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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?
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Ive been a high myopic person since birth. Means can"t see far well.
With age my retina tore and detached with drama for all of last summer.
I eventially needed Victrectomy, laser retinal detachment surgery with gas.
Im not a SURGEON but I do see how common cataract surgery is necessary following such procedures.
I'm so thankful that my vision was saved. The cataract surgery was amazing!
Ive seen greet results in victrectomy
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1 ReactionI had one because driving rural roads in the dark, the oncoming headlights were literally blinding. I'm in my 60's, and the pupil does not close down fast enough these days. I'm pretty glad I did that. It was the left eye, and the right eye, at a different angle from oncoming headlights, deals with it better.
At first it was SO clear. After a couple of years, I have ONE donut shaped black large floater, but I don't see it much. However, that eye is more vulnerable to dry eye problems. Like more glued shut at night. And an odd cloudy thing in the morning. I deal with this by using a fresh-made saline solution with Dr. Schults' eyebright herb drops in it. When I get up, before bed, and maybe also during the day. If I get lazy, it gets worse.
But a factor may be that the floaterectomy was the 6th operation I've had on that eye. (The other eye has only had 2 - lasik & cataract. Every time you cut into the eye, you break lots of tiny capillaries, the things that keep circulation active in your eye. They don't tell you that when you get lasik or anything else).
[I will say to go to the BEST surgeon you can. After the cataract surgery on my right eye, by a local eye surgeon, whose quality I have no way of judging, I got a large floater that interferes. I didn't get that on my prior left eye cataract surgery, and the R eye surgeon treated it like a normal risk - not a big deal. Well, it is a big deal to me.]
My conclusion is that I don't know how I could have continued driving with the level of floaters I had, so I'm glad I had it done. Definitely recommend just doing one eye at first. If it is mainly for driving that it's a problem, just do the left eye.
I had a floater only vitrectomy on my right eye a week ago, 10/10/22, and I am extremely pleased with the results. I am a 67 yr old man with floaters since my late 30's in both eyes but worse in the right eye. After cataract surgery in 2019 the floaters got even worse in both eyes. In 2020 I tried laser surgery but it did not remove the floaters, just lightened my wallet!
I was reluctant to have a vitrectomy because of the risks involved, even though there is a very low percentage of something going wrong. After the procedure I am sorry I suffered so long. Comparing my now clear right eye with my left eye under different lighting conditions made me realize how bad my vision was restricted. And that's considering my left eye was much better floater wise than the right eye.
The surgery took about 30 minutes and there was no pain. The surgeon used 25 gauge instruments and had to put in one suture. I can still feel the suture after a week but it's not bad and should dissolve shortly.
I wanted to post this because I benefited from other people posting about their successful procedures which encouraged me to go ahead and have it done. So glad I did! Thank you all who posted your results!
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1 Reaction@susan2018 I am scheduled for eye surgery next week and am so scared. It’s to remove floater and blood (hemorrhage) because unable to see from left eye. Then 6 months later cataract procedure as well as the financial stress. Appreciate your posting your results which helps me have a better perspective. Hoping for good results.
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1 ReactionMy experience has been to get properly diagnosed one needs to go to retina specialist who have more specialized equipment (ex: ultrasound for the eye).
I myself getting ready for eye surgery and a bit scared because nothing is guaranteed, but am trying to be hopeful.
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1 ReactionDear marjou,
In your last entry, you mention both the large floater and blood (hemorrhage) that don’t allow you to see. Did the hemorrhage just occur recently and what is it? A retinal tear or detachment?
@bobbyo Have only been told of hemorrhage and no retinal tear or detachment unless this is discovered during surgery.
Thanks marjou. Surely, wish you the very best with your surgery! Let us know the results, when able.
Yes - had cataract surgery/ probably to soon. Surgeon made it sound like walk in the park. Not so!! Had two follow / touch up on both eyes. Than vitreous removed from both eyes- very aggressive surgery/ had it to do over I would have waited.
Chances of detached retina go up with each surgery/ how blind in one eye after 3 detached retina surgeries- and after first surgery I came out with macular hole in eye that I did not have when I went in. Still have to have oil removed in eye/ hopefully retina stays attached.
Cataract surgery is big money for ophthalmologist.