Macular Hole

[smurfchops]

Has anyone had an operation for a macular hole ? Obviously if you don't know what it is you wouldn't have had the operation .. but just to let you know, it is a hole in the retina at the back of the eye. I have just been diagnosed and am going in on 9th December, obviously a bit worried. I know what the treatment is and what you have to do when you get home (you wouldn't believe it ..) If anyone has had the op, would you recommend a local anaesthetic. Bit scary to be awake during an eye op, but think it would be safer than general anaesthetic. Can anyone help? Doc says I could have local or general. Any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated .. and think of me on 9th December ! :)

[OBonio]

My dad had an op to rectify a macular hole. He had a general anasthetic. Bit scary being awake during an eye op? Darn right terrifying I would say. I'd imagine some forms of torture are similar!

He found the recovery period difficult to start with, but soon got used to keeping his head down. Mirrors came in handy!

[smurfchops]

I thought of mirrors - I will probably look a right state during the christmas period, and with all those (hopefully good) programmes on TV I will need to set up some sort of mirror to watch them - and of course I can then see what everyone else is getting up to whilst my head is down! Still can't decide whether to have general or local ... What did your dad find difficult OBonio - was it keeping his head down - and how long before his eye looked OK (I will save a fortune in mascara) - also did it help with his sight afterwards?

[OBonio]

The op was a complete success!

Yes, he found keeping his head down difficult to start with. He just forgot, that's all. He established a routine after a few days though which helped.

And a good book is handy!