When you look through a gas bubble, vision is very poor – you can often only see movement. The edge of the gas bubble is seen as a black line at the top of vision. As the bubble absorbs this line descends through the field of vision. Depending on the gas, it can take between 2-6 weeks for the gas bubble to dissolve.
Gas bubble can remain in the eye for about 2-8 weeks depending on the type and volume of the gas. The patient's vision will be limited during this time. As the gas gets absorbed by the eye, the eye produces its own fluid which will serve to keep the eye formed and nourished indefinitely.
“The benefit of silicone oil in these situations is it usually controls bleeding, and the patient can see through the oil while the retina is stabilized, and it doesn't require as stringent positioning as gas does,” Dr.
It is normal for the vision in your operated eye to be blurry while the gas bubble is there. As the gas bubble is absorbed (taken in), you will see the edge of the bubble in your vision as a dark line. As the bubble gets smaller, it will look like a dark circle getting smaller and smaller until it disappears.
You will need to sleep with head tilted to the side opposite to where the retina break is found at the time of surgery to allow the gas bubble to keep the retina in place around the break area until the retina seals in that area.
Patients having vitreo-retinal surgery for a macular hole will need to posture face down for 14 days; for other conditions this is only necessary for 5 days.
As long as there is a gas bubble in your eye you must not fly in an aircraft or travel to higher altitudes. The reduced pressure in the cabin of an aircraft or at higher elevations, will cause the gas to expand and increase the pressure in your eye. This would be extremely painful and may lead to loss of sight.
Floaters are usually harmless specks suspended in the vitreous humour. Vitreous humour is a jelly-like substance that helps maintain the shape of the eyeball. If you have a sudden increase in floaters, this may indicate damage or disease, and should be investigated by an eye specialist.
Your surgery may not work if you do not recover in the recommended position. This is because lying in the wrong position puts pressure on other parts of your eye. That can lead to other eye problems. You cannot fly in an airplane, go to mountains/high altitudes or scuba dive until the gas bubble is gone.
A gas or silicone oil bubble is then inserted into the eye to support the retina while it heals. A gas bubble slowly absorbs over 2 to 8 weeks but a silicone oil bubble will need a small operation to remove it at a later date.
A matched-pair cohort analysis has revealed significantly better visual acuity after oil removal than with oil tamponade. Therefore, following a period of successful retinal reattachment, silicone oil removal (SOR) is recommended to avoid potential sight-threatening complications.
You will need 2 to 4 weeks to recover before you can do your normal activities again.
Silicone use has been related with serious adverse reactions such as glaucoma, recurrent retinal detachment, keratopathy and hypotony; incidence of these complications differs considerably (8-40%) and modern studies record higher incidences than originally reported in Silicone oil studies [19-21].
When splashed in the eye, gasoline may cause burning pain and transient corneal injury. Chronic exposure to gasoline may cause damage to the cornea, retina, and ciliary body.
Gas Bubbles. When your surgeon performs a vitrectomy, the eye is sometimes filled with gas — most commonly for retinal detachments or macular holes. The purpose of the gas is to cover a defect in the retina so it can heal.
A cataract is a cloudy lens inside the eye and there are two main types of cataract associated with vitrectomy surgery. There is an immediate cataract called a “gas cataract” that is seen straight away after surgery and is due to the gas pressing up against the back of the crystalline lens inside the eye.
People who have had vitrectomy surgery will experience temporary poor vision while the eye is filled with gas, but if the surgery is successful the vision will improve as the gas reabsorbs and is replaced with the eye's own clear fluid.
Avoid any bending or lifting for 1 week after surgery. After 1 week, you may do light housework and bend over to pick up light objects. Then, gradually resume your regular activities.
Your vision may not be completely normal after your vitrectomy, especially if your condition caused permanent damage to your retina. Ask your eye doctor about how much improvement you can expect.
You should avoid exercising for at least 2 weeks following your surgery. You may resume normal activities, little by little. After week 1, you may start by walking as much as a mile. You may advance to 2 miles, in the second week and can typically run by week six.
It is recommended to sleep on either side or even your front, but not sleep on your back as that would make the bubble move away from the macular hole.
If you have a medical oil called 'Silicone oil; in your eye you should avoid lying flat on your back whilst the oil remains in the eye, this is to reduce the risk of the oil seeping into the front part of the eye causing the eye pressure to become unstable.
Watching TV and reading will cause no harm. Your vision will remain blurred / poor for several weeks. Often the vision is distorted after surgery. This will vary depending on the type of operation, e.g. if a gas bubble is inserted into the eye, as the bubble shrinks you might see the edge of the bubble.