Services and Operations
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Retinal Surgery
Pars Plana Vitrectomy
The vitreous is normally a clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye. Various disease states can cause the vitreous to cloud, fill with blood or even harden so that light entering the eye will be misdirected and not reach the retina properly. Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the vitreous in the central cavity of the eye so that vision can be corrected. It is beneficial in many disease states including diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy), retinal detachments, macular holes, macular puckers and vitreous hemorrhage.
The vitrectomy procedure is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. Rarely, an overnight stay in the hospital is required.The procedure begins with making a small (less than 2mm) slit in the side of the eye and inserting an infusion line to maintain constant eye pressure. Next, a microscopic cutting device is inserted which will aspirate (suck out) the vitreous fluid. A microscopic light source is also inserted to illuminate the inside of the eye through the procedure. Additional instruments may also be used to perform additional maneuvers such as cauterizing blood vessel leaks or removing scar tissue.
After the vitreous is removed, the surgeon will refill the eye with a special saline solution that closely resembles the natural vitreous fluid in your eye. Tiny absorbable stitches are used to close the three small openings and antibiotic injections to prevent infection will be instilled at the end of the procedure.
In our clinic we use 2 Accurus 800CS machines from Alcon, and since 2008 we performe 25G retinal interventions.
