Frequently
Asked Questions
- I have severe visual loss because of retinal disease.
Can the retina or the eye be transplanted to improve my vision?- Will vitamins help my vision?
- Is it okay for me to watch TV?
- Should I wear sunglasses?
Posterior Vitreous Separation
Retinal Detachment
Diabetic Retinopathy
Macular Degeneration
- I lost central vision in one eye because of age-related macular degeneration. Will my other eye be affected?
- My doctor told me I have dry macular degeneration, but my eyes are always tearing. Do I have the wet form?
- I was told I have macular degeneration, but I think I'm too young for that. Was I misdiagnosed?
Macular Hole
- How am I supposed to stay in a face-down position for 2 weeks?
- Will I go blind from a macular hole?
- Will I get a macular hole in my other eye?
Macular Pucker
If you have a question has not been answered in the information contained on this page or elsewhere in our website, please contact us.
The
Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) has now shown that vitamin
supplementation is important in slowing the progression of macular
degeneration in patients with moderate dry macular degeneration or
patients with more advanced disease in one eye only. The most benefit
was derived from a combination of antioxidants and zinc, in the
following daily doses:
 |
Is it okay for me to watch TV? |
 |
Many people are
concerned that using their eyes may make diseases of the eye worse.
This is generally not true. You cannot harm the eyes by using
them. Even eye fatigue caused by extensive computer use does not
damage the eyes. Visual activities are temporarily restricted in
some patients with certain conditions, and your doctor will tell you
if this is the case. 
|
|
Should I wear sunglasses? |
|
There is
evidence that sunlight exposure plays a role in certain eye diseases,
such as cataract, macular degeneration, and eyelid cancer. It is
a good idea to wear sunglasses with protection against ultraviolet
light. Patients with or at risk for macular degeneration may
also benefit from lenses which block blue wavelengths, such as yellow
or amber lenses.
|
|
I had a vitreous separation a couple of months ago, and I still see floaters. Why aren't they going away? |
|
The floaters
which occur following vitreous separation, as well as the flashes,
tend to clear or become less noticeable within a few months, but some
patients will have persistent symptoms. Even then, the floaters
are usually only noticeable in certain lighting conditions or against
light backgrounds. People tend to get used to the floaters they
have, and there is rarely any impact on visual function. A new
increase in flashes or floaters may indicate a retinal tear or some
other process, though, and should be reported to your doctor. Vitrectomy surgery can remove floaters, but, because of the risks of
the surgery, is only rarely performed for this purpose.
|
|
Once my retinal detachment is repaired, can the retina detach again? |
|
There is a
slight chance that the retina can become detached again despite
successful surgery. The risk is greatest during the weeks to
months immediately following the surgery.
|
|
I had laser treatment because of my diabetic retinopathy, but my vision is still blurry. Why? |
|
Focal laser treatment of diabetic macular edema is best performed before central vision is affected. Once the center of the macula is swollen, laser often results in some improvement, but the vision may be permanently impaired to some degree. This is why regular retinal exams are important. Additionally, poor blood flow (ischemia) in the macula often damages the vision. There is no treatment for macular ischemia. Good medical control of the blood sugar and blood pressure is the only way to slow the progression of retinopathy and avoid this complication. Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy often develop hemorrhage into the vitreous gel, and panretinal laser photocoagulation is indicated. This laser treatment helps to prevent further neovascularization, hemorrhage, and retinal detachment. But it does not affect the vitreous hemorrhage which has already occurred. Blood within the vitreous must be cleared by the body, and may take several months to go away. If vitreous hemorrhage affecting the vision does not clear in a reasonable amount of time, vitrectomy surgery might be indicated. |
|
I lost central vision in one eye because of age-related macular degeneration. Will my other eye be affected? |
|
Typical
age-related macular degeneration is a bilateral disease. One eye
may have severe visual loss due to the wet form of the disease, but
the other probably also has dry macular degeneration, even if the
vision is good. If someone has developed the wet form of the
disease in one eye, then there is a significant chance that the other
eye will also progress to the wet form. Use of an Amsler grid
and regular retinal exams are important in detecting any such
progression early, when treatment is most likely to preserve vision.
|
|
My doctor told me I have dry macular degeneration, but my eyes are always tearing. Do I have the wet form? |
|
The terms
"dry" and "wet" macular degeneration have nothing
to do with dry eyes, tearing, or other problems with the tear film or
surface of the eye. We use these terms to indicate whether or
not abnormal blood vessels are growing beneath the retina, which leads
to bleeding and leakage of fluid (the "wet" form).
|
|
I was told I have macular degeneration, but I think I'm too young for that. Was I misdiagnosed? |
|
 There are some
other conditions which share features with age-related macular
degeneration, but occur in younger patients. Hereditary retinal
degenerations, severe nearsightedness (myopic degeneration), and
certain infectious or inflammatory eye diseases are sometimes referred
to as "macular degeneration", but they are distinct
disorders.
|
|
How am I supposed to stay in a face-down position for 2 weeks? |
|
Many patients
find it helpful to obtain special equipment, such as massage
furniture, which allows for more comfortable positioning. There
are many sources for this equipment, and it may be covered by your
insurance company. You can read or even watch TV in a face-down
position; put the TV on the floor facing upward, or use a mirror to
look at the TV. Other patients prefer the radio or books on
tape. A dedicated space where the patient can remain in a face
down position and have easy access to telephone, tissues, drops,
drinking straws, etc. is a good idea. Nevertheless, some
patients will have difficulty maintaining this position. In some
cases, your doctor may relax these requirements. For patients
who cannot position, silicone oil may be used instead of intraocular
gas. Silicone oil is a clear viscous fluid that is used to fill
the vitreous cavity. It must be removed at a later date in
another operative procedure.
|
|
Will I go blind from a macular hole? |
|
It is very
uncommon for macular holes to lead to total blindness. Most
patients have central distortion and vision loss, but maintain
peripheral vision. Occasionally, macular holes are associated
with retinal detachment, which can result in more extensive visual
loss.
|
|
Will I get a macular hole in my other eye? |
|
Many patients
with macular hole will develop a macular hole in their other eye at
some point. The risk is about 1% per year. The likelihood
is greatly reduced, however, if the vitreous gel has already separated
in the other eye.
|
|
I had a vitrectomy for macular pucker, but my vision is still distorted. Is the pucker still there? |
|
Macular pucker
surgery, when indicated, improves the vision, and lessens the
distortion of vision, in most patients. Some residual blurring
or distortion is common, though, and does not necessarily mean that
the membrane is still present or has re-grown (this occurs in only a
small percentage of patients). Persistent visual changes are
probably more likely if the macular pucker is chronic or if surgery is
delayed for a long time.
|
