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Gas bubble following Vitrectomy
I had a Vitrectomy for a macular hole almost two weeks ago together with a cataract removed at the same time. At present I can see a black circle with a grey and white interior (very much like a camera lens) which moves or bounces around depending on the position of my head. I am assuming this is the gas bubble and that it will get smaller and disappear over time? What is most disconcerting is that even with my eye closed I can still see the bubble. Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanking you in advance.
Thanking you in advance.
Although my surgery was for a different problem, I had and still do have a gas bubble 5 days after surgery. The surgeon said it is at about 30% of its former volume.
And, yes, it will go away, although the surgeon didn't say how long it would take. Mine was a short-acting bubble, and I expect it will disappear faster than yours, because you had macular hole surgery, where mine was an ERM peel.
I agree, it is really annoying, especially when you bend over. Also, I keep wanting to reach up and move it out of the way.
Hope this helps.
And, yes, it will go away, although the surgeon didn't say how long it would take. Mine was a short-acting bubble, and I expect it will disappear faster than yours, because you had macular hole surgery, where mine was an ERM peel.
I agree, it is really annoying, especially when you bend over. Also, I keep wanting to reach up and move it out of the way.
Hope this helps.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Use the search feature and archives. There are many people that have had that surgery that have shared their experience.
JCH MD
JCH MD
Thank you for replying to my post. It's reassuring to know that you are experiencing a similar phenomenon. Like you, I want to grab it and move it out of the way. I have noticed today that it has shrunk in size so that's a good sign.
Hope yours disappears soon.
Hope yours disappears soon.
I did use the search feature and archives before posting my message, but could not find anyone who had experienced seeing the bubble even with their eye closed.
You'd better believe that you see the bubble with your eye closed! I saw it especially well after surgery, as I had my eye patched for 24 hours.
There is also silicon oil that is sometimes used. I wonder how it would be different. Come to think of it, I prefer not to know. :-)
There is also silicon oil that is sometimes used. I wonder how it would be different. Come to think of it, I prefer not to know. :-)
2 Comments
They used the oil when the doctor closed my macular hole, the problem is that 3 months later, the oil must be removed. If I had known that I would lose my sight from the closure, I wouldn't have had the surgery as I couldn't see the little pin hole in my vision. I want my vision back.
If they used oil you probably had a retinal detachment also. You will likely will not be able to tell the status of your vision until the oil is removed and the healing complete. That could be as long as 6-12 months.
The gas bubble has disappeared this morning after shrinking rapidly yesterday. Everything still looks very blurry and I've got small black spots floating about but I guess this is all part of the recovery process. I've got a follow up hospital appt next Tues so should know then if all is in order. Hope your eye is healing too.
I am glad to hear this. My gas bubble is still there a little bit, and I had to descend lots of stairs today. Looking down through the bubble throws off my equilibrium. I just held on to the stair rails and went slowly.
I can't wait until it is gone!
I can't wait until it is gone!
I had a vitrectomy, but had long lasting gas bubble. What you see is very normal, you're lucky it wasn't for 12 weeks like with my case. I don't remember seeing the gas bubble with my eye closed. However I also had PFO (a dense liquid) placed in the eye during surgery and there are still some bubbles after a year and a half. And I can see those with my eye closed, even in the dark! My guess is the bubbles touch my retina and stimulate the optic nerves and I "see" an image.
Eyes and ophthamalogy are wonderful things, and I've seen and learned so much. I appreciate my vision and eye care daily!
Eyes and ophthamalogy are wonderful things, and I've seen and learned so much. I appreciate my vision and eye care daily!
Mine just disappeared a minute ago, almost two weeks to the day after scleral buckling, vitrectomy and laser.
What you see is the shadow of the bubble, originally it obscures the vision, but becomes progressively smaller over time (I had the faster acting SF6 gas). It becomes a button sized ball and if it was like mine it just goes 'poof' and gone.
I could see mine with my eyes closed and it was quite pretty, purple in the middle and red on the outside, with a sort of light that looked like an eclipse.
Scary at first check out this guys website - http://www.jimlawton.info/myeye
What you see is the shadow of the bubble, originally it obscures the vision, but becomes progressively smaller over time (I had the faster acting SF6 gas). It becomes a button sized ball and if it was like mine it just goes 'poof' and gone.
I could see mine with my eyes closed and it was quite pretty, purple in the middle and red on the outside, with a sort of light that looked like an eclipse.
Scary at first check out this guys website - http://www.jimlawton.info/myeye
It's thirty days post-op and I still
have about 40% gas bubble. The gas used is C3F8 which is a long acting gas with a long half life. My doc told me three days ago that it will take another two to three weeks to reaborb completely. After that, he will give the prescription for new glasses as my eye has become short sighted and astigmatism has set in. Good news is that the cataract is reduced since the first week the head down posturing helps to prevent gas induced cataract, so all that hard work and suffering was worth it.
have about 40% gas bubble. The gas used is C3F8 which is a long acting gas with a long half life. My doc told me three days ago that it will take another two to three weeks to reaborb completely. After that, he will give the prescription for new glasses as my eye has become short sighted and astigmatism has set in. Good news is that the cataract is reduced since the first week the head down posturing helps to prevent gas induced cataract, so all that hard work and suffering was worth it.
