Connect
Wondering if anyone has had an FOV, Floaters Only Vitrectomy
I am wondering if anyone has had an FOV, Floaters Only Vitrectomy, and would be willing to share their experiences. For at least two years I was plagued with the constant irritating presence of gauzy, wispy, moving clumps that would obscure my vision and make reading and driving a tiring challenge. Prior to this I had had cataract surgery and a lens exchange surgery. Many, many follow up appointments and a second opinion did not pinpoint a reason for my continuing complaints. Although I did not complain of dry eyes, I was led to believe that was my issue and was treated with Xiidra and then Restasis and then even both at the same time, with no improvement in my symptoms. Finally a follow up appointment with a new ophthalmologist in the practice and my description of what I was seeing led to a diagnosis of a degenerating vitreous and a referral to a vitreal surgeon. Last week I had a vitrectomy to remove the vitreous. Despite the after effects of the surgery, the next day when the eye patch and bandages came off, I could immediately tell that my vision in that eye had cleared. It has been such a relief! I am hoping my recovery is uneventful and am now anticipating following up with the surgeon to schedule the procedure on my other eye. Has anyone experienced a situation similar to mine? Why would my problem not be recognized and diagnosed sooner? I have wondered if I simply was not able to describe my symptoms well enough or if ophthalmologists tend not to recognize or acknowledge how debilitating the condition can be. I understand that over time and with age the vitreous does degenerate for all people. Do only a few people experience what I did during that process or are there many people experiencing it’s deleterious effects on their vision and are just living with it, or as in my case, are not able to get a diagnosis from their eye care providers? I should add that I am in my early 70s and was extremely nearsighted my entire life. Anyone out there experience what I did?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Eye Conditions Support Group.
Connect
I was told that flashes of light could be retina detaching and needs to be checked immediately.
I’ll just chime in with my experiences relative to other observations:
- I did not get any flashes (photopsia) when I had my first retinal detachment 2 years ago. But I DID HAVE hundreds of small, black floaters. That scared me and I got in to my retinal specialist within a day and they diagnosed a torn retina. They did cryosurgery with a bubble to repair it.
- I’m 62 and I’ve had lots of floaters since my early 20s AND lots of “eyeball” pain that I considered as chronic headache. No doctor ever associated the eye pain and floaters.
- I don’t have photopsia, as some have described, but have what seems to be a positive dysphotopsia. Dysphotopsia can be caused by the square-edged IOL (InterOcular Lens) implanted during cataract surgery. I had this cataract surgery on my left eye done December 2019 and have had peripheral “light streaks” since then that are troublesome. I see them when light comes in window, from headlights in rearview or lamps/lights are to my left. These light streaks are a type of positive dysphotopsia. With the multiple procedures I’ve had on this eye, I’m not too excited, at this point, to consider any type of revision to help the dysphotopsia.
Hope some of my “stuff” is similar to yours and helps consider possibilities!
Update for everyone --
I have a floater only vitrectomy planned for my right eye one week from today 4/22. Very nervous, but hopeful that this will solve my floater issues that have been driving me INSANE. Doctor says it'll be a quick 20 min procedure under general anesthesia and should be able to see pretty good within a couple days with alittle blurriness. He also said I shouldn't have an air or gas "bubble". Praying everything goes well and this week goes by quick.
Thanks everyone!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThanks for the note. I have bad floaters so I'm very interested in your procedure. Please update when possible. Any info on your situation is appreciated.
I, surely, hope your vitrectomy went well. Let us know if you can. Thanks!
I have a question for anyone who has had the FOV surgery: I've found conflicting reports about whether or not you need to lie face down for several days after the surgery. My surgeon says I won't have to, but I can't find any reports online about this possibility. Did people here have to lie face down during the recovery period?
I had FOV last December and did not have to lie face down. However, on 2 previous retinal tear surgeries, my surgeon asked that I sleep on my left side and sit with a leftward lean so that the gas bubble would lay against the repaired part of my retina to promote healing in the first week after surgery.
So,I think the post surgery “posture” requirements depend on your surgeon’s preference AND other eye conditions you may have that pose risk.
I’ve posted in this group lots of times. Good luck!
Thanks so much for your input.
How have your eyes been since your procedure?
Had both eyes done, but pretty aggressive. Chances of detached retina
Go up. Worked great until retina became attached. On third retina surgery in one eye with very low percentage of getting vision back in eye.