Receive Answers
Our Blog
Ask an optometrist
Alec wrote:
I am 32 years old. I was diagnosed for vitreous hemorrhage and said that my retina is fine and I either can tolerate it or do vitrectomy. My condition is as follows: I have some floaters in my right eye and sometime (maybe once every two month or so) suddenly my right eye gets full of blood (I mean floaters as doctors said they are blood) which blocks my right eye vision. Then I have to wait a couple of days, for them to be absorbed or be eliminated to the basic level that I had (some few floaters). This cycle occurs again and again. I am fed up. I know that vitrectomy is the only surgical solution with lost of side effect such as cataract and retinal detachment and I do not want to do that. Is there any other treatment or finding why this happens over and over? I am ok with the minimum level of floaters that I have used to it but this sudden occurrence of abundant floaters annoys me a lot. I should say that last year I did anagram of my eye and Drs could not find anything from my eye's picture and they say that they do not know the cause of bleeding. They say that the eye is Ok except the bottom of the eye which they cannot see since the blood is deposited at the bottom of my eye and it does not allow them to see the below. They say that the only way for them to see the bellow of the bottom of my eye which has deposited blood, is to do vitrectomy. I highly appreciate your help is this regards Best A.
Dr Henry Smit's response:
Dear Alec:
A recurring vitreal hemorrhage is a serious problem that has the potential to cause vision loss that can be significant and permanent. A vitrectomy is not without risk, as you already are aware. Of the two potential complications you mention, cataract is the most treatable, and surgery is usually quite successful at restoring vision. However, at your age you will probably be quite aware that your non-operated eye has much better close up vision than the operated eye with the implanted artificial lens. Treating a retinal detachment is more complicated, but the likelihood of developing a retinal detachment is certainly less than that of developing a cataract.
From this distance, it is very difficult to offer credible advice about your particular situation. What your surgeon is proposing seems reasonable in the circumstances, even though the procedure is not without risks and potential complications. If you are unable to make a decision about your treatment options, an opinion from a second surgeon, who has had a chance to examine your eyes thoroughly, may confirm the need for the proposed treatment, or offer alternative options.
All the best.
Dr. Smit
No comment