1 year post victrectomy

[Helen40]

Hello all,

I had a successful victrectomy in my right eye may 2024, left eye was done Feb this year.

2 months after left eye started to have small hemorrhages, these clear quickly snd it was deduced it was part of the shrinkage during healing process but also inadequate laser which is scheduled for this October. A cataract has formed quite quickly so my vision is a little murky but it was a relief to know this eill improve with cataract surgery in the future.

This was all fine as my right eye is outstanding, I can read 3 lines from the bottom of the eye chart! On Friday I was told Mt retinopathy has been inactive for a long time, no swelling or leaks, no visible regrowth....10 hours later my right eye had a huge bleed.

Demoralised beyond anything, this eye is my 'insurance' my 'comfort blanket'. I never took my clear sight for granted, after the operation kast year I would still look around in wonder at how clear and bright it's vision was.

Now I'm back to fog mist and a black snowglobe swirling around.

I have that awful gnawing pit of fear in my stomach my life is thrown up in the air again as I worry about my kids, my career, driving, and money.

So, anyone else experienced this and have any useful outcomes/prognosis to share?

I have read this is not uncommon and can regress on its own or may need more treatment, I'm scared this is the end for me as a sighted person and I'm not sure I can squash the panic starting to build. So I'm back here asking for support from you lovely people once more.

Sorry for super long ramble! X

 

[Rosie9876]

Hello all,

I had a successful victrectomy in my right eye may 2024, left eye was done Feb this year.

2 months after left eye started to have small hemorrhages, these clear quickly snd it was deduced it was part of the shrinkage during healing process but also inadequate laser which is scheduled for this October. A cataract has formed quite quickly so my vision is a little murky but it was a relief to know this eill improve with cataract surgery in the future.

This was all fine as my right eye is outstanding, I can read 3 lines from the bottom of the eye chart! On Friday I was told Mt retinopathy has been inactive for a long time, no swelling or leaks, no visible regrowth....10 hours later my right eye had a huge bleed.

Demoralised beyond anything, this eye is my 'insurance' my 'comfort blanket'. I never took my clear sight for granted, after the operation kast year I would still look around in wonder at how clear and bright it's vision was.

Now I'm back to fog mist and a black snowglobe swirling around.

I have that awful gnawing pit of fear in my stomach my life is thrown up in the air again as I worry about my kids, my career, driving, and money.

So, anyone else experienced this and have any useful outcomes/prognosis to share?

I have read this is not uncommon and can regress on its own or may need more treatment, I'm scared this is the end for me as a sighted person and I'm not sure I can squash the panic starting to build. So I'm back here asking for support from you lovely people once more.

Sorry for super long ramble! X

Both my eyes show deterioration despite improved BG and I have a hospital appointment for late October. So no tips I'm afraid, but lots of commiseration and good wishes.

 

[Lakeslover]

Welcome back. There’s always someone to listen here.

I don’t think any of us can truly understand how scary this is for you unless we’ve been there. It must be even harder having been through it once and come through. I hope you have the same good result this time, and that just knowing there are people here to talk to helps in some small way.

 

[Helen40]

It definitely helps sharing my thoughts!

So at my check up Friday they said no new vessel growth/Entry-Site Neovascularization wasn't seen up on the scan or slit lamp exam either....so what else are possible causes for a bleed this late after the victrectomy? Any thoughts greatly appreciated x

 

[Grant_Vicat]

It definitely helps sharing my thoughts!

So at my check up Friday they said no new vessel growth/Entry-Site Neovascularization wasn't seen up on the scan or slit lamp exam either....so what else are possible causes for a bleed this late after the victrectomy? Any thoughts greatly appreciated x

Although I can't diagnose, I can at least tell you that I had a bleed in my right eye in March last year. Prior to that I hadn't had one in either eye since 1983. It has since recovered without any further intervention and an ophthalmologist suggested I may have undertaken too strenuous a task, building up blood pressure in the face. I was warned about this in 1979, but it's easy to get complacent in my case! I hope this all calms down for you very quickly.

