November 1, 2018

There are a variety of different ailments and issues that can impact your sight. Sometimes, to be able to correct a problem, surgery is required. Vitrectomy is a surgery that can correct a vision problem.

What Does Vitrectomy Correct?

The ability for us to see is enabled by light passing through our eyes to our retinas, which is a bundle of tissues at the back of our eyeballs that senses light. Once that light hits the retina, it is then sent to the brain.

There is liquid in our eyes that the light passes through on the way to the retina called the vitreous. There are numerous diseases that can impact this liquid and make it cloudy, hardened, filled with debris or blood, or become scarred. If this happens, then light won’t reach the retina properly and you’ll have vision issues. To correct this problem, the damaged liquid must be removed and replaced.

In some cases, your retina may pull away from the tissues that surround it. If this is the case, a vitrectomy would be performed so that the doctor has easier access to the retina to repair it. This type of surgery also gives the doctor access to the macula, which sits in the center of the retina and gives you sharp central vision. If the macula gets a hole in it, it will cause blurry vision.

There are a variety of other issues that this surgery can also correct, including eye infections, eye injuries, damaged blood vessels in the retina, and wrinkles in the retina.

How Long Does a Vitrectomy Take?

Depending on what condition this surgery is intended to correct, the procedure can take from one to many hours. You may have the option of staying awake during the procedure and having a numbing agent applied to the eye, or you may be given general anesthesia, which will put you to sleep for the vitrectomy.

What is The Process?

The vitrectomy process involves the doctor making a cut in the outer layer of the eye. They will then cut through the white part of your eye to remove the vitreous fluid with a needle. After that, they will be able to remove any scar tissue or debris that is in the eye, as well as make any other repairs that are needed.

After that has been completed, the eye will be filled with saline or silicone oil. If oil is used, another surgery will be required to remove that. If necessary, stitches will be applied to the cuts, but most people don’t need these. An antibiotic ointment will be placed on the eye, then it will be covered with a patch.

Recovery Time

There will be a gas bubble in your eye, so you won’t be able to see very well until this dissolves. You’ll need someone to take you home after the procedure, and you may have to keep your head in a specific position so the gas bubble can support the retina. The eye will be red and sore.

There will be a follow-up after the procedure, and you may be given antibiotic drops so that your eye doesn’t get infected. Over-the-counter pain medication can be taken to help with the pain.