What was your experience with vitrectomy eye surgery?

I had the surgery done and had to spend 5 days head down with the gas bubble in my eye. It was pretty miserable, but I got through it OK. I was really prepared, so I survived with my sanity. I bought a face-down massage chair that had a little table to hold things to look down at without needing to look up. I spent most of the time in that chair watching shows on my iPad using Hulu and YouTube. My doctor said it was OK to sleep on my side and that was really helpful. It was a terrifying thing to face, but I am so glad to have gotten it done. My vision is not perfect now, but it is tremendously better. I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

@kaye46 So sorry to hear you cancelled the surgery. I was 63 when I had my surgery. It isn't difficult keeping your head down however if you work you would need at least 7-10 off for recovery. I was told I could sleep in my bed if I kept my head up and to the side. Yea right this was going to happen while I'm sleeping! I did try it after 3 days as it was difficult to sleep with my head down. If you do change your mind and go forward with surgery prepping meals before hand is beneficial specially if you live alone. Good luck.

@tlee126 I had the sugery over 4 years ago due to a retinal detachment. I had to have gas bubble in my eye for 8 weeks and to keep my head down (like looking at my phone) and sleep on my left side for 10 days. You get use to looking down after a while. The gas bubble I never felt but it looks like a water line on your vision until it finally dissipates. You definitely need someone to help during the first ten days, (I’m married) FYI, I had RK years ago that was excellent.
After the surgery, I developed nerve damage and started feeling symptoms one week after the bubble dissipated. It took quite a while to get a diagnosis, Dr’s were treating it like dry eye. I still have symptoms after numerous treatments. To be frank, it feels like dry on steroids, most common symptoms are feeling that something is sitting on my eye, occasional aches and a sense that it wants to tear. I’m sure my outcome was very rare. Make sure you pick a very good Dr.

@tlee126
Me too but getting the cataract surgery prior as I have one in the same eye. Surgeon says my case is straight forward, it’s his favorite operation, he does it himself ie no teaching and it’s the most advanced facility. I’m in the health field so understand the reading and videos. Chances of an issue are uniformly a tiny %. Vision not likely to be perfect after but much better and much lower chance of progression. This bit is what the retina surgeon reiterated. Recovery varies based on your eye at the time of surgery and to be blunt how much of a crybaby you tend to be.

hi, what is your age, how long did you have the pucker, what facility/dr is doing the vitrectomy/membrane removal, and how long have you had it that you know? thx

The victrectomy was no big deal. Painless. The gas bubble required making sure I wasn't on my back. It dissipated in less than two weeks.
The problems came later. The reason for the victrectomy was a macular pucker due to scar tissue. Everything was distorted and vision was worse immediately after the cataract surgery two months before. I underwent a victrectomy with membrane removal. I developed cystic macular edema (CME) from one or both surgeries. I was on steroids for over a year and then developed steroid induced glaucoma. I had to go off the steroids and the blurry/fuzzy vision came back. No one seems to know what to do now. Some doctors say I am out of options or that the options left are very risky. Apparently this is rare. So unless you go the route I did, the surgery is not bad. They don't give you pain meds because you won't need them. And the surgery is quick. I was awake during most of it. They knocked me out to put in a nerve block and the propofol is a very gentle drug. In and out.

I'm sorry you had to go through all this. I sincerely hope you find some help on this soon.
I was wondering about the gas bubble; did you have to keep your head down as well as not being on your back, if so, for how long after the surgery? I'm contemplating having this surgery this year for macular pucker. Thank you and best wishes.

@kaye46 I had it done 14 months ago; I was terribly afraid but could not be happier with the results. I had to spend 5 days with my face down to keep the gas bubble in the proper in place, but it was not as bad as I expected. A face down chair is a great comfort. I bought one on Amazon and spent 5 days face down in it playing games and watching shows on my iPad. I was glad when that time was over, but it wasn't the misery I expected.

@kaye46
I did not have to keep my head down. Looking straight ahead or to the side was fine. The bubble made a solid black circle. It constantly became smaller and smaller.