 

[Helen40]

Thankyou for sharing, I do get stressed quite a bit so maybe that doesn't help. I'm glad yours resolved! I'd also been busy lifting furniture a few hours earlier...

I take hope that I had all the scans etc Friday, I think they would have spotted any new growths or Neovascularization at the victrectomy entry sites....my retinopathy becoming active again is my greatest fear.

I'm going to call them first thing, even though they discharged me back to normal screening on Friday I'm sure they'll see me due to this.

 

[Grant_Vicat]

Thankyou for sharing, I do get stressed quite a bit so maybe that doesn't help. I'm glad yours resolved! I'd also been busy lifting furniture a few hours earlier...

I take hope that I had all the scans etc Friday, I think they would have spotted any new growths or Neovascularization at the victrectomy entry sites....my retinopathy becoming active again is my greatest fear.

I'm going to call them first thing, even though they discharged me back to normal screening on Friday I'm sure they'll see me due to this.

I would certainly mention lifting furniture. It may influence their thinking. Fingers crossed!

 

[Helen40]

I have an appt to see my surgeon who did the victrectories this Wednesday.

Vision is not good today, seems to have gotten hazier/darker. Really worried now.

 

[Pipp]

I have an appt to see my surgeon who did the victrectories this Wednesday.

Vision is not good today, seems to have gotten hazier/darker. Really worried now.

Hope it goes well.
Please keep us informed.

 

[Helen40]

OK, so I had my appt today. Surgeon said I'm in the unlucky 10 % who still can have these bleeds post surgery.

I'm also in the top 1 % of people who have extremely good vision with PDR!

So takeaways are:
No new cessels/no scar tissue/no trapped vessels as all jelly is gone.

Results:
They can only assume there is a tiny area of miniscule vessels that they simply cannot see on the scans. My right eye has had maximum laser which has preserved my sight so they suggest a period of observation. If bleeding recurs I will get injections to encourage shrinkage and prevent the vessels growing. They feel they must be close to my iris. My left eye has lots of room for laser so I will have one session of that.

If all else fails then repeat surgery is an option but surgeon feels that is a long way off if at all.

Not sure how I feel...I'm a bit apprehensive that the bleeds will become frequent again but also relieved my retinopathy is definitely inactive and there's no new vessels...any thoughts/opinions guys?

 

[Grant_Vicat]

OK, so I had my appt today. Surgeon said I'm in the unlucky 10 % who still can have these bleeds post surgery.

I'm also in the top 1 % of people who have extremely good vision with PDR!

So takeaways are:
No new cessels/no scar tissue/no trapped vessels as all jelly is gone.

Results:
They can only assume there is a tiny area of miniscule vessels that they simply cannot see on the scans. My right eye has had maximum laser which has preserved my sight so they suggest a period of observation. If bleeding recurs I will get injections to encourage shrinkage and prevent the vessels growing. They feel they must be close to my iris. My left eye has lots of room for laser so I will have one session of that.

If all else fails then repeat surgery is an option but surgeon feels that is a long way off if at all.

Not sure how I feel...I'm a bit apprehensive that the bleeds will become frequent again but also relieved my retinopathy is definitely inactive and there's no new vessels...any thoughts/opinions guys?

Three things make this encouraging: inactive retinopathy, period of observation and repeat surgery being a long way off, if at all. Being under the spotlight has definitely allowed me to write this and has also meant that any recurring problems in the 1980's and last year were attended to very quickly. I think avoiding any "aerobic" exercise including heavy lifting will give you a better chance of keeping bleeds at bay. That is just based on my experience and an expert's advice!

 

[Helen40]

Three things make this encouraging: inactive retinopathy, period of observation and repeat surgery being a long way off, if at all. Being under the spotlight has definitely allowed me to write this and has also meant that any recurring problems in the 1980's and last year were attended to very quickly. I think avoiding any "aerobic" exercise including heavy lifting will give you a better chance of keeping bleeds at bay. That is just based on my experience and an expert's advice!

Grant thank you so much for replying! This all makes sense to me. I keep seeing little black blobs that 'stretch' out, hoping its floaters from Fridays bleed and not new little bleeds. Your story is very inspiring thankyou