Macular hole surgery

[41011]

I was diagnosed a few months ago and had surgery March 17, 2025. I was so caught up as a anxious about the procedure itself, that I didn't even really consider recovery and what that looked like. Shy 1 day of it being a week since the procedure and I'm overwhelmed and anxious about the vision in that eye. I don't know why I thought that I would be able to see out that eye right away. I'm just now researching the process. I had my appointment the day after and out went well. My next appointment is March 25th. Which will only be 8 days since the procedure. Reading some of these made me feel a lot better about recovery.

[RosMacularSociety Partner]

Dear 41011,

Please contact us on the Macular Society helpline if you would like to discuss how your appointment went today, 25 March, in case there is anything that we can suggest that may be of help.

Just to make you aware, the impact of the diagnosis of any eye condition, and indeed any stage in the process, is generally compared to experiencing bereavement. Individuals frequently go through very similar feelings and responses and in no set order. We do have a free telephone counselling service for UK residents:

macularsociety.org/support/...

Referral is either via us on the helpline (in which case we need the individuals verbal consent), or via the form on the website. Link above.

It takes a counsellor a maximum of 10 working days to make the initial call. Our counsellors are fully trained and some have sight loss themselves. Sessions consist of approximately 6 of around 45-50 minutes each.

Kind regards,

Macular Society helpline

0300 3030 111

[e-mail]

[Red1308]

hi. I’m 3 months on from the macular hole operation, eyesight is still improving very slowly, they say up to 12 months, I can’t read a car numberplate clearly yet but can see a jumble of blurred letters, the wavy line is still there but very slight now plus colours are more dull in that eye but again this is improving. Because recovery is so slow I keep thinking it’s not getting better, but then I realise I can see things with it that I couldn’t make out at all. On the eye chart on the 2nd week I could see two lines down but on the 2 month check could see 4 lines down, good luck with your recovery it’s not long now for your gas bubble to dissipate.

[trishrg]

Hi 41011,

Like most of us here probably, I found this site my trying to research online and was stressed out about my vision. I'm 8 months past full thickness macular hole surgery and pretty much healed up as good as it gets. It was stressful, but I kept improving and at least returned to where I was pre surgery. With both eyes I have good vision and can still do most anything like always. Being an avid bird watcher and hobby photographer it was all scary at first.

The wait is the hardest part since it takes some time for the eye to heal from the trauma of the surgery itself. Not sure if you have a bubble, but if so, it will take some time indeed. Just keep doing what the doc says, take your drops and any other directions.

I love that you in the UK have a free service for counseling, and it makes perfect sense we have some type of bereavement due to a loss of vision. I've continued to follow this site and also follow other HU topics. It's comforting.

Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.

[41011 in reply to trishrg]

Hi Trishrg. Thanks for the response. I live in Ohio, so I'm not sure where the UK information came from . But wanted to clear that up. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since my surgery and it's been OK. The waiting/healing process requires patience. Everyone's healing journey is different for sure. My eye sight is still blurry, but better each week. Honestly, I wish it were faster. My reality now is I have to push myself to get back to my routine, while I continue to heal. I've been in the house doing much of nothing these past 2 weeks. I'm glad that to read about youpr experience and your progress. It certainly gives me positive vibes. I actually thought in my mind that once they took the bandages off, I would be able to see and I would just stay home for a bit, heal, and it would be all good. I focused so much on the procedure, that I paid little attention to the details in healing. I'm so mad at myself for being so careless with all the information I had at my fingertips. Again, thanks for your response. Keep moving forward. 41011

[trishrg]

I think you're better off for not stressing about the after ahead of time, now you can just focus on the healing. Yes, never quickly enough. I'm not the most patient of people, but once I get thru something, it makes it a little better for the next challenge.

I find it helpful for me to make a list of my questions on a note in my phone, that way I don't forget to ask things at my appt.

And I was referring to the post by the host, mentioning resources available to those in the UK, which is where this forum is based.

[41011 in reply to trishrg]

Thanks Trishrg... Thank you so much for responding. I really appreciate it. It really does help me in more ways than one. To be able to reach out and talk to someone that have gone through what I'm going through is really helpful. Thank you so much.

[trishrg in reply to 41011]

Hoping each day is a little bit better for you.