What is vitrectomy?
Vitrectomy is one of the eye surgeries used to treat some retinal and vitreous disorders. You probably know that the retina is the light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eyeball; The vitreous is a clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle part of the eye. In vitrectomy surgery, due to problems, the vitreous is drained and the ophthalmologist replaces it with a special solution.

The most common reasons for the need for vitrectomy surgery
Any person whose ophthalmologist detects the following symptoms in their eyes will be a candidate for vitrectomy surgery:

Diabetic retinopathy (especially if there is bleeding and stretching on the retina)
Some cases of retinal detachment
Infection of the inner parts of the eyeball
Severe eye injury
Wrinkling of the macula (central area of the retina)
Seeing a hole in the macula
Occurrence of some disorders after cataract surgery
Treatment process through vitrectomy
During vitrectomy surgery, blood or debris from infection or inflammation that can block the path of light to the retina or blur the image on the retina is removed. This treatment method will often improve or stabilize vision.
Damaged tissue that may have caused displacement, wrinkling, or detachment of the retina is also removed with vitrectomy surgery. If, due to this problem, the retina is not in its original place, vision is reduced.
With this method, it is also possible to remove the foreign body that is stuck inside the eye after the impact. If these types of objects are not removed, the visual system will be damaged in most cases.
Common and possible complications of vitrectomy
All surgeries may have complications; In vitrectomy surgery, the amount of these side effects is very low compared to the benefits of the operation. Below are the common complications of this surgery:

infection
Bleeding
Retinal detachment
poor eyesight
Increased eye pressure
Increasing the rate of cataract formation
Note: Although in rare cases, cataract develops shortly after vitrectomy surgery, but in elderly patients, cataract development often occurs after several months.

The rate of vision recovery after vitrectomy
The amount of visual acuity after vitrectomy surgery depends on several variables, especially in cases where the eye disease caused permanent damage to the retina before vitrectomy. In this case, after the examination, the ophthalmologist gives the patient the necessary explanations regarding the probability and extent of vision improvement.

Treatment steps with vitrectomy
Before surgery
After examining and diagnosing the need for vitrectomy surgery, the ophthalmologist will decide on the preferred method of anesthesia (local or general). Depending on the type of anesthesia, the patient may be hospitalized overnight. Before performing the surgery and if necessary, the patient is also subjected to clinical examinations and for this purpose he must have the necessary preparation. Our colleagues provide the necessary information and guidance to respected patients.

during surgery
The duration of vitrectomy surgery varies from 20 minutes to several hours depending on the patient’s condition. In some cases, the ophthalmologist may perform other treatments at the same time, which can include repairing the retinal detachment or removing the clouded lens of the eye (cataract treatment).

During surgery and in order to achieve the maximum amount of vision, the ophthalmologist will do one or more of the following:

Remove all cloudy vitreous
Removing the damaged tissue and trying to return the retina to its original location
Removing the foreign body that remains inside the eye
Laser treatment to reduce the chance of future bleeding or repair retinal detachment
Substituting gas or air for the vitreous to help keep the retina in place
Replacing the vitreous with silicone oil (which usually requires a separate surgery)
Also, in some cases, with the diagnosis of an ophthalmologist, very delicate devices can be used for vitrectomy surgery. With the use of this equipment, there is no need to make stitches to repair the place where the surgical instruments enter the eye; Also, the surgery is performed in a shorter time and the amount of pain after the operation is minimized.
After surgery
The possibility of pain or discomfort after vitrectomy surgery can be expected.
After the operation, the use of eye protection (shield) is recommended for a short time.
The ophthalmologist will discuss with the patient about the use of eye drops and when to resume daily activities.
Note that it is very important and necessary to follow the tips recommended by the ophthalmologist (especially about how to place the head in a certain position), as failure to pay attention to this issue can cause the treatment to fail.
Until the gas bubbles are released, flying or traveling to high altitudes is prohibited because a rapid increase in altitude can lead to a dangerous increase in eye pressure.
In cases where silicone oil is used, it is necessary for the patient to be examined regularly and at regular intervals because silicone oil may cause problems over time and it is necessary to remove the oil as soon as possible.