There are several reasons why your vision may be blurry after your FOV (floater only vitrectomy). The blurry vision experienced after the patch is removed is temporary and should resolve in a short time.
Here are some of the reasons why you may experience blurry vision after your patch is removed.
Blurry Vision from Eye Patch
At the end of your vitrectomy, an eye patch is placed. The eye patch will be tight enough to keep the lids closed overnight until the patch is removed the following morning.
The patch also puts pressure on the cornea and may make some subtle (and temporary) changes to the shape of the cornea. The cornea is responsible for about 2/3 of the focusing power of the eye. Therefore, even slight changes to the curvature of the cornea can translate into significant blurry vision.
As an example, remember that laser vision correction procedures reshape the surface of the cornea, thereby reducing the need for glasses!
Any slight change to the shape of your cornea can lead to a dramatic change in your vision.
Regardless, the induced blurry vision from the patch should reverse soon after the patch is removed.
Dilating Drops Cause Blurry Vision
Eye drops are used to dilate your eyes before surgery. Usually the drops used in preparation for surgery last longer than the drops used in the office used for examination.
The dilation can last several days depending upon the color of your eyes. Until the dilation reverses, it is common to experience blurry vision.
Dilating drops blur your vision for two reasons; a dilated pupil lets in more light that requires focusing and the muscles used for focusing are paralyzed – you can’t focus.
Stitches for Surgery
Sometime sutures are used at the end of surgery to close the sclerotomies. Sclerotomies are the entry ports for the vitrectomy instruments that perforate the sclera. While not usual, it is possible that these sutures can secondary cause a change in the shape of the cornea.
There are other sutures that might be used to close the conjunctiva – the tissue covering the sclera, but they have no effect on the curvature of the cornea.
If used, the sutures will dissolve after a number of weeks. These should not cause permanent changes to the shape of the cornea.