Vitreoretinal surgery includes operations on the vitreous gel and retina to treat retinal detachment, macular holes, diabetic eye disease, and other serious problems at the back of the eye.
What happens during surgery
Through tiny keyhole openings in the white of the eye, the surgeon removes the vitreous gel and uses fine instruments to repair the retina. The eye is then filled with a clear fluid, gas bubble, or occasionally silicone oil to support the healing retina.
- Usually performed under local anaesthetic with sedation or general anaesthetic
- Often combined with laser treatment or membrane peeling on the retina
- Stitches are very small and often dissolvable
- The procedure length varies depending on the complexity of the problem
Recovery positioning and safety
After surgery, vision is typically blurred for several weeks and may be affected by any gas bubble in the eye. You may be asked to keep your head in a particular position so the bubble presses gently on the treated area.
- Flying and high altitude travel are unsafe while gas remains in the eye
- Eye drops help prevent infection and control inflammation
- Regular follow up checks pressure, healing, and retinal attachment
- Urgent review is needed for increasing pain, redness, or sudden vision loss
