Retinal Surgery / Vitrectomy

About the Procedure

Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure by which the clear gel that resides in the inner eye (medically referred to as vitreous gel or humor) is removed, either in part or entirely. There are a variety of reasons such a surgery would be performed but the most common are when the patient is suffering from either a vitreous hemorrhage or diabetic retinopathy.

A vitreous hemorrhage is when blood vessels around the inner eye leak blood into the vitreous gel. The gel is usually clear, but if blood leaks into it, it becomes cloudy, leading to hazy or obscured vision. In this case, incisions are made in the scleral region of the eye and small, specialized instruments are inserted to break down and drain the vitreous gel is from the eye. In order to maintain the proper pressure levels within the eye, it is then filled with a gas or other synthetic substance. Since there is no blood floating in the new substance, the patient will have clearer vision than before.

In the case of diabetic retinopathy, the retina has sustained damage, either from ruptured blood vessels or from the rapid formation of aberrant blood vessels. This can lead to scar tissue forming on the retina, or the retina detaching from the inner eye. Vitrectomy is just the first step in a more major treatment in such cases. Some or all of the vitreous gel is removed to gain access to the damaged part of the retina. Then the scar tissue can be removed with forceps or a pick. In the case of leaking blood vessels, a laser can be used to eliminate them, allowing the retina to be re-attached if necessary.

What to Know Before the Procedure

Vitrectomy can have major, long term ramifications for the patient's vision and should be considered very carefully with the counsel of your ophthalmologist. Having the procedure done can lead to cataracts, detachment of the retina (a potentially blinding condition) or intraocular pressure irregularities. Discuss your options with your doctor thoroughly before deciding to have this procedure done. Depending on your condition and current symptoms, surgery may not necessarily be your best option.

Before operating, your doctor will want to check the pressure levels inside your eye. It is a good idea to get this info from your doctor and keep it for future reference as it may be vital to the success of future ophthalmological procedures you may have, such as LASIK or cataract surgery.

What to Know After the Procedure

Your doctor will prescribe eye drops to help your eye heal more effectively and to keep swelling and irritation to a minimum.

It is extremely important to know if your procedure involved the use of a gas bubble to normalize the pressure in your inner eye. If it was, your doctor will inform you of proper ways to position your head during sleep and other daily activities so as not to disturb the bubble. Though the bubble will dissipate after several weeks, while it is present, the patient cannot travel by flight since the changes in air pressure will disrupt the gas bubble and potentially damage the inner eye. The patient may also be advised to refrain from strenuous activities during the healing process. Consult your doctor about what activities are safe to engage in.

If you Need to Travel Outside of your Local Hospital

When considering your travel options to have this procedure done, it is vital that you arrange to have somebody to assist you at all times. It is possible for vision altering complications to arise during the healing process. This makes travel by automobile risky if the patient is driving on their own. Further, as stated above, if a gas bubble was used to pressurize the eye after the procedure, travel by flight is impossible for weeks afterwards. These factors must be considered heavily when making travel arrangements and should be discussed with your doctor.