Certain retinal surgeries require that you keep your head in a face down (parallel to the ground) position during recovery. If this position is not maintained for several weeks after surgery, the surgery will not be successful.
You must stay face down at all times, unless your eye surgeon tells you otherwise. This means staying face down when you stand, sit, eat, walk, and sleep. To stay safe, have someone with you when you walk around. Your surgery may not work if you do not recover in the recommended position.
Once inside your eye, the gas bubble rises to the top and floats there. You will have to keep your head face down (parallel to the ground) or lie on one side for several days to a week after surgery to allow the bubble to stay in the correct position.
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.
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.
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.
Don't do things that might cause you to move your head. This includes moving quickly, lifting anything heavy, or doing activities such as cleaning or gardening. If your doctor used an oil or gas bubble to hold the retina in place, keep your head in a certain position for a few days or longer after the surgery.
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.
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.
In the 7 to 10 days after the operation, the gas bubble slowly starts to shrink. As this happens, the space that was taken up by the gas fills with the natural fluid made by your eye, and your vision should start to improve. It generally takes 6 to 8 weeks for the gas to be absorbed and vision to improve.
You can have a shower or bath 24 hours after your surgery. Use a clean washcloth every time and normal tap water to clean secretions from your lashes or the corner of your eye. When you shower or wash your hair, keep your eye closed to keep water and soap out.
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.
Most people do well with their vitrectomy, but complications do sometimes happen. Your risks may depend on your age, your medical conditions, and the specifics of your eye problem.
Face-down positioning (FDP) is recommended after vitrectomy and gas tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) [1, 2] or for macular hole (MH) surgery [1–33].
The small size of trocars does not completely prevent from vitreous incarceration that may lead to retinal tears during or even a long time after surgery. Indeed, retinal breaks may in theory also result from changes and contraction of the remaining vitreous and the vitreous base with a vitreous incarceration.
In most cases, it takes around 2 to 4 weeks for the vision to become clear after the vitrectomy. The extent of the clarity of the eyesight after the surgery depends on several factors, including: During vitrectomy, multiple incisions may be taken on the white of the eye called the sclera.
Generally, driving can be resumed in several days if you have good vision in your other eye. If you do not feel comfortable driving, do not drive! Your depth perception may be decreased, so you will want to try driving during the day in light traffic until you feel comfortable driving.
Lying on your side and turning your nose towards the mattress is a good position.
Bending over will place pressure on the eye and this may cause unnecessary complications to your eye. The main complication will be a delay in the healing process. Avoid bending over by following these rules. No heavy lifting.
Dissolving stitches will take four or five weeks to dissolve. Non-dissolving stitches will be removed at your follow-up appointment in the out-patient department. In most cases, your eye will take about two to six weeks to heal.
Approximately 90% of all retina surgery can be performed with a No-Stitch Vitrectomy. Your surgeon will discuss with you whether No-Stitch Vitrectomy is appropriate for your condition.
People who sleep on their stomachs should use thin pillows or none at all because pushing the head backward places pressure on the neck. Or, a person might try sleeping face down with a small, firm pillow propping up only their forehead. This leaves enough room to breathe but helps ensure that the neck stays straight.
Because of this, many patients are concerned when surgery is complete and they are still experiencing blurry vision. However, this is a normal side effect of a vitrectomy. It can take several days, or even several weeks, for the eyes to fully recover and for the vision to be restored to its full potential.