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Macular hole repair next week...can't do face down positioning

I just found out I have a "tiny full thickness Macular hole" in my right eye.  My surgery is in 6 days. In 2013 I had cataract surgery so that is already done.  However, in 2015 I had 3 level cervical spine surgery and have hardware in my neck.  My neck muscles are very susceptible to spasm and I take very good care of it through exercise, stretching and regular medical massage. I have full range of motion in my neck.  I will not be able to do face down positioning even for a day after my eye surgery.  The surgeon says she will put a huge gas bubble in my eye to act as a tamponade and seal my "tiny" hole.  But I am still scared of a failed surgery and of messing up my neck having restricted motion (no lying on my back, which is what is best for my neck).  Has anyone else had Macular hole surgery...or vitrectomy...and not done face down positioning?  What were your results?  I have monovision from my cataract surgery and the surgery eye is my "distance" eye.  
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Avatar universal
In January I had a vitrectomy and membrane peel to correct a Stage 3 macular hole at the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia.  My surgeon asked me to maintain a face downward position “as if I were reading a book on my lap” for the day of surgery and the following 4 days.  At night, he asked me to sleep with my head to the side, on either ear.  This positioning was easy to maintain.

The hole had closed by my 1 week checkup. It is still closed, and my retina has healed.  My vision is not perfect, but it is much improved.  
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Thanks for sharing your experience.
Avatar universal
I had a vitrectomy in 2015 for macular traction/epiretinal membrane peel and did not use face down recovery. I did however have to sleep with my head slightly elevated. All is well now.
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Thank you for sharing your experience with me.  It truly helps to lower my stress level!  Very glad your procedure was a success!
177275 tn?1511755244
You have several options:  1. you can get a second opinion from another retina surgeon.  You might not need surgery OR they do what is call No Face Down Surgery   2. you can talk to your surgeon and tell him what you just posted and that you just can't do it, can they do it without face down. There is much being written in the retina research about trying to eliminate the face down.     3. Yes use the search feature there are many discussions about face down.
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Thank you SO much for the reply!!  I will do the search.  I thought about a second opinion but time is of the essence and I would have to wait a while to get in to see someone else...then wait for surgery.  I also have had lots of floaters most of my adult life and surgery will take care of those...at least for now.  They have been getting worse lately.  :^(   I truly appreciate your taking the time to respond to me.  It is lonely out here...!
You can also do Google Search on "macular hole surgery without face down position"    
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177275 tn?1511755244
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