What is macular pucker?Ī macular pucker is scar tissue that has formed on the eye’s macula, located in the center of the eye’s light-sensitive tissue called the retina. Other Names for macular pucker: Epiretinal membrane, pre-retinal membrane, cellophane maculopathy, pre-macular fibrosis, retina wrinkle. Statistics show that over 90% of patients that have their natural lens (have not had cataract surgery) and undergo vitrectomy surgery require cataract surgery within 2 years of having vitrectomy surgery.What is macular pucker? A guide to its causes, treatments and surgery options Detached retina (less than 1% risk of developing)Ĭataract progression/formation: If you have not had cataract surgery, you will likely develop a cataract and may need surgery in the next 6 to 12 months.Like all surgery, vitrectomy surgery has risks. This is because changes in altitude can make the gas bubble expand. Generally, you should not fly in an airplane until the bubble is completely gone. It may persist in the vitreous space for as long as eight weeks dependent on the type of gas used.

The gas bubble will slowly be absorbed by the body. The most common side effect of macular hole repair is cataract formation that often requires surgery within 6 months of the macular hole repair. Ask your doctor for this contact information. To assist patients with the face-down positioning, there are positioning aids that may be rented from specialty companies. You must keep your face down or in a certain position at all times for up to a week, but maybe longer, after vitrectomy surgery. While the gas bubble is in the eye air travel is prohibited as well as use of inhaled nitrous oxide (commonly used by dentists as “laughing gas”) as either of these factors will cause the gas in the eye to expand, often leading to pain and possible blindness. The eye refills itself with a watery fluid as the gas bubble is reabsorbed. The gas bubble that is inserted into the vitreous cavity is slowly reabsorbed into the bloodstream over a period of 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the concentration of gas that is used by the surgeon. Macular hole surgery is done as an outpatient procedure and usually can be performed in one hour or less. There is also approximately a 9 to 10 percent chance of a hole forming in the opposite eye with time. Without treatment, the blind spot caused by the macular hole usually enlarges, and most patients’ ultimate visual acuity is 20/400 or worse (the size of the big “E” on the eye chart.) Macular holes rarely close without surgery. With these relatively low risks, many patients elect to proceed with surgery with a realistic expectation of better vision when the repair is performed in a timely fashion. These risks include cataract formation, retinal tears and detachment, failure of hole closure and infection or bleeding in the eye. As with any surgery, there are surgical risks. Calderon’s rate of success for closing macular holes is 100%. The rate of hole closure has improved to 90 percent or greater.

The surgery requires face-down positioning afterwards to allow the gas bubble to constantly apply pressure against the hole to help it close. After the vitreous is removed the vitreous cavity is filled with a temporary gas bubble. Surgery called vitrectomy where the vitreous gel is removed from the eye is the best way to treat a macular hole. This provides very detailed pictures of the retina and macula.

With OCT, a machine scans the back of your eye. Your physician will then take special pictures of your eye using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Or it can be caused by an eye injury, that induces the vitreous to be abruptly shaken that ends up yanking-up a piece of macula with it.Īfter dilating your eye, the retina is examined using a special lens and equipment. Sometimes the macular hole can form when the macula swells from other eye disease. As it detaches further away it exerts traction and a subsequent macular hole forms. But sometimes it may be too stuck to the central aspect of the retina called the macula. Usually the vitreous separates away from the retina with no problems. As you get older the vitreous jelly turns to liquid and shrinks and subsequently begins to pull away from the retina. What causes a macular hole?Īge is the most common cause of macular hole.

A macular hole does not affect your peripheral vision. As the hole grows a dark shadow appears in the center of your vision. As the hole forms, your central vision will look blurry, distorted or wavy. Macular hole is when a tear or opening forms in the macula, the central part of your retina responsible for providing fine visual detail.

Macular pucker pictures