QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Ok guys! The FAQ section I'm about to post was written a couple months ago. Things have changed with my frill for the better since this was written. I will make a new update about my frill and answer all of your questions underneath the FAQS.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MY FOV
What was your floaters like? crystal worms,strings,thin clouds, and blobs.

Which eye did you do and why? I did my right eye even though my left has more floaters. I did this because there was a huge crystal worm stuck in the center of my vision of my right eye. My left eye has a lot more but I think the vitreous is more liquified there so they are more free flowing.
 Very annoying , but I just couldnt get past that one crystal worm in my central vision of my right eye. and I do plan on getting my left done.

And Who was your surgeon? I will not disclose my surgeon for a couple of reasons. My surgeon is what I would consider pretty local (2 hours away) and is not a "FOV surgeon" as in he is not known for FOV. he told me he has actually only done 7 of them, I would be his eighth. He told me nobody had ever complained of frill. Im beginning to wonder if i'm his first floater patient who has not had previous cataract surgery though because I'm his first patient with frill. I do not want to have a bunch of floater patients emailing and calling him about floaterectomies. He wouldnt even discuss FOV with me until I seen him in clinic anyway. I will say that he is in Columbus Ohio. He is very sympathetic and all around an amazing doctor even if I was left with some problems (Frill). Also he was very hesitant to do the FOV. He did not just go for it. He carefully explained the risks, and made me take time to think about them first.

Was PVD induced? Why or why not? yes PVD was induced. I wanted PVD induced although I wasnt really given the option. He thought I already had a pvd from ultrasound anyway. But he said if I didn't then he would only do it if when he got into the eye he thought it woud be safe and effective. After surgery he told me he only left a little behind the lense to protect from cataract. He also told me some parts were very adherent to my retina and that was "the bulk of the work". He never mentioned retinal tears, laser, or cryo. so I'm assuming all went well.

inpatient or outpatient? Outpatient, I stayed in a fancy hotel the night before and the night after. If I was going to go through this trauma I wonted to pamper myself:)

Cost? idk...insurance paid for it. And if it didn't then it was going to be paid for by a low income program at that hospital.

Surgery experience? I was taken in and a cap (like a shower cap was put on my head) all nurses were extremely optimistic and upbeat. They were surprised at how young i was (26). I also had a gown on. I was on a chair like a dentist chair. I signed some papers, was explained the risks again, etc. Surgeon drew an X above my Right eye and called it my tattoo. Local anesthesia. After the anesthesia was given everything became a blur. I remember being rolled to the OR and it was very cold in there. The nurses put warming blankets on me. I saw a bright light and a blurry image of my doctor. I asked if it was my doctor and he said yes and thats all that was said from me the whole time. I was in and out of consciousness. I saw the needles in my eye, heard the vitrector, and saw the kenalog being injected. Yes I felt pain but I was so drugged up I didnt care (I forgot to say along with the anesthesia I took clonazepam). I'm pretty sure he had students watching because in my previous appointments they followed him around and during surgery I heard him say "It's hard to get off because she's so young". I dont know what gauge was used but I did hear him ask someone to hand him "the23 guage"

Sutures? Yes and i'm glad because I have a huge fear of hypotony. My pressure only runs 9-10 as it is. they were miserable and itchy and felt like I had sand in my eyes but I wouldnt have chosen any other way.

Patch was removed the next day. I was surprised there was no floaters. Everything was yellow for about 5 minutes then normal color. very blurry but better than expected.

I was off work for two weeks.

It took over two weeks for vision to be back to normal because I remember being back to work and the clock on the wall being blurry from a seat where its usually not. Idr exactly how long until pre surgery vision though.

I noticed frill the night of the surgery. I thought it was flashes and freaked out. flashing arcs at the top and bottom of my vision. I had no clue it was going to turn into the dreaded frill (but hey better than retinal detachment) surgeon looked and everything checked out perfect.

I know my vitrious remolded. Over the weeks I began to see what looked like cracked glass in my right periphery in certain lighting situations. then it looked like a giant black eyelash against my pillow. and now I can see my vitrious skirt. flashing arcs at the right and bottom of my vision when light hits it a certain way. Best I can explain is like lightening strikes.  I also have shadows in the bottom of my vision that bounce intermittenly. they arent as annoying as the lightening things though.  also, when i'm outside, in my right periphery it looks like their is hairs hanging down in front of my face.

Am I better off than before surgery? Yes. All my problems was moved from central vision to peripheral. I am not ecstatic about the results and would consider getting them fixed but I do not have any regrets. Im very afraid that I will get them fixed but the problems will worsen like the stories ive read on floatertalk


YOUR QUESTIONS FROM FACEBOOK

 HAVE THE FLASHES GOTTEN ANY BETTER AND DO YOU HAVE ANY POST OP FLOATERS? THE FLASHES HAVE GOTTEN A LOT BETTER OR IM GETTING USED TO THEM. IM HONESTLY NOT SURE. NO POST OP FLOATERS. I HAD KENALOG DEBRIS AND IT TOOK A FEW MONTHS FOR THEM TO GO AWAY COMPLETELY. I THOUGHT THEY NEVER WOULD. I ALSO HAVE A FEW TARGET CELLS AND THEY ARE NOT BAD.

WAS IT A COMPLETE SUCCESS AND DO YOU HAVE FRILL? THE FLOATERS ARE ALL GONE SO IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS IN THAT RESPECT BUT I DO HAVE FRILL. ITS NOT WORSE THAN THE FLOATERS,

REALISTIC RECOVERY TIME TO RETURN TO WORK? I WENT BACK TWO WEEKS LATER BUT I WAS STILL A LITTLE BLURRY BUT IT WAS WORKABLE .I WOULD GUESS THAT EVERY SITUATION/PERSON IS DIFFERENT. IF I WANTED TO BE COMPLETELY CLEAR WHEN RETURNING I WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO WAIT ABOUT 3.5 WEEKS.

WILL YOU SURGEON DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS TIME TO MAKE LESS FRILL? I DO NOT KNOW, BUT I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT FRILL SO MUCH I WOULD SAY HE PROBABLY WILL TRY A LITTLE HARDER IN THE PERIPHERY THIS TIME. HE HAS ALSO RESEARCHED FRILL A LITTLE BIT AND HE HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF IT BEFORE HE MET ME.

HOW BAD WERE YOUR FLOATERS BEFORE YOU WERE TO THE POINT OF WANTING FOV DONE? BAD ENOUGH THAT I DIDNT WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE.
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