Vitrectomy

Vitrectomy is the surgical removal of the vitreous fluid, a gelatinous substance at the back of the eye. This procedure is usually done for the following conditions:

• Retinal Problems: Problems such as detachment or perforation of the retina are corrected with vitrectomy surgery.
• Intraocular Hemorrhage: Bleeding into the eye occurs in diabetes, hypertension or if the eye is hit. Vitrectomy surgery is performed to clean the accumulated blood and make the eye transparent again.
• Eye Pressure: Patients with persistent eye pressure (glaucoma) may need an emergency vitrectomy to lower eye pressure and prevent vision loss.
• Removal of membranes inside the eye that threaten the macula: The membranes covering the yellow spot (macula) and distorting the shape of the yellow spot (macula) can be removed by vitrectomy and the yellow spot can be restored to its original appearance only with vitrectomy surgery.

Although vitrectomy can usually be performed under local anesthesia, general anesthesia can also be chosen for the comfort of the patient. The healing process may vary from person to person, but usually takes a few weeks. The patient usually cannot travel by plane during this period.

In diabetic patients, metabolic control of sugar by internal medicine doctors and regular sugar monitoring are very important to improve the quality of vision.