Vitrectomy Operation

[thieuster]

Last Thursday evening, I noticed a dark 'patch' in my eyesight, as if I was wearing a large band-aid on the right side of my nose. I didn't pay attention and went sailing last Friday. Driving back from the lake to my home, I noticed that the patch had become larger.

Last winter, I had a cataract surgery (I wrote about it on these pages) and that's why I took the phone and called their 24/7 helpline. It was around 11PM Friday evening. Not knowing at that time, what a great move that was! I explained my situation and within minutes, I was called back by a surgeon and she ordered me to come in first thing Saturday morning at 7:30 AM. So I did: my wife and I drove up to Amsterdam where the surgeon was waiting. She did some tests and started making calls for emergency surgery: my retina had come off from it's position. But luckily the so-called 'yellow spot' was unaffected. That's the part of the retina for proper & sharp eyesight. I had to drive up to the university hospital because I needed an operation which included total complete anesthesia. Within an hour after arriving at the university hospital, I was on a bed in the operating room for a vitrectomy operation.

It took them 45 mins to repair it all. My first time under full anesthesia. I woke up high as a kite and totally happy! Best nap ever! The nurse told my wife that I'd asked them to remove that stuff from my arms and hands so that I would be able to continue sleeping on my left side...

Now 24 hrs later, I'm at home. With a gas-filled eye that pushes the retina back in position. The black spot has disappeared. My eyesight is really bad now. But that has to do with the gas inside the eye. Left is okay. I'm not allowed to do anything that will cause pressure on my eye: no lifting etc. But also not driving a car for 3 months. Has to do with insurance!! Or cycling.

In hindsight, I've encountered all signals but didn't recognise them... So here they are, for general purpose (some of us are over 50 as well)

• It's a male thing between 50 - 70 yrs
• It's a 1 in 100,000 situation -m quite often!
• Cataract operation can enhance this retina problem, but, as in my case, it's easier detected when you call for help
• I did see little black speckles, but I looked it up and I thought that it was protein. In fact it was blood...
• I had some weird flashes like lightning flashes last week
• When not operated, it can lead to blindness of the eye
• Many(...) will encounter the same problem on the other eye as well. Not a nice perspective.

(I felt sorry for myself until this morning when my oldest son sent me a WhatsApp message telling me that one of his sailing mates died in a terrible car crash last night. 18 y/o. I know the boy's parents very well. That's a lot worse than my condition. In fact, that's incomparable suffering. I'm more devastated about the accident than my eye tbh).

[Mr Pointy]

I also had this back in January after a cataract operation last year. I went for a routine check up & the consultant was very alarmed to see some retinal tearing & called a colleague to see if he had time to see me the next day for laser repair of the tearing. I wasn't too worried at this point as I knew it was a minor procedure but when I was examined the next day it was found I had a detachment, not just tearing. Fortunately the theatre staff stayed on over lunch & I was added to the end of the morning theatre list.

Unlike you it was done under local anaethestic which is a fairly uncomfortable procedure involving a needle through the eye to the rear of the eyeball. Once everything was numbed up it's just pressure on the eye area though so quite bearable.

You'll find it will take some weeks for the gas bubble to be absorbed - mine went six weeks to the day. Things get better once the bubble is down to about half of your visual field as you can see with both eyes again but I found that until that point it was better to wear an eye patch to reduce the confusing images presented to the brain. One oddity is that although the bubble is at the top of your eye it affects the bottom half of your vision. You cannot fly or have nitrous anaethestic for three months (although I was let free when the bubble went). Over here they put a yellow wrist band on you in case you are in an accident.

The most inconvenient aspect of the whole procedure is if you have been given instructions to "posture"; I had to lie on my right side to keep the bubble against the tear. I had to stay like this for five days, only being allowed 10 minutes vertical in every hour. I considered myself very lucky as some patients have to lie face down which would be very difficult. I found that there are specialist posture chairs that you can hire for a couple of weeks; I don't know if you have the same in Holland if you need one.

The good news is that my sight has returned to as good as it was before so although it's a difficult time there is hope that there won't be any long term effects. The key this is that you were treated before the critical part of the retina was involved.

