How painful is macular hole surgery?
Macular hole surgery usually lasts about an hour and can be done while you’re awake (under local anaesthetic) or asleep (under general anaesthetic). Most patients opt for a local anaesthetic, which involves a numbing injection around the eye, so no pain is felt during the operation.
How long is recovery after macular hole surgery?
How long is the recovery from macular hole surgery? The total recovery time is several months. Patients will be asked to maintain face down positioning after surgery, from one to seven days, depending on a variety of patient-specific factors. Patients are on post-operative eye drops for a few weeks.
What can you do after macular hole surgery?
Positioning face down (posturing) after surgery Some people are advised to maintain a face-down position for a period of time following surgery. This is to improve the chances of a better outcome by keeping the floating gas bubble in contact with the macular hole for as long as possible.
How do you sleep after macular hole surgery?
It is recommended to sleep on either side or even your front, but not sleep on your back as that would make the bubble move away from the macular hole.
Can you drive after macular hole surgery?
Can I drive after the operation? No – the gas bubble will still be present in your eye for 6–8 weeks after your surgery, so during this time you cannot drive a vehicle of any sort.
How do you sleep face down after eye surgery?
Instead of getting a special face-down pillow with a space cut out for your face, you can arrange a large towel into a horseshoe shape to support your head as you sleep. You can also place trays on top of pillows or bean bags to make a useful surface for eating, reading or using a laptop or tablet.
Can you sleep on your side after macular hole surgery?
When can you sleep on your back after macular hole surgery?
In contrast, in The Hague, we simply advise patients to avoid supine positioning for the first 5 days after MH surgery. Proponents of facedown positioning suggest that the tamponade must provide a mechanical “flotation force” at its apex against the macular hole, which is achieved while patients are face down.