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Wondering if anyone has had an FOV, Floaters Only Vitrectomy
Eye Conditions | Last Active: Sep 29, 2023 | Replies (170)Comment receiving replies
Lacy, With some of the talk on floaters, it made me think of other things I’ve learned through reading online and through comments my vitreoretinal surgeon has made along the way. And..things I was never told.
- When I contemplated traditional cataract surgery on my left eye (our insurance doesn’t cover laser surgery), my surgeon told me I’d be “very happy” with the outcome. He did not mention that there were ANY risks involved. Since I had considerable floaters in that eye already, I made the request of him that he “please not cause me any more floaters” during the cataract surgery. He said he could not guarantee that. After surgery, within a couple days, the eye showed a new retinal tear that had to be repaired AND I now showed considerably more floaters (the veil, I’ve mentioned many times in posts). SO, these cataract surgery residual problems (maybe, surgeon errors) led me to need cryosurgery to heal the torn retina and the FOV for debilitating floaters.. In the time in between my cataract surgery debacle and FOV, I read “risks of cataract surgery” online and found “retinal tears” and “development of more floaters” as some of the most common adverse effects of the surgery. Additionally, I have the peripheral light streaks.
So, cataract surgery caused me: 1. A retinal tear - that needed immediate surgery 2. New floaters veil - for which I got the FOV and 3. Peripheral light streaks (called positive dysphotopsia) - that I live with
Conclusion: I went in to the cataract surgery thinking “you’ll be very happy with the results.” They told me surgeries are like “100 percent effective”.... I should have studied more. Even when you’re having a surgery that so many people get now, it is NEVER risk-free. They are not likely to tell you. I thought I had the best ophthalmology group, at least nearby me. I should have studied more online and looked into other surgeons.
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...do we ever go back to doctors and discuss that they said: you'll be happy with the outcome/surgery/whatever"....?
It's like someone slapping us in the face and we say "thank you."
I have always been a bit nervous around medical professionals and don't really say what is on my mind. Did this surgeon apologize to you? Why give a patient false hope?
It really bothers me when people criticize me or someone else for checking "anything" on Google or other web browsers. We know that it is not all factual; that basically anyone can put anything on Internet. But were it not for Internet, my not having a doctor, by having symptoms I can check before deciding whether or not to go to a clinic....I believe I am able to sort out the trusted sites and decide. And with access to sites even doctors use!!
Years ago I had a big book ... Reader's Digest Medical Book forget the title and it actually listed symptoms of cancer of the cervix, which I had.. and my doctor said it was "hygiene" (I kid you not); next doctor said on examining me: "I can't see anything" ... and by the time it was diagnosed, tumour was size of apple or small orange.... (1985) yet I was still afraid to speak up!!
Had I had a site similar to this , or even a computer, things would have been so different and I might have been diagnosed earlier and had less intense treatment. There are such great sites, such as this, on Internet.. so Dr.Google, I salute you!