after five retina surgeries since november, the vitreus is still hemorraging in one eye.
anyone know of treatment other than victrectomy for this condition. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif

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grace and health

Hi Camille, I'm sorry I didn't notice you posted twice. Avoid the vitrectomy...it's not too successful. 25% failure and little help in many cases. Once the bleeding is stopped, the v humor will clear over a period of time...although long. Neovascularization is the blood vessels proliferate and come through the retina into the vit. humor. They are brittle and break. Usual is cautery. But there are a couple of products that can stop progression, and another that can possibly reverse some. Waiting for your E. God bless you and yours,,,Oldguy

Hi, I posted the following on page one and I would like to hear more about OLD GUY's take on it. Thanks!

I have diabetic retinopathy with significant complications. I have had
vitrectomies, cataract removal/lens implants, and numerous laser procedures
in both eyes. My biggest concern is the continued hemorrhaging I am
experiencing at frequent intervals (every 1 to 3 weeks). The latest laser
procedure (PRP) in my right eye is supposed to help minimize (and perhaps
eventually stop) the hemorrhaging, but to date it continues to hemorrhage.
Recently my left eye has also started having similar problems.

My retina specialists tell me that the only things they know which cause
continued hemorrhaging is constant uncontrolled blood sugars (my daily
averages are in the 120s and 130s), high blood pressure (which I do not
have), and heavy lifting or straining (which I don't do). I have asked both
specialists if there is something I'm either doing or not doing (diet,
exercise, dietary supplements, lifestyle changes) that would help but
neither can offer any suggestions other than to wait it out. It just seems
to me that there is something I could or should be doing.

Has anyone else experienced similar hemorrhaging problems? If so, have you
done anything that you are convinced helped minimize/stop the hemorrhaging
through means other than the medical treatments I've already received?

I too would like to hear more from Old Guy, what products, etc. Have the rules here changed so that he could mention a product? It seems enlarged and easier to read.

Don't know if I too have gone from background to proliferative, had everything but vitrectomy, think I got the wrong lens implants, mono-focal and won't be able to read even if I get rid of scar tissue.

Did you by any chance get the ReSTOR lenses? Did you have to stay face-down for a while after vitrectomy, and were you able to drive and do your other usual things? How long did healing take? IOW, is vitrectomy bad? Did you have to go to a hospital overnight?

The primary care doctors increased my diabetes meds when I first started having retinopathy laser treatments, Aug. 2005, to metformin 1000 b.i.d., glipizide 10 b.i.d., avandia 4, and there's an avandia 8. I think maybe there's another one I'm forgetting. Morning fasting sugar is anywhere from about 41. It's hard to think of enough stuff to eat to avoid passing out. A couple of times when I went to band practice w/out eating enough the music was a blank page, and I couldn't recognize people across the room. Now I carry an energy bar, and in my car a regular coke. Sorry I can't help you other than that.

... Avoid the vitrectomy...it's not too successful. 25% failure and little help in many cases. Once the bleeding is stopped, the v humor will clear over a period of time...although long. Neovascularization is the blood vessels proliferate and come through the retina into the vit. humor. They are brittle and break. Usual is cautery. But there are a couple of products that can stop progression, and another that can possibly reverse some. Waiting for your E. God bless you and yours,,,Oldguy

You mean once the bleeding is stopped by cautery, the vitreous will clear, evidently. So what about vitrectomy for scarring? Would that clear up eventually too if left alone? It shows on the Amsler Grid as macular degeneration or damage. And can you tell us the products now, Janurary 20, 2007, because I THINK the rules are more lenient now? You'll want to check first of course. Many Thanks.