Vitrectomy
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Until just a few years ago, most disorders of the retina of the eye (the photo-sensitive layer of film at the back of the eye which detects light) were considered inoperable as the retina was virtually inaccessible without serious damage to the eye. But the advent of vitrectomy (or Trans Pars Plana Vitrectomy or TPPV) has changed this view.
This operation is used to treat several eye conditions including;
- complications of diabetic retinopathy (changes to the blood vessels at the back of the eye often seen in diabetics who have poorly controlled sugar levels),
- retinal detachment,
- macular hole (a defect in the area of the retina responsible for the clearest and sharpest colour vision),
- pre-retinal membrane fibrosis,
- vitreous haemorrhage (bleeding inside the eye),
- eye trauma
- infections inside the eye,
- complications of previous eye surgery, such as removal of lens fragments after cataract surgery,
- removal of foreign bodies inside the eye.
Essentially, a vitrectomy is required to clear the eye of blood, cells, debris, scar tissue or other things which obscure light, as it passes through the vitreous humour and onto the retina, thus producing a distorted or blurred image.
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Description of Vitrectomy
The vitreous of the eye is the thick, clear, gel like liquid in the middle of the eye which makes up approximately two-thirds of the eye's volume and thus giving and maintaining the eyes spherical shape. A vitrectomy aims to remove this liquid to give the ophthalmologist (a specialist eye surgeon) access to the back of the eye to structures such the retina and blood vessels.
It is therefore a microsurgical procedure requiring precision instruments and specialisation from the surgeon. Tiny probes, a light source and other instruments are inserted around the sides of the eye and the vitreous gel sucked out. It is replaced by a special saline solution. After removal of the gel, the surgeon can operate on the abnormality.
He may use a laser to treat bleeding vessels (photo-coagulation), cut and remove fibrous or scar tissue from the retina, flatten parts of the retina that have become detached from the eye, repair macular holes (the special area of the retina responsible for the clearest, sharpest, colour vision - central vision) and repair tears of the retina.
After this process, silicone oil or a gas called perfluropropane is injected into the eye to restore the eyes normal shape and pressure. The whole procedure can be done either by local or general anaesthetic, but the time taken in theatre depends very much on why the operation is required and the extent of the problem.
In the right hands, vitrectomy can greatly improve vision in instances where no other treatment is possible or where other treatments have failed.
Medical Facts
There are risks involved with vitrectomy procedures just as there are with all operations of the eye. These include;
- glaucoma: an elevation of the pressure inside the eye, possibly causing reduced vision or blindness if left untreated. This is especially the case if the patient suffers from glaucoma to begin with,
- further bleeding into the middle of the eye (vitreous),
- retinal detachment,
- corneal oedema: a build up of fluid in the clear layer at the front of the eye,
- rubeosis iridis:the formation of new blood vessels on the surface of the iris causing severe glaucoma, leading to permanent eye pain or loss of vision.
How You Will Feel:
The eye is usually patched up immediately after surgery to protect it since the normal blinking mechanism will not be working as the local anaesthetic will numb the eyelids. The patch is usually removed a few hours after surgery.
Some mild pain or discomfort after the procedure is common and can last for a few days. Ice compresses and mild pain killers are usually helpful in controlling these symptoms.
The eye can look red immediately after the operation but this also diminishes over a few days. Increased sensitivity to light is also possible.
The exact recovery time is difficult to determine as this depends on the nature and extent of your problem and what sort of treatment was carried out in addition to the vitrectomy itself.
Exact instructions on what to do after surgery should be provided by your surgeon but generally involve using anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops for 1 week and wearing of an eye shield at night also for about 1 week. You should avoid bending, lifting or any other strenuous activity during this time.
How Long Will you stay in Hospital after your Vitrectomy?
Single Day In-patient Care
What to do next:
We specialise in providing medical care and surgery abroad. We only work with medical institutions that we have inspected and checked. We offer Vitrectomy
in both North and South India as well as facilitation on all the other elements in your journey such as flights, accommodation and activities. Our team in India operate as your personal agents while you are in country and is tasked with supporting you in any way you need.
We work with hospitals across the world including France, UK, Canada, India, Pakistan, Malta and Hungary to provide our patients with the most appropriate levels of care and treatment
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We have teams in the UK, India and Pakistan who manage your stay and provide you with support whenever you need it. Please contact us to find out how we can help you. Contact us even if you are at the early stages of considering the possibility of treatment abroad.
Related Resources about Vitrectomy
Why Travel for Vitrectomy .
Travelling abroad for Vitrectomy can give you access to top quality health care quickly and cheaply. Our mission is to make your journey absolutely successful - in terms of treatment, in terms of outcomes and in terms of experience. We offer treatment in a wide range of locations including Europe, India and Singapore.
Make an Enquiry to Globe for Vitrectomy
Please feel free to post an enquiry to us at Globe if you are interested in having more details of how this all works and how we might be able to help you. Your information is treated as strictly confidential by us. We ask that you fill in the fields with the red stripes if possible. You can also contact us directly with details from our contact us page.
If you want to speed up the process or have a complex history that is specifically relevant to any further steps: please use our detailed medical questionnaire which includes a range of questions to capture details of your medical history and present condition. Please note that we share these details anonymously with clinical specialists for the purposes of considering your case and advising on a treatment plan. This means that we do not pass on your name or address details until you choose to proceed further with us.
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