Vitrectomies

Vitrectomy is a type of eye surgery used to treat problems of the eye’s retina and vitreous. In this surgery, an ophthalmologist may:

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- Remove blood or other substance keeping light from focusing properly on the retina.
- Remove scar tissue that is wrinkling or tearing the retina and causing poor vision.
- Help repair a retina that has detached (pulled away) from the eye wall.
- Remove a foreign object stuck inside the eye from an injury.
- During vitrectomy, the ophthalmologist removes some or all of the vitreous from the middle of your eye. This vitreous is       replaced with either a salt water   (saline) solution or a bubble made of gas or oil.
- During healing after surgery, your eye replaces the saline solution or the bubble with the natural fluid the eye makes called   aqueous humor.

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When is vitrectomy done?

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Your ophthalmologist may recommend a vitrectomy if you have one of these diseases or conditions:

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- Diabetic retinopathy, with bleeding or scar tissue affecting the retina or vitreous gel.
- Some forms of retinal detachment (when the retina lifts away from the back of the eye).
- Macular hole (a hole or tear in the macula).
- Macular pucker (wrinkles or creases in the macula).
- An infection in the eye called endophthalmitis.
- Evere eye injury.
- Certain problems during cataract surgery.