A Vitrectomy is a procedure performed by a retinal surgeon to address specific diseases of the vitreous and retina. Small wounds are created through the eye wall to gain access into the back of the eye. A tiny instrument called a vitreous cutter is used to cut and remove the vitreous gel. Any floaters, debris, or blood lying within the vitreous gel are removed at this time. Saline is continuously infused into the eye to replace the gel and pressurize the eye. Attention is then turned to retinal issues including the peeling of macular scar tissue for example. Sometimes removal of a foreign body from the back of the eye is required during a vitrectomy. This could include a piece of cataract left behind after cataract surgery or a lens implant that has slipped to the back of the eye or a metallic foreign body that has pierced the eye. Adjunctive treatments needed at the time of a vitrectomy might include: Laser treatment or placement of a Gas bubble into the eye.
The vitrectomy procedure is generally well-tolerated with only mild pain in most cases afterwards. A patch will be placed on the operated eye and kept in place till the next morning. Dr. Ilyas will remove this and assess the eye the next day after surgery, at which point several drops will be started on the operated eye. If a Gas bubble has been placed in the eye, you may be asked to position your head in a specific way so as to promote retinal healing and success of the surgery.
Risks of Vitrectomy surgery include: Bleeding, Infection, Loss of Vision, Retinal Detachment, Cataract worsening, and too High or too Low of an Eye Pressure.
At Retina & Vitreous Consultants, we perform vitrectomy surgery for many diseases including: Macular Hole, Retinal Detachment, Macular Pucker or Scar, Diabetes with eye complications such as Vitreous Hemorrhage and Tractional Retinal Detachments, Infections inside the eye, and complications after Cataract removal such as a dropped lens, and for many other indications. Schedule a consultation to learn more about vitrectomy surgery and whether it is right for you.
Scleral Buckle
An encircling scleral buckle is an ophthalmologic procedure in which a thin silicone band is wrapped around the external eye and indents the eye in order to correct retinal detachment. The band is attached to the whites of the eyes (sclera) and the pressure exerted helps relieve the pull of the vitreous on the retina and heal a detached retina. The silicone buckle remains in place usually for a lifetime and is only removed if it becomes infected or exposed. This surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under local or general anesthesia and may be preformed in conjunction with vitrectomy, cryotherapy, or laser photocoagulation. These additional procedures can facilitate success of the surgery.