During vitrectomy, your surgeon (an eye doctor called an ophthalmologist)
uses small instruments to cut the vitreous and suction it out
. Then your eye doctor does any other needed repairs, like repairing a hole in your retina.
How long does it take to do a vitrectomy?
A vitrectomy can take anywhere from
one to several hours
, depending on what condition you’re treating. It may be just one in a series of procedures to repair a problem. You’ll have the option to stay awake and use numbing drops or shots in your eye.
Is a vitrectomy painful?
Unless the patient is in poor health or has severe disease, nearly all vitrectomies are outpatient procedures performed either in a hospital or in a dedicated ambulatory surgery center; they
involve little or no pain
and require only minimal anesthesia.
How long does it take to clear vision after vitrectomy?
It may take
around two-four weeks or
even more to get a clear vision after the vitrectomy procedure. The clarity of the vision after the procedure may be affected by the following factors: The eye drops used to dilate eyes during surgery may also cause blurry vision.
How successful is a vitrectomy?
The success rate for vitrectomy is
around 90 percent
, even if you’re over 60.
Can you watch TV after vitrectomy?
Watching TV and reading
will cause no harm
. Your vision will remain blurred / poor for several weeks. Often the vision is distorted after surgery. This will vary depending on the type of operation, e.g. if a gas bubble is inserted into the eye, as the bubble shrinks you might see the edge of the bubble.
Are you awake during a vitrectomy?
You may be awake during the surgery
. You will receive a medicine to help you relax. In this case, your eye doctor may use anesthetic eye drops and injections to make sure you don’t feel anything. In other cases, you may have anesthesia to put you to sleep.
How long do you have to lay face down after vitrectomy?
Patients having vitreo-retinal surgery for a macular hole will need to posture face down for
14 days
; for other conditions this is only necessary for 5 days.
What can you not do after a vitrectomy?
In general,
activities like driving, reading, and exercise
will need to be avoided for a few days after the procedure. Some people will be required to lay face down for a period of time to help their eye heal properly. Often, eye drops will be prescribed to help prevent infection and to reduce inflammation.
What does eye look like after vitrectomy?
After the surgery, your
eye may be swollen, red, or tender for several weeks
. You might have some pain in your eye and your vision may be blurry for a few days after the surgery. You will need 2 to 4 weeks to recover before you can do your normal activities again.
Does vision improve after vitrectomy?
For most people undergoing a vitrectomy, activity is slowed down for a few days following surgery.
Vision improvement could take several weeks to a few months
, and it is important to not be alarmed by blurry vision. If a gas bubble has been injected into the eye, it will hinder normal focusing until it dissolves.
How do you sleep after vitrectomy surgery?
It is recommended
to sleep on either side or even your front
, but not sleep on your back as that would make the bubble move away from the macular hole.
How long does gas bubble stay in eye after vitrectomy?
The longevity of the gas bubble varies among patients but is typically about 3 to 5 days for air, 2 to 3 weeks for SF
6
, and
approximately 6 to 8 weeks for C
3
F
8
. Optimizing the gas fill in eyes undergoing vitreous surgery requires a complete vitrectomy.
What is the average cost of a vitrectomy?
In the United States, the costs of a vitrectomy may range
between 7700 and 14500 dollars
. However, these costs will vary depending on your health insurance plan and the eye surgeon selected to perform the procedure.
What are the indications for a vitrectomy?
Common indications include
rhegmatogenous or tractional retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, retained lens fragments after cataract surgery
, endophthalmitis, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, vitreomacular traction, and intraocular foreign bodies.
Why do I have wavy lines after vitrectomy?
Macular pucker occurs when scar tissue forms over the macula, wrinkling or puckering the underlying macula. The main symptom you may experience with a macular pucker is that straight
lines look wavy
. You may also notice that you cannot focus perfectly even when wearing your glasses.
