Important Information On Macular Hole Surgery And Recovery

By Author: Mahi Muqit
Total Articles: 34
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A macular hole affects the macula, located in the centre of the retina in your eye. The retina is an important part of your eye, it is a tissue layer lying inside the eye that is responsible for sensing light. The macular sits in the centre of the retina, responsible for helping you see clearly, especially when reading or recognising faces.

When a hole develops, you may experience blurred or distorted vision. In some cases, a macular hole may be diagnosed during your routine eye exam. The hole is seldom any larger than a pinhead, but it will have a significant impact on your vision.

Macular holes are a normal part of ageing, though they can also be caused by an injury to the eye. The vitreous gel is a jelly like fluid, located in the eye. The vitreous gel is attached to the macular. As we age, the vitreous gel thins and separates from the retina, sometimes causing traction to the macular, pulling it away from the retina and causing a hole to form. Macular holes are more common in women than men. One if five cases will experience it in both eyes.

Macular hole surgery is also known as a vitrectomy. This is ...
... performed to prevent your vision from getting any worse. In some cases, it can also improve your vision. This surgery involves the surgeon using microscopic instruments, removing the vitreous gel. The cavity is filled with a gas bubble that is eventually absorbed into the body as your eye makes new fluids to fill the cavity.

The gas bubble is responsible for pressing on the macular hole and helping it heal and close. This is achieved through effective posturing during after care. The bubble only remains in the eye for around two weeks.

If you choose not to go ahead with the macular hole surgery, you will not experience complete blindness, as the peripheral vision is preserved. You will struggle to see detail and this may worsen over a period of time. In some cases, your macular hole may close on its own. It's important to bear in mind that only four to eleven percent of macular holes close on their own, the rest all need macular hole surgery to rectify the problem.

The good news is that macular hole surgery has a ninety percent success rate. This is only true when you follow the surgeons after care instructions to the letter, often requiring you to lie face down for the first night and for a few days after surgery. Overall, total visual recovery can take up to six months and in rare cases, it can take up to one year for a full recovery.

Your vision will never return to how it was before you developed the macular hole. The distortion should vanish and your vision will stabilise. Macular hole surgery is a quick one hour surgery where you lie flat and remain still throughout the surgery. The surgeon will cover your head so you can not see what is happening. A local anaesthetic is used and you may be given medication to help you relax. You may also feel some pressure in your eye during the surgery, but you will not experience any pain.

The majority of macular hole surgery patients can leave the hospital the same day to recover in the comfort of their own homes. Before you are discharged you will be given both verbal and written instructions on how to care for your eye, along with eye drops you must use to reduce the risk of infection. Do not drive yourself home from the hospital, arrange for a family member or friend to collect you.

About Us:

Mahi Muqit is a leading consultant ophthalmologist, cataract and vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in London, United Kingdom. He provides patients with superior service and support with a range of surgical procedures to meet their eye sight requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the London area as an expert eye doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina and complex cataract surgery. He also offers surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi Muqit is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons and the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. To find out more, visit https://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com/.