I am now 4weeks post op vitrectomy with gas bubble--I still have a large black circle(much like an eclipse)which is present all the time and bounces around with my eye movement.Has your bubble gone now FernackerpanI .Has anyone else experienced this?
3 Comments
I'm 10 days after surgery.and I see well over the bubble. The bubble has had a black line around it and looks 3/4 gone. The hard part is sleeping with my head way up and on my back. I go back to Retinal Dr. in 3 weeks.
The surgery was Jan.4,2017
Victrectomy for tearing. The Gas bubble is going, but slowly. It is now 8 weeks since the op and the bubble is now covering about 20% of the vision (immediately post-op it was 100%). However as this is a sphericle bubble, the apparent rate of shrinkage is accellerating as it gets smaller. It is annoying as it moves... wobbles about. (but it keeps me level headed!!!). What I also get is other slight optical effects - such as internal reflections rom the bubble within the eye that cause little lines to appear. I want to get back to wearing my contact enses but am waiting for the bubble to go completely as i think my vision is still distorted. I will be annoyed if it is more than 2 weeks now.
yes i have saw the bubble with eyes open or clossed i just don't understand no bending down & no laying or the back or picking any thing up when my 4 wks up it will make 11 wks having an bubble in the eye the hole is doing very very good so far but days i wake uo so tired & full of pain cause can only sleep on sided i fill so weaK HADLY CAN WALK HOPE IT GOES AWAY SOON I USED MY LEGS TO MOVE A FEW BOXS ANY WAY DO U SWEAP THE FLOOR MOP THE FLOOR WASH CLOES & OTHER HOSE WORK WHILE THE GAS BUBBLE IS IN THE EYE I STILL CAN'T DRIVE & I SURELY MISS IT SO IS THERE ANY ONE WHO CAN ANSWER ANY OF MY ???/ MAY I ASK
yes i to have an gas bubble till have it been so far 10 wks i think hope it goes away soon i see the dr again in 2 wks
I also had a hole in my macular , cataract removal and a iris reshaping Gas bubble placement 2 weeks ago. Doing very well. When can I resume exercise. Didn't ask the doctor. Any input would b greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
I had a victrectomy 11 weeks ago with the gas bubble for treatment of a detatched retina I too still have the bubble which is annoying especially when I bend over It has decreased significantly but still present I still have not been able to drive About 4 weeks out from surgery I had someone take me to Walmart while walking by myself i had loss of navigation and had difficulty reading labels even with readers has anyone else experienced these symptoms?
My op was May 5/15, I still have a perfect circle that I look through, very frustrating. I spent 4 weeks face down, hard but I did it! I see the doc on Wed., June 10. I am getting discouraged, went out for the first time this week, very disoriented. I'm a 68 yr old female. Good luck all!
I understand your discouragement. My vitrectomy was 5/7/15 and have large gas bubble for macular hole. It has diminished a lot, but still there though some sight back now. Frustrating since need glasses for my non bubble eye, but when wear them I can't see with the bubble eye. Anyway, I am looking forward to getting glasses to help see better maybe in 2 months. I guess I didn't realize that my sight wouldn't really be returned to "normal", but after getting adjusted to that, I am glad I am not blind in that eye since I was for about a month after the surgery. I haven't driven and walked funny since was off balance. I am not yet 60, and didn't know this happened to people in 50's, but anyway, I'm now getting out and trying to focus on the positive - I'm not blind and getting better; and every time I get discouraged, I try to remember there are many people with way worse things than I have, and it will hopefully get better.
Oh, and yes, I see gas bubble when open and closed. It has been almost 6 weeks since my vitrectomy with large gas bubble.
I am 47 and one week post op for a macular hole. Guess it can happen at any age - heck, I even have a 7 yo at home still! So pleased with my results -we found it early so my hole closed the first week. The Bubble is dissipating very quickly but since the hole is closed, the doctor isn't worried. 7 days posturing wasn't fun, but thanks to Tylenol PM and an incredible support structure, I just slept the days away - usually 18 hours total. I feel blessed for the whole experience - I went decades taking my eyesight for granted. This puts it totally in perspective.
2 Comments
I am 46 and 4 days post op for a macular hole. I have a 6 year old at home and an 11 year old! Bubble still covering all vision but bouncing a little if I move my head. Posturing is tough and sometimes depressing. Am going to try the Tylenol PM. Thanks for the suggestion. I too never thought about my vision until now. Sometimes we must lose sight to gain insight.
none of my business, but is there no one who can help watch the kids for a few more days? (and since I have Rx for alazopram,, sleep was the easiest way to get 5-6 hours of sleep.. talk to your doc.. but don't even consider Rx if kids depend on you..
I was told 10 min per hour face up for hygiene, 3 ea 30 min food/sponge bath breaks) .. since my hole was upper-outside quadrant, I was able to sleep on side with bed rail and head face down off bed's edge.. (check with doctor)
I was told 10 min per hour face up for hygiene, 3 ea 30 min food/sponge bath breaks) .. since my hole was upper-outside quadrant, I was able to sleep on side with bed rail and head face down off bed's edge.. (check with doctor)
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