Macular Pucker Specialist
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New York Retina and Macula Institute
Aryeh L. Pollack, MD
Vitreoretinal and Macula Surgeon & Medical Retina Specialist located in Midtown Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY
A macular pucker is just as it sounds – a wrinkle or bulge on your retina. Aryeh L. Pollack, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and retinal surgeon at New York Retina and Macula Institute, with New York City offices in Midtown East Manhattan and Borough Park in Brooklyn. Dr. Pollack is an expert at diagnosing macular puckers and performing surgery, if necessary. Changes to your vision could indicate a macular pucker. Call the office closest to you or book an appointment online for a comprehensive eye exam.
Macular Pucker Q & A
What is a macular pucker?
The macula is part of your retina and the area that allows your eye to focus light and interpret the images you see. When the macula becomes contracted or gets pulled from its typically flat position at the back of the eye, it’s called a macular pucker. Essentially, it’s a wrinkle, crease, or bulge in your macula that can distort your vision.
What are the symptoms of a macular pucker?
A macular pucker may cause your vision to appear wavy, cloudy, or you may have a blank spot in the center of your field of vision. You may also have difficulty seeing fine details, but you won’t notice a difference in your peripheral vision.
What causes macular pucker?
Sometimes, a macular pucker occurs as a result of an injury or an unmanaged medical condition that affects your eye health, such as diabetes. Also, after cataract surgery or an eye injury, you may develop a macular pucker. Age is the most common cause of macular pucker because as you get older, the vitreous – gel-like fluid in your eye – begins to shrink and pull away from your retina.
If the vitreous sticks to the retina as it pulls away, it can cause scar tissue and a wrinkle or bulge on your retina. A torn or detached retina, swelling inside your eye, and diabetic retinopathy may all contribute to the development of macular pucker.
How does an ophthalmologist treat macular pucker?
A macular pucker may not require any type of treatment, especially if your symptoms of blurred vision are mild. In some cases, the macular pucker clears up on its own if the scar tissue that caused it separates from the retina. If macular pucker symptoms affect your daily routine and interfere severely with your vision, Dr. Pollack at New York Retina and Macula Institute may recommend a vitrectomy.
During a vitrectomy, Dr. Pollack removes the vitreous from your eye and replaces it with a salt solution. He can also remove scar tissue if that’s the cause of your macular pucker. After surgery, most people experience improved vision.
If you experience the signs of macular pucker, and it’s interfering with your vision, contact New York Retina and Macula Institute by phone to schedule an appointment. You can also book online.