[Neil.C]

Crikey Menno, that's a bit frightening!

So glad you are OK and on the mend now my old friend.

[thieuster]

I also had this back in January after a cataract operation last year. I went for a routine check up & the consultant was very alarmed to see some retinal tearing & called a colleague to see if he had time to see me the next day for laser repair of the tearing. I wasn't too worried at this point as I knew it was a minor procedure but when I was examined the next day it was found I had a detachment, not just tearing. Fortunately the theatre staff stayed on over lunch & I was added to the end of the morning theatre list.

Unlike you it was done under local anaethestic which is a fairly uncomfortable procedure involving a needle through the eye to the rear of the eyeball. Once everything was numbed up it's just pressure on the eye area though so quite bearable.

You'll find it will take some weeks for the gas bubble to be absorbed - mine went six weeks to the day. Things get better once the bubble is down to about half of your visual field as you can see with both eyes again but I found that until that point it was better to wear an eye patch to reduce the confusing images presented to the brain. One oddity is that although the bubble is at the top of your eye it affects the bottom half of your vision. You cannot fly or have nitrous anaethestic for three months (although I was let free when the bubble went). Over here they put a yellow wrist band on you in case you are in an accident.

The most inconvenient aspect of the whole procedure is if you have been given instructions to "posture"; I had to lie on my right side to keep the bubble against the tear. I had to stay like this for five days, only being allowed 10 minutes vertical in every hour. I considered myself very lucky as some patients have to lie face down which would be very difficult. I found that there are specialist posture chairs that you can hire for a couple of weeks; I don't know if you have the same in Holland if you need one.

The good news is that my sight has returned to as good as it was before so although it's a difficult time there is hope that there won't be any long term effects. The key this is that you were treated before the critical part of the retina was involved.

Yes, I was given the choice of local anaethestic or complete a. I opted for the latter, because I considered my behavior as 'sketchy' when I had the cataract op. I had serious trouble keeping my eye open etc. (When interrogated under a bright light I will confess everything and more, I guess). So I opted for the 'full'. I don't know what was in that stuff, but I was happy as can be!
The yellow bracelet is a new one for me; I only(...) have to wear a precaution note in my wallet. Sounds to me that the yellow wrist band is a better signal for everybody to see.
Glad to read your experiences as well, and your first-hand step-by-step recovery notes.

Posture: I needed to sit with my head down for 4 hrs. After that, I nearly rang the local chiropractor for my neck and upper back! I am sure that we have that sort of posture seats as well, but 4 hrs on a Saturday night, in a hospital chair... oh well. It could be worse. Besides that: the hospital was nearly empty. More staff than patients. So lots of attention from those nice staff members.

I am allowed to take paracetamol, but I feel no pain at all, so there's no need to take those pills. Perhaps before I go to bed. I have to wear an eyepad during the night for a few weeks. That doesn't bother me at all. I know that from my cataract surgery.

Let's put it down to 'another experience in life'!

@Neil: Cheers mate, thanks!

[JonRA]

I'm sorry to read about your son's friend - that is desperately sad.

So glad you sought help before it was too late. A couple of years ago a friend of mine had a detached retina, went to Moorfields eye hospital, had laser treatment, home; a few weeks later it happened in his other eye and he had the same rigmarole all over again. Fortunately it saved his sight and no further problems. I've been attuned to the early signs of sight problems ever since.

Very best wishes for a full recovery, Jon

[thieuster]

I'm sorry to read about your son's friend - that is desperately sad.

So glad you sought help before it was too late. A couple of years ago a friend of mine had a detached retina, went to Moorfields eye hospital, had laser treatment, home; a few weeks later it happened in his other eye and he had the same rigmarole all over again. Fortunately it saved his sight and no further problems. I've been attuned to the early signs of sight problems ever since.

Very best wishes for a full recovery, Jon

Thanks Jon! It's known to happen to the other eye as well. My MiL warned me for that: back in Canada, she used to be a teacher at a school for the blind, so she knows a thing or two about eyes and what can happen with them. The surgeon was also examining my left eye for signs of ablation retinae. But, so far, so good.