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Macular pucker is a rare eye condition that causes distorted or wavy vision. In most cases, exerts do not know the cause of a macular pucker.
Many people with macular pucker show mild symptoms and do not need any treatment; however, surgery may be necessary for better vision if a macular pucker makes carrying out daily activities difficult.
A macular pucker can make vision distorted or heavy. For example, straight lines, like sentences in a book, may look wavy or bent. You may notice that words or letters are difficult to read, crowded or missing. Seeing small details may also be difficult.
If a macular pucker worsens, objects and letters may be so blurry that you may not see them. This condition often affects one eye. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and may worsen slowly. Some patients adjust to the changes in their vision, but if you experience changes, ensure you consult your eye doctor.
In a few cases, a macular pucker may cause severe vision loss or cause a condition in the eye known as a macular hole.
No, but they have similar symptoms. Age-related macular degeneration and a macular pucker are different conditions. If you are unsure of your condition, consult your eye doctor.
A macular pucker can occur at any age, but the risk increases as you age.
You may also have a risk for a macular pucker if you:
In most cases, a macular pucker occurs due to normal eye changes as you age. Ageing causes the vitreous, the clear gel that fills the eye, giving it a round shape, to shrink and pull away from the retina. This condition is known as a vitreous detachment and occurs as everyone ages.
In some people, the membrane forms on the retina's surface, creating puckers or wrinkles. A macular pucker results if the membrane forms over a part of the retina known as the macular.
The eye doctor can check for macular pucker during a dilated eye examination. This exam is painless and simple. The eye doctor will give dilating eye drops to widen your pupil and examine the retina.
If the doctor thinks you have a macular pucker, they may perform an optical coherence tomography (OCT) test. An OCT is a painless and simple test that uses light waves to take detailed retina images. Before this test, the doctor may provide some eye drops to dilate your pupils.
Many people with a macular pucker experience mild symptoms that do not need treatment, but regular eye exams are necessary to ensure the condition doesn't worsen. Your eye doctor may also recommend new prescription glasses for better vision.
If the macular pucker makes everyday activities difficult, like driving or reading, consult your eye doctor. Surgery may be necessary to remove the membrane and smooth the wrinkles on your retina.
Two types of surgery are available for a macular pucker.
During a vitrectomy, the eye doctor will remove the vitreous and the membrane from the retina.
The eye doctor will remove the membrane from the retina during this procedure. The surgery often takes less than 30 minutes and can be done in a doctor's office.
You can also have regular eye exams at Optimal Vision to check for a macular pucker. Call us today on 020 7183 3725 to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor.
Dr Mani has performed more than 20,000 ophthalmic procedures, including LASIK, LASEK, PRK, Femto Cataract, RLE, Lens ICL and Phakic IOL Surgery