PVD is supposedly very common in those over age 65. (I'm 73.) I experienced a significant PVD event in my right eye 3 weeks ago. My vision was very blurred in that eye and I had a lot of eye strain. However, I wasn't yet familiar with "PVD" so I immediately went to my eye doctor. He thoroughly examined and tested my eyes and made the diagnosis. He said there was nothing I could have done to prevent it and there is no way to treat it......except through time and nature taking its course. He said the vitreous material will dissipate into smaller pieces as time goes by (2 to 6 months) and my brain will compensate for some of the focus problem. The doctor said to alleviate the eye strain issue, I should shut my eyes for 10 minutes or so until the pain subsides. It's now been 3 weeks for me and I do sense some decrease in my focusing problem (especially reading/computer use) and eye strain, but the problem is still there. Has anyone been through a significant PVD experience? After the 2 to 6 months, did you find that the problem was essentially all gone and your focus was back to what it was pre-PVD?
My best friend had something very similar happen. Hers was quite severe but the doctors were correct and the double vision and blurring she experienced did adjust itself in time. Her focus returned but she was also prescribed new glasses with a prism in the lens to assist - perhaps speak to a good optician to see if there are glasses that could be prescribed to help. Because her problem was quite serious her vision was not as good as before it happened but I do know that her focus returned and the double vision completely adjusted itself. The brain is a wonderful thing eh.
Did the detachment complete.?Its been about 3 yrs for me and mine still aren’t fully detached. Ive had pvd both eyes. I still have visual symptoms such as days that are blurrier then others,more floaters then I used to,different types of floaters,smudges,cloudy vision etc. I can however do quite well on reading etc with my glasses.
i have had ongoing pvd in both eyes , 14 months later and still a nightmare, soooo many floaters, dont think my vision will ever get back to normal find reading and computer work so hard now
the main debris never went away for me even after 10 years. I had a limited vitrectomy to remove it (both eyes) and am very happy with the results
Ive heard its a risky operation, with many side effects. How did you find it? Dont they only perform this operation as a last resort?
Thanks to all for your replies.
@john60354:
Like Diane, I too have heard that a vitrectomy is a very risky procedure. The laser beam used to “zap” the vitreous matter can accidentally burn your retina. I am going to just wait this out and live with whatever I encounter after the 6 months is up. Glad to hear you got relief.
my optometrist wont even consider it unless it is extremely bad
most ophthalmologists don’t consider floaters an issue worth dealing with. a few leaders now are changing the thinking on this front. the use of lasers to disintegrate floaters is not the same as a limited vitrectomy. the laser approach for floaters doesn’t have the same clinical substantiation as the vitrectomy.vitrectomy works best for people that have already had cataracts and vitreous detachment since those are potential risks of the procedure. see the research papers of dr j. sebag for the latest research.
same here Lee
I’m in the states I’ve never heard of the limited version and our hospital is a branch of one of the largest hospitals in the U.S. Got me.
dr jerry sebag does a podcast on the subject at the link shown above. i read several of the peer reviewed research papers before i decided to have it done. my only regret is not having done it sooner.
i believe the limited modifier just means they try to only remove the part of the vitreous that has the floaters.
all I know is my eyes aren’t good and unless my reading ability became very bad,they don’t want to touch your eyes because of risks,as far as removing the vitreous fluid.
How was the recovery? Do you have to be face-down for a period of time and, if so, for how long? Also did you have both eyes done at the same time?
Ive recently been diagnosed 2 weeks ago as having a PVD in my right eye once again 14 years after having experienced it for the first time. Ive also had PVD in my left eye 11 years ago. The symptoms this.time however are more severe with double vision and blurriness. Both my optician and the eye doctor at the hospital confirmed they couldn’t detect either retinal detachment or tear but i am so worried that there is something else underlying. Has anyone else experienced such severe symptoms and how long did they last.
Ive recently been diagnosed 2 weeks ago as having a PVD in my right eye once again 14 years after having experienced it for the first time. Ive also had PVD in my left eye 11 years ago. The symptoms this.time however are more severe with double vision and blurriness. Both my optician and the eye doctor at the hospital confirmed they couldn’t detect either retinal detachment or tear but i am so worried that there is something else underlying. Has anyone else experienced such severe symptoms and how long did they last.
Hi Lee
How are your eyes now?
I think I spoke to you in January last year.
My flashes mostly settled in my right eye but I still see it a tiny bit when in a darkened room.
I also get some achiness in my eye occasionally.
I spoke to the eye hospital this morning and they don’t seem concerned.
6 months is a long time, its unheard of for the treatment for a problem taking that long. If after that long you do not see solution its time to go back to your doctor.
I had a PVD in my right eye 15 years ago, and then one in my left 3 years later, both without detachment. The symptoms now are mostly the same as they were when it happened: Lots of large floaters, especially in my central vision. I have to move them out of the way to pass an eye exam, and they interfere with reading somewhat. Flashers have diminished over time.
I did look into both the laser disintegration method and vitrectomy. The former seemed too risky, and my retinologist discouraged me from trying it. The latter he said he could justify only if I could no longer do my work.
I’ve mostly accepted them, but I never got to the point when my brain would just filter them out. Your situation may be different, of course,