Face-Down Postoperative Positioning
Intraocular gas is often used to occlude the offending retinal
hole and to speed retinal detachment repair and other select
conditions. Inactivity and head positioning are essential during
the healing process. Here are some tips that other patients have
found helpful. Face-down furniture is also available for purchase
or rent and makes positioning more tolerable.
- Lean over the kitchen table like a student asleep at his
desk.
- Use an ironing board-it is soft and its height is
adjustable.
- Use a ring pillow-either a hernia cushion or an inflatable
beach ring wrapped in a soft cloth (i.e. Kerlex from a drug
store).
- Remove a leaf from a dining room table and pad the sides to
maintain a face-down position within the enlarged crack.
- Turn furniture upside down and pad the legs- a TV table, or a
stool can be used in such a way.
- Put several pillows under your chest and stomach and rest with
face down in bed-with some support at your chin or forehead. A
"travel" or C-shaped "neck pillow" is often helpful.
- Put a mirror at your feet to watch TV or listen to the radio.
Talking books and free Bible on cassette tapes are available. Use
it as an opportunity to improve and refine your "inner" life. Make
lemonade out of lemons.
- You may discover other solutions. Be creative. Let us know what
works so we can share these ideas with other patients.