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Vitrectomy - itchy eye hell!

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JLM

JLM

New Member
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Type 1
Good morning everyone.
I was hoping for a bit of help and advice regarding the healing process following a vitrectomy.
I underwent the operation on Monday and so far the pain has been easy to tolerate, much better than I anticipated.
The part I'm struggling most with is the unbearable itch. It truly is relentless and it's driving me crazy!
Does anyone have any tips on how to cope with this itchy hell? Any suggestions on how to reduce it without disturbing the healing process? It's taking every last ounce of my will power not to poke at the blasted thing!
I'm hoping it will be easier to handle when I no longer have to lay on my side (posturing to keep the air bubble where it needs to be), only one more day before I can move around again.
Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks x
 
No idea if this would work. Try cooling your eye down - something made of smooth material - eg a big hankie rather than a face flannel wrung out in very cold water, so not dripping just flippin cold, formed into a loose pad and placed over your whole, closed eye and socket for a bit.

Might distract your brain away from the itch for a while?

Dunno whether eyes do it but when I was little and I'd eg scratched myself, as the scab formed, it itched and my mom used to say it was a sign of healing - so perhaps it is? Otherwise, why not ring and try and speak to an opthalmic nurse in the clinic - they may have an instant solution!
 
I have very itchy eyeball. Quite unbearable at times. I also have dry eyes. Since I have been spraying Actimist for dry and itchy eyes over my closed eyes, I have not had any itching and my runny eyes have cleared up. I get it from Boot. I have not had any treatment on my eyes except laser several years ago.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm sure I was told not to use cotton hankies, but I might try a cold dressing pad instead.
I'm sure it is just part of the healing process, most likely caused by the stitches on the surface of my eye. Hopefully it will reduce soon enough!
 
JLM said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm sure I was told not to use cotton hankies, but I might try a cold dressing pad instead.
I'm sure it is just part of the healing process, most likely caused by the stitches on the surface of my eye. Hopefully it will reduce soon enough!
Click to expand...

Fair enough - didn't know you would have any dressings - they're obviously the thing to use rather than anything else. It may not work anyway - but as I said, if not DO give the hospital a call sooner rather than later - for all any of us know it may be a sign summat's gone wrong - best to check!!
 
Do you have a phone number so you can ask someone on your surgical tram? Often there's a specialist nurse. Were you given a printed sheet to confirm dos and don'ts?
That might be more reliable than speculation from me or others who are not ophthalmic surgery specialists.
 
Hello JLM 🙂

I've had vitrectomies in both eyes and the itching for the first few days is as you say pretty unbearable. It certainly doesn't help when you have to posture as well as the only thing you focus on is your eye and how unbelievably itchy it is. I took paracetamol which did help a little with the situation but there's not a lot you can do when you have stitches catching on your eye lids and prickling you eyeball every moment. I was told not to get mine wet or put any thing against it which could put any small fibres into my eye.

It will improve and I found it a lot better when I was able to get up and walk about. Bear with it - very hard I know - and I hope once you are able to move around and the eye starts to calm down after surgery things will improve. The next thing to drive you mad will be the gas bubble in the eye, it took about 5 weeks for mine to dissolve completely. In my one eye the bubble broke up into 3 separate little bubbles floating around in my vision driving me to distraction but at least that wasn't itchy!

The main thing is for the eye to heal as well as possible and hopefully restore good, clear vision to you. I wish you well with the recovery. 🙂
 
How the heck do you wear clothes or even get into your bed, or put your head on a pillow, wash and dry yourself, without the risk of fibres?
 
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