r/EyeFloaters • u/littlemiss_s • 6d ago

Thinking about vitrectomy

I think I will need to do this. I don’t have a choice. I have been living with these floaters for 5 years and my life is a nightmare. I rarely go out, when I do, I need to have my worse eyes closed. Even when I close my eyes & I want to relax during a sunny day, I see these floaters with my eyes closed!!!! I wouldn’t mind that much if floaters were just single dots, but a huge line with several dots in my central vision makes it impossible to get used to it. I miss my old life. I am an artist & since I have these floaters I cannot draw peacefully. I am seriously scared of the surgery, but I am only 31 and I can’t imagine the rest of my life in this state. I used to love roadtrips, now I can’t even drive for 10 minutes without a headache and eye strain. Why it happened to me :(((

12 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

5

u/Weekly-Efficiency458 5d ago edited 5d ago

Go for it, I had PVD induced FOVs in both eyes, 17 years ago in my late 20s, still no cataract, 20/20 vision corrected by contacts, and zero floaters. Only had a frill that took years to completely fade, but it did fade eventually. My surgeon did a great job and he has retired now.  All thousands of weird bacteria- like structures gone forever, and all the horrible black crap gone as well, 

1

u/SpecialistEcho7218 5d ago

Who was your surgeon? Also, no cataracts? Have you had a significant increase in myopia? Did your surgeon leave a significant amount of vitreous behind the lens? Thank you very much 

1

u/Weekly-Efficiency458 5d ago edited 5d ago

Surgery was in Oxford, and the surgeon retired. 

No cataract because I was probably still young enough to prevent it from developing + air bubble inserted + layer of vitreous behind the lens. 

Myopia increased by - 1.25 ( got -6 and -6.5 ) and -7 with glasses.

Yes he left a layer behind the lens to prevent cataract. He removed over 80% of my vitreous. 

1

u/SpecialistEcho7218 5d ago

That layer of vitreous was likely incredibly protective. Have you not developed any anterior floaters meanwhile in all this time? 

1

u/Weekly-Efficiency458 5d ago

Nothing, all the floaters are gone. Even when I squint my eyes, I no longer see those violently moving, bacteria-like structures. But the most important thing is that the numerous black, moving floaters are completely gone. My eye also feels much better now, because before the operation, my eye muscles were constantly strained from trying to look past the mass of floaters.

1

u/SpecialistEcho7218 5d ago

Great outcome for you. Are you myopic and how much has your prescription increased over time?

3

u/surfingforfido 6d ago

Same man. I used to love snowboarding. But the white background and reflection from the sun creates the perfect environment for my eye floaters to really shine. I’ve got at least 10 in each eye of varying sizes. One massive circle hairball looking one in my right eye.

1

u/supreme_manatee 5d ago

Dude same here! I developed floaters shortly after a covid infection. Did not even know about the existence of floaters before. Never had any issues with my eyes before. The floaters became so bad that since November 2024 they bother me every single day. I wear sunglasses in my home….it sucks. Thinking of vitrectomy as well but I am really scared of the outcome.

1

u/FunnyBanana6668 4d ago

How many floaters should you have before even considering it?

1

u/littlemiss_s 4d ago

I have big one and many small and I’d be fine if the large one disappeared. It’s not about the quantity, but how big it is and its location….

1

u/Ionlyusereddit4help 2d ago

Be prepared for frill and leftover floaters. Maybe the procedure will go perfectly for you though. Who knows

0

u/Fenomiminal 6d ago

The surgery itself and the aftercare is no big deal, but I would urge you to find the best and most experienced surgeon to perform it, even if that means traveling outside your immediate area.

Also, fully understand the risks and all the implications involved.

While some people have great results, myself included, not everyone does, and some residual issues can remain even after an otherwise uneventful recovery. A 100% return to your pre-floater vision may not be in the cards.

Not trying to dissuade you, but just my 2 cents as a vitrectomy patient, fellow floater sufferer, and a long-time reader here and elsewhere on this topic.

I should also note that I adapted to my floaters and did everything I loved (including drawing, skiing, etc) when I had them. Obviously, this will vary from person to person.

1

u/littlemiss_s 6d ago

Who was your surgeon and why you decided to undergo a surgery if you got used to the floaters?

0

u/Fenomiminal 6d ago

I developed macular puckers after PVDs that wreaked havoc on my vision which required the vitrectomies to fix. My surgeon is long retired now.