Having Eye Surgery!
What’s A Macular Pucker?
When I last posted, I talked about being diagnosed with macular pucker. According to the National Eye Institute:
“A macular pucker is scar tissue that has formed on the eye’s macula, located in the center of the light-sensitive tissue called the retina. The macula provides the sharp, central vision we need for reading, driving, and seeing fine detail. A macular pucker can cause blurred and distorted entral vision. Macular pucker is also known as epiretinal membrane, pre-retinal membrane, cellophane maculopathy, retina wrinkle, surface wrinkling retinopathy, pre-macular fibrosis, and internal limiting membrane disease.”
Surgery Scheduled
I was scheduled for surgery in a few weeks, advised not to drive, go into direct sunlight due to the hole in my eye, and no strenuous activity. This included walking for exercise because the risk of tripping was too great and I may completely detach the retina in my eye.
I looked online for everything related to my disease and surgery and recovery. I was nervous about having the surgery, but confident in my doctor.
I arrived early for my appointment on surgery day. I was told not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. I was scheduled to be at the surgery center at 1:00pm. The doctor scheduled me for the last surgery of the day so we waited the rest of the day until I was taken back to the surgery waiting area. The nurse continually put numbing drops in my eye. I walked into the surgery room at 5:30pm (starving I may add!). As soon as I was lying down on the surgery table I was administered local anesthesia.
The most pain I felt was having my head strapped tightly to the table. They also strapped my arms. This was the most uncomfortable feeling. Having no sense of control is not my strong point! I could see the needle coming into my eye. I was awake the whole surgery. The doctor reassured me through each step of what he was doing. The surgery lasted about an hour. Didn’t feel a thing!
The surgery lasted an hour and 15 minutes. After surgery was over I had to walk to recovery area. This surgery required my head to be face down because a gas bubble was inserted in the back of my eye to push the area closed while healing. If the head is lifted up the gas bubble could detach or move the repaired area and possibly rip open the healed area. I sat in a chair with my head down. The recovery nurse offered me coffee, apple juice, grape juice or hot chocolate. I had not eaten for 23 hours at this point and thought grape juice was the best choice.
Recovery time in the surgery center took about 15 minutes and then I was released to start my recovery at home. This is where the fun begins…..
Find out more about my eyesight journey from Having Eye Surgery, Eye Surgery Recovery, Eye Disease Recovery, An Eye Surgery Scheduled AGAIN,A Setback and a Comeback.
Read more about Macular Pucker and Eye Disease at the National eye Institute.
Take an extra step and learn more about Non-Age Related Macular Degeneration.
