How long should one remain prone after macular hole surgery?
I just had macular hole surgery, and I heard that I need to remain face-down after the procedure. Could you please tell me exactly how long I need to stay in this position and approximately how many hours per day?
Doctor's answer (1)
In ophthalmic surgery, macular hole repair is a common treatment method used to fix a hole that has formed in the macula, the central area of the retina. After surgery, patients usually need to maintain specific postures to promote healing and reduce the risk of complications.
If air is used for tamponade during surgery, patients may need to remain in a prone or head-down position for 3 to 4 days until the air is absorbed. However, if an inert gas is used, because the inert gas takes longer to be absorbed, patients may need to remain in a prone position for 2 to 3 weeks to ensure the gas effectively presses against the hole and promotes healing.
Four to six weeks after surgery, most patients can gradually resume normal activities, but should still avoid strenuous exercise and heavy physical labor to prevent increased intraocular pressure that could affect healing. During the prone period, patients should change positions regularly to avoid prolonged pressure on the same side of the face, which could lead to skin damage. Maintaining good blood circulation, performing regular leg exercises, and preventing deep vein thrombosis are also important.
Regular follow-up visits, vision tests, and fundus examinations should be conducted as directed by the physician to monitor the healing process.
