What Is Macular Pucker?

A macular pucker occurs in the eye, specifically in that region of the eye known as the macula--the small middle part of the retina. A macular pucker is bits of scar tissue that have developed in this area, an area that is necessary for the vision we need to read, drive, and other activities. Macular puckers result in a blurring of the vision and in extreme cases require surgery to correct.

Significance

• The majority of the interior of the human eye is filled with a gelatin-like compound that helps to keep the eye round. In it are millions of fibers that connect to the retina's surface. As a person gets older this material shrinks and gradually pulls away from the surface area of the retina. Known as vitreous detachment, it is expected and usually causes no trouble. But sometimes damage occurs on the retina in the area of the macula and the body attempts to repair the region by forming scar tissue. This tissue is like a thin membrane and can result in blurred vision in some people--a macular pucker.

Types

• While most macular puckers are associated with vitreous detachment they can also by brought about by other conditions. One is a detached retina, a serious eye injury. Various diseases of the eye can cause a macular pucker, such as inflammation of the eye called uveitis. Diabetics can experience macular puckers and forms of trauma to the eye from an injury or surgery can result in macular pucker as well.

Effects

• The symptoms of a macular pucker may not even manifest themselves in many individuals. Those that do have vision problems will notice that their vision is blurry or somewhat distorted, but not usually severely. There can be trouble reading very small print, for example, and straight lines can appear as wavy ones. A gray region in the very center of your field of vision or even a blind spot develops in some people with a macular pucker. Normally macular puckers occur in only one eye at a time.

Considerations

• Often a macular pucker does not need any special medical attention; the symptoms are so mild they require no treatment. People make the adjustment to slightly blurred vision and since eyedrops and other medications won't help, there is nothing to be done. Macular pucker can clear up on its own sometimes but at others, in rare instances, it makes the vision deteriorate to the point where surgery is an option.

Prevention/Solution

• Surgery to correct a severe vision problem from macular pucker is called a vitrectomy and involves the removal of the vitreous gel in the eye. It is taken out and replaced with a salt solution that is quite similar to it. Any scar tissue is removed and the person will wear a patch over the eye for days or weeks to keep the eye protected. Eyedrops will be applied to stop infections. This is a delicate type of surgery that can improve vision dramatically but most likely not restore it fully--it takes as long as three months to see the full results of this operation.