My boy Jake was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago, he has undergone approx. 8 laser and cryo surgeries. Is this a normal number of surgeries or is this more than others? At his last checkup Aug. 18th the Dr. told us that Jake may need a different surgery where the Dr. sucks the fluid out of his eye, is this a vitrectomy? We will see Dr. Lam, a retina specialist out of Sick Kids, TO, on Oct. 7th. I am now worried that this is too long to wait especially if things are getting worse. If anyone else has suggestions or information about this "other" surgery please set me know. Thanks again, what a great website, it makes me cry but at the same time is very reassuring to read other parents tell of their childs' success and optimism. Jenny
Jenny, It sounds like your doctor is suggesting a vitrectomy (or a pars plana vitrectomy). This is where they remove the vitreous fluid (and whatever cholesterol serum is there) from the eye, and replace it with either saline or silicon oil. For a better description, copy this link into your browser: http://www.stlukeseye.com/Surgical/Vitrectomy.asp Our Jacob had this surgery twice, once with saline, and the second with silicon oil. The oil is still in his eye today, 3 years later. Our Jacob has only had laser surgery twice, so 8 seems like a lot to me. Perhaps a few other parents can weigh in? Take care, and stay in touch!
Jenny, Our Jakob has had 5 laser/cryo treatments in the past 18 months. Every time we get the leakage to stop in one place in starts in another.
At Jakob's last post-op appt. things looked the same as far as leakage, but he has decided to do nothing for 6 months this time and see what happens (except we go for a regular checkup at our normal 3 month check up time). Each time I ask when we can expect the leakage to stop and the Dr. tells us every patient is different and we would have to wait and see.
We have never talked about a vitrectomy, so I dont have any more info on that.
My son has had 3 surgeries in an almost 2 year period. They were each about 5-6 months apart. My Dr. says that too many are not good because of the scarring that is left after the surgery. The scarring, depending on where it is in the eye, can affect the vision. My Nicholas has a little bit of scarring close to the macular which is used for central vision. He has some permanent vision loss and sees at 20/60. I am not complaining because it is better than 20/200 or not see at all but Nicholas was lucky in that he has not shown new leakage. After reading so many posts I realize that each situation can be very different from the next.
