Face Down Positioning

Certain conditions such as retinal detachments, retinal tears, macular holes, or some severe cases of diabetic retinopathy may require filling the central vitreous cavity with air or gas at the end of surgery. The gas needs to float up against the portion of the damaged retina to hold it in place while it heals. During the healing process, the head and eye have to be positioned so that the gas bubble will remain in the proper location. Often this is face down. However, it may be sitting or with the head turned to one side. This may be necessary for 24 hours to 10 days, depending on the condition and location of the retinal defect. For face-down positioning, pillows should be built up underneath the stomach and chest to allow the head to hang off the end. The forehead may be supported by a towel or low pillow. There is special equipment that can be purchased or rented for face-down positioning, and we do recommend this for anyone who will need to position for more than one day.

For information on products and rentals, please contact:

Advanced Health Products
2257 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94043
Toll Free: 1-877-848-7328
Phone: (650) 903-9000
Fax: (650) 969-4607
www.vitrectomy.com