Diagnosing a Macular Pucker
In order to make a macular pucker diagnosis, your doctor will ask you a number of questions about your medical history and will perform a comprehensive eye exam that includes dilation.
In most cases, the
macular pucker symptoms of vision distortion and blurriness are mild, and no treatment is necessary. People usually adjust to the mild visual distortion, since it does not affect activities of daily life, such as reading and driving.
In rare cases, vision deteriorates to the point where it affects daily routine activities. When this happens, surgery may be recommended as a
macular pucker treatment. The surgical procedure used for a macular pucker is called a
vitrectomy.
Using eyedrops, medications, or nutritional supplements for macular pucker treatment will not improve distorted vision. Sometimes the scar tissue -- which causes a macular pucker -- separates from the retina, and the macular pucker clears up.
For most people, vision remains stable and does not get progressively worse. Usually, macular pucker affects one eye, although it may affect the other eye later.
Macular Pucker Versus Macular Degeneration
A macular pucker and age-related
macular degeneration are two separate and distinct conditions, although the symptoms for each are similar.
Macular Pucker Versus Macular Hole
A macular pucker and a
macular hole are different conditions, although they both happen for the same reason: as the vitreous shrinks, it pulls on the retina. When the "pulling" causes microscopic damage, the retina can heal itself; scar tissue, or a macular pucker, can be the result. If the shrinking vitreous pulls too hard, it can tear the retina, creating a macular hole, which is more serious. Both conditions have similar symptoms -- distorted and blurred vision. A macular pucker will not develop into a macular hole.
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