- Medically Reviewed by Mr Mfazo Hove Consultant Ophthalmologist
- Author: Chris Dunnington
- Published: October 15, 2025
- Last Updated: October 9, 2025
At Blue Fin Vision®, vitrectomy surgery stands as one of the most highly specialised procedures performed by our team of top-rated ophthalmic surgeons. As a leading private eye clinic with its flagship on Harley Street, London, our network delivers advanced retinal and vitreous care using the very latest technology and refined surgical techniques. This guide will take you through everything discerning patients and their families need to know: what it is, why it’s required, what to expect from the vitrectomy surgery procedure, and why Blue Fin Vision® is the definitive choice for such complex care.
Understanding Vitrectomy: What is it?
A vitrectomy is a delicate microsurgical procedure that removes the vitreous gel from the back of the eye. The aim is to treat disorders of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue) as well as diseases of the vitreous itself. The surgery is highly tailored – our top specialists employ advanced imaging and surgical planning, so each case receives bespoke management.
- Vitrectomy surgery is performed in state-of-the-art theatre suites by leading surgeons at Blue Fin Vision® – specialists whose experience is recognised at the Top Recommended level nationwide.
- The procedure involves removing the vitreous gel through tiny incisions in the white of the eye, often replacing it with a specialist substance such as saline, gas, or silicone oil to support healing.
Who Needs Vitrectomy Surgery?
Vitrectomy is typically reserved for serious or sight-threatening conditions where less invasive-treatment options are either unsuitable or have proven ineffective.
Typical indications include:
- Retinal detachment, especially rhegmatogenous and tractional types
- Complicated or persistent retinal tears and giant retinal tears
- Severe vitreous haemorrhage (bleeding into the eye)
- Macular holes or puckers (epiretinal membranes)
- Complications following diabetic eye disease
- Severe eye injuries
- Removal of persistent eye floaters in selected, severely impacted cases
If left untreated, many of these conditions could lead to permanent loss of vision. Top doctors at Blue Fin Vision® ensure that every surgical decision is based on collaborative, multi-disciplinary assessment to achieve the safest, most effective outcome.
The Vitrectomy Surgery Procedure
At Blue Fin Vision®, the surgical team on Harley Street and at our Weymouth Street, Chase Lodge Hospital, Chelmsford, and Hatfield clinics delivers the most advanced and precise vitrectomy care in the UK. Here’s how the process unfolds:
- The operation is typically performed under local anaesthesia, with sedation in select cases. Patients are kept comfortable throughout by our empathetic, highly experienced clinical staff.
- Microscopic instruments are used to make small incisions through the sclera (white part of the eye).
- The vitreous gel is gently removed, with meticulous attention to safeguarding the delicate retinal tissue.
- Any necessary repairs to the retina are made, such as sealing a tear or flattening a detachment using a laser, cryotherapy, or a specialist gas bubble.
- The space once filled by the vitreous is replaced with a clear fluid, air, specialist gas, or silicone oil, depending on clinical need.
- Most procedures take between 1–2 hours, but complex cases may require longer.
How Long Does Vitrectomy Surgery Take?
- The average duration for vitrectomy surgery in the UK is around 60–120 minutes, though more complex retinal repairs can take longer.
- Following surgery, patients are usually observed for a short period as the effects of anaesthesia wear off and initial recovery begins.
Post Vitrectomy Surgery Recovery Time
Recovery following vitrectomy is a gradual but well-supported process at Blue Fin Vision®, where every detail of aftercare is managed by your named consultant-led team.
What to expect:
- Most individuals can return to light activities within 2–4 weeks, though full visual recovery may take 4–6 weeks or longer depending on the underlying condition and complexity of the surgery.
- Special positioning (sometimes face-down) may be required postoperatively for those who have received a gas bubble, to optimise retinal healing our team provide in-depth guidance and practical support.
- Mild discomfort, redness or bruising, sticky eyelids, and blurred vision are expected for the first few days after surgery. Your eye will gradually heal over a period of weeks.
- Follow-up appointments at Harley Street, Weymouth Street, Chelmsford, Chase Lodge Hospital, or Hatfield are arranged to ensure optimal recovery and to check for any side effects.
- Use of prescribed anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drops is important to protect your eye during healing.
- The absolute commitment of Blue Fin Vision®’s team, along with the use of digital patient records and ZEISS imaging, ensures continuity of clinical excellence at every stage.
Why Choose Blue Fin Vision® for Vitrectomy Surgery in the UK?
- Our leading surgeons are trusted by discerning patients for their decades of experience, precision techniques, and clear communication.
- Top-rated on Doctify and featured in both Spear’s 500 and the Tatler Address Book for exceptional outcomes, Blue Fin Vision® delivers consistency and a truly patient-first ethos, never compromising on the standard of excellence that began on Harley Street and now enriches the South East.
- The collaborative clinical network means wherever you select for treatment – Harley Street, Weymouth Street, Chase Lodge Hospital, Chelmsford, or Hatfield – you receive the same world-class care.
- All consultations and surgery are carried out in environments designed for safety, privacy, and reassurance, with ultra-modern technology supporting every decision.
- Individualised care also means full support for your family and access to clear, friendly communication at every stage, from first consultation to post-surgical check-up and beyond.
Ready to Trust Your Vision to the Best?
If you have been told you require vitrectomy surgery, or suspect a sight-threatening retinal disorder, place your trust in the best: Blue Fin Vision®’s renowned network of top eye specialists and leading surgeons. With consultant-led clinics in Harley Street and throughout London, Essex, Hertfordshire, and the South East, booking world-class care has never been more accessible.
Book your consultation today and join hundreds of patients who have discovered the gold standard of modern private ophthalmology at Blue Fin Vision®. For complex vision correction, there truly is no higher benchmark. Your eyes deserve the top recommended treatment and unrivalled personal service that has made Blue Fin Vision® a household name in luxury healthcare.
Choose Blue Fin Vision®: Where clinical excellence meets unparalleled compassion.
