Vitrectomy

In this procedure, the surgeon removes the vitreous body together with any tissue that retracts the retina. Then, air, gas or silicone oil is injected into the place of the vitreous body to align the retina properly.
At the end, air, gas or liquid will resorb, and the vitreous will be replenished with body fluid. If silicone oil is used, it can be removed surgically months later.

Vitrectomy can be combined with a scleral buckling procedure.

After surgery, it may take several months for the vision to improve. Sometimes another surgery for successful treatment is needed. The success of the surgery depends on the vitality of the retinal tissue. Generally speaking, the shorter the duration of the period with impaired retinal nutrition, the better the final outcome.

Before surgery
It is essential to visit the ophthalmologist as soon as possible when the symptoms appear since the duration and the severity of the detachment are the key factors that determine the outcome .

What the procedure looks like?

Eye surgery is done in local anesthesia with sedation. This means that the patient gets a local anesthetic near the eye and a tranquilizer. The procedure itself is painless and lasts on average one to several hours. After the surgery the patient goes home.

After surgery

Further check-ups are scheduled the day after the procedure. The eye is usually red for a few days after the surgery and the patient has to apply eyedrops and the ointment.

Why Treat and Follow Retinal Detachment at Knezović Polyclinic?

The Knezović Polyclinic has many years of experience with various modalities in therapy of retinal detachment and the top team of experts dealing with retinal pathology.
Among the first in the region, we introduced a layered ocular coherent tomography (SOCT) as a prerequisite for diagnosis and monitoring of macular pathology.
Up to this date, thousands of interventions on the back of the eye have been made, with excellent results.

Price of various types of retinal detachment treatment at Poliklinika Knezović – See all prices in the current PRICE LIST

Dr. Saric – Medical Retina subspecialist and vitreoretinal surgeon

Dr.sc Borna Šarić is one of the best vitreoretinal surgeons with long experience in diagnosing and treating the back ocular segment. He is a widely recognized lecturer at home and abroad at the whole spectrum of the expert meetings and pioneer in performing the most complicated procedures in the front and back part of the eye.

Make your appointment today.

VITRECTOMY (PPV) – SURGICAL TREATMENT OF RETINAL DISEASES

What is Vitrectomy (Pars Plasma Vitrectomy)?

Vitrectomy is a type of eye surgery used in the treatment of the retina and vitreous body. With this procedure, a vitreoretinal surgeon can:

• Remove blood or other material that blocks the passage of light through the eye
• Remove scar tissue that retracts or twists the retina and causes a drop in vision
• Return the retina to its natural place
• Remove the foreign body from the eye

During vitrectomy, a vitreoretinal surgeon removes complete vitreous body or one of its parts, which is then replaced by saline, gas bubble or silicone oil.

When is Vitrectomy necessary?

Your ophthalmologist may recommend vitrectomy if you have any of these conditions or conditions:

• Diabetic retinopathy, with bleeding or scarring tissue retracting the retina or the vitreous body
• Some forms of retinal detachment (ablation)
• Macular hole (holes or cracks in macula)
• Macular “pucker” (wrinkles of the macula)
• Eye infection (Endophthalmitis)
• Severe eye injuries
• Certain complications during cataract surgery

What actally happens during the vitrectomy?

Vitrectomy is usually performed in outpatient setting in local anesthesia. The procedure may take from one hour to several hours.
During the operation, the vitreoretinal surgeon will make two or three holes in the eye and use the microscope to see inside the eye and performs following several steps:

• removing the completely fogged vitreous body
• removing scar tissue from the retina
• removing all non-transparent matter
• removing all items that should not be in the eye
• return the retina to its natural position
• use a laser to repair the retinal tear
• place an air bubble or gas in the eye to allow the retina to remain in its proper position (the bubble is resorbable after some time)
• instilling the silicone oil (the oil is removed later during another operation)

Before surgery

Your ophthalmologist will tell you if there are certain things you need to do to prepare for the procedure. Your can ask your ophthalmologist the following question:

• Will I have to stay overnight at the hospital or will I go home on the day of surgery?
• Do I need to stop taking some medicines in advance?
• Do I need to avoid food and drink before surgery, and if so how long?
• What are the options for anesthesia?
• How long will the operation last?
• What tests do I need to do before the procedure?

What happens after a vitrectomy surgery?

After the surgery, the patient goes home.
Your ophthalmologist will prescribe a remedy that will help to alleviate the pain. You will also get drops and the ointment for the eyes.
The eye will be covered with a sterile eyepatch that you will keep on the eye according to the surgeon’s instructions.

If  the gas bubble is put in the eye

You will get instructions on how to hold your head to keep the bubble in the desired position and apply pressure to the exact portion of the retina. Your ophthalmologist will tell you exactly how long you need to stay in that position. It is very important to follow these instructions.
It is not allowed to fly by plane while the gas bubble is not resorbed because sudden change of the altitude can affect the size of the bubble.

What are the risks associated with vitrectomy?

Like any surgery, vitrectomy has its own risks. These are:
• infection
• bleeding
• retinal tear or detachment
• poor vision
• glaucoma, when the pressure within the eye increases over normal values

Another possible risk after vitrectomy is getting cataracts. This is more common in people over the age of 50. If you have had cataract surgery before, vitrectomy will not damage the implanted lenses.
Vitrectomy often improves vision or protects it from further aggravation.

Why decide to do the vitrectomy at Knezović Polyclinic?

The Knezović Polyclinic has many years of experience with various modalities in treatment of the eye´s background and the top team of experts dealing with retinal pathology.
Up to this date, thousands of interventions on the back of the eye have been made, with excellent results.

Price of the vitrectomy at Poliklinika Knezović – See all prices in the current PRICE LIST

Dr. Saric – Medical Retina subspecialist and vitreoretinal surgeon

Dr.sc Borna Šarić is one of the best vitreoretinal surgeons with long experience in diagnosing and treating the back ocular segment. He is a widely recognized lecturer at home and abroad at the whole spectrum of the expert meetings and pioneer in performing the most complicated procedures in the front and back part of the eye.

Make your appointment today.