I can see clearly now, or soon..

Here I am in the Augenklinik in Tuttlungen 20 minutes after my successfull eye operation last Tuesday. Thanks to the team that took such great care of me, especially to Dr. Mathey for his steady hands and June for the ambulance service. It's nice to have it over and done with. 

The official term for what took place is "pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peeling".
Sometimes, as a result of immune system response to protect the retina, cells converge in the macular area as the vitreous ages and pulls away in posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). Usually it occurs in one eye first, and may cause double vision if the image from one eye is too different from the image of the other eye. The distortions can make objects look different in size (usually larger = macropsia), especially in the central portion of the visual field, creating a localized or field dependent aniseikonia that cannot be fully corrected optically with glasses. Partial correction often improves the binocular vision considerably though. In the young (under 50 years of age), these cells occasionally pull free and disintegrate on their own; but in the majority of sufferers (over 60 years of age) the condition is permanent. The underlying photoreceptor cells, rod cells and cone cells, are usually not damaged unless the membrane becomes quite thick and hard; so usually there is no macular degeneration. Surgeons can remove or peel the membrane through the sclera and improve vision by 2 or more Snellen lines. Usually the vitreous is replaced at the same time with clear (BSS) fluid, in a vitrectomy. There is no good evidence for any preventive actions, since it appears this is a natural response to aging changes in the vitreous 

So make sure you have your eyes tested before you're 60 so that you can still climb trees with your grandchildren, right Joyce?