watching shows and playing video games on my iPad. I still walked around the house some, got up to use the restroom or get food some, but kept my face down the entire time. It was no fun for sure, but I got through it OK and I'm glad I did it. My vision is greatly improved.