I recently underwent Vitrectomy surgery to eliminate floaters, a procedure typically recommended when floaters become so dense or numerous that they significantly impair vision. While I’ve dealt with floaters for years, their size and number increased dramatically after my PVD (Posterior Vitreous Detachment) event in January 2024.
The vitreous is a gel-like substance that fills the back part of the eye. During Vitrectomy, a surgeon removes floaters and debris from the vitreous and replaces the fluid with a saline solution or a similar alternative. However, my surgery took an unexpected turn. Once the vitreous was removed, my surgeon discovered nine retinal tears, which required immediate repair. To address the tears, he inserted a gas bubble in my eye and used specialized tools to "weld" the tears shut. This procure is necessary because a patient will suffer blindness if fluid gets behind the retina and detaches the retina from the posterior wall of the eye.
I decided to post a video on my YouTube channel and my website to bring my subscribers and website members up-to-date about the situation. Here is the video:
If you want to learn more about retinal repair, I recommend this excellent 1-minute 35-second video by Eye Surgery Ltd. It offers a clear animation of the process, including how retinal tears are treated and the gas bubble is inserted: https://tinyurl.com/5dnydcky
Hey Bud, thanks so much for sharing your story. I hope it all heals soon and you can get back to normal. I can relate to some of it, although pretty minor compared to you - I had a retinal tear a while ago and it needed emergency surgery. I received the same advice as you which was if you don't get it fixed immediately, you may lose your sight in that eye. Pretty scary. Anyway it's amazing what they can do with the laser and I'm all good now. Take care, Andrew