A macular pucker occurs when a membrane grows over the retina and wrinkles or creases the retina which alters the contour of your macula.
The macula must lie flat for your eye to function properly. When the macula wrinkles or bulges, your central vision becomes distorted or blurry.
This macula region is located in the center of the retina. This is responsible for viewing fine details. Problems viewing finer details can cause you to see gray, cloudy, blank areas or to perceive crooked or wavy lines.
The most common risk factor for macular pucker is aging. The vitreous changes over time, and pulls away from your retina. You may be at risk for macular pucker if you’ve had any of the following: posterior vitreous detachment, torn or detached retina, swelling, previous eye surgery, injury, inflammation, or other problems in the retina.
A retina specialist will check for a macular pucker by closely looking at your retina as part of a dilated exam. You may be requested to do an optical coherence tomography exam or fluorescein dye test to determine how severe the macular pucker has become.
Treatment is often not necessary when dealing with less severe symptoms. If symptoms are significant, then vitrectomy surgery may benefit you tremendously; as the vitreous scar tissue on your macula is removed during the procedure; allowing it to flatten and return to its proper position.
Following surgery, most patients will notice improved visual acuity or reduced distortion. The exact degree of improvement is difficult to predict when the macular pucker is successfully removed. Patients with a “fresh” pucker will see more visible improvement than those with a chronic one. After treatment, vision is usually improved. However, rarely a macular pucker can recur.
Macular pucker surgery is an elective procedure, and as with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with the operation and the anesthetic utilized. Your surgeon will go over the risks, benefits, and alternatives of surgery with you in further detail along with offering specific suggestions depending on the findings of your eye. Patients who choose to get macular pucker surgery are advised that cataract surgery may be required in the future if it has not previously been performed. Cataracts could develop or advance months following surgery.
If you have been diagnosed with a macular pucker or other retinal problems, we welcome you to schedule an appointment with Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute at 954-741-5555 or through flei.com to learn more about what our retinal specialists can do for you.
