Vitrectomy Surgery
Vitrectomy is microsurgery in which the vitreous gel filling the eye is removed through tiny ports, giving the surgeon access to treat conditions on the surface of the retina.
Speak to a specialist about Vitrectomy Surgery in Agartala.
What is Vitrectomy Surgery?
Vitrectomy is microsurgery in which the vitreous gel filling the eye is removed through tiny ports, giving the surgeon access to treat conditions on the surface of the retina.
Also known as: Pars plana vitrectomy · PPV · Vitreo-retinal surgery
Vitrectomy is the workhorse operation of retinal surgery. Modern small-gauge instruments enter through openings under half a millimetre wide that usually seal themselves without a single stitch.
Book a consultation
Talk to our specialist about Vitrectomy Surgery.
Call 8583948238 or message on WhatsApp- Location
- Colonel Chowmuhani, Agartala
- Serving
- All 8 districts of Tripura
- Cashless
- TPA & insurance
Conditions that may need vitrectomy
- Vitreous haemorrhage that is not clearing on its own
- Macular hole causing a dark or missing spot in central vision
- Epiretinal membrane — scar tissue wrinkling the macula and distorting straight lines
- Tractional retinal detachment in advanced diabetic disease
- Complex or recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
- A dropped lens fragment or dislocated IOL after cataract surgery
- Severe intraocular infection (endophthalmitis) needing removal of infected gel
How the surgery is performed
- Three tiny ports are placed through the sclera, about 4 mm behind the cornea
- One carries infusion fluid to maintain the eye’s shape, one a light source, one the cutting instrument
- The vitreous gel is cut and aspirated, then the specific retinal problem is addressed under the microscope
- The eye is filled with fluid, gas or silicone oil depending on what is required
Treatment options at Wills Eye
Membrane peeling
Fine forceps remove epiretinal membrane or the internal limiting membrane, using dyes to make the near-transparent tissue visible.
Endolaser
Laser applied from inside the eye to seal breaks and treat ischaemic retina during the same sitting.
Tamponade
Gas or silicone oil to support the retina during healing, chosen for the specific condition.
Combined cataract surgery
Often performed together in older patients, since vitrectomy accelerates cataract formation in a phakic eye.
What to expect — step by step
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1
Assessment
OCT and, where the view is obscured by blood, B-scan ultrasound to establish whether the retina beneath is attached.
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2
Anaesthesia
Usually a local block with sedation; general anaesthesia for longer or more complex cases.
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3
Surgery
Typically 45 to 90 minutes, depending on what has to be done once the gel is removed.
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4
Post-operative positioning
Face-down or side posturing for a defined number of days if gas has been used, particularly after macular hole surgery.
Recovery & aftercare
The eye is sore and vision poor for the first days, and worse while a gas bubble is present — patients often describe a dark line that slowly falls as the bubble absorbs over two to six weeks. Drops continue for around a month. Cataract commonly develops or accelerates within a year or two after vitrectomy in eyes with their natural lens, and this is treated routinely later. No air travel until the gas has gone.
Why timing matters
Timing matters differently for each indication: a macular hole gives better results the sooner it is closed, an epiretinal membrane can often be watched safely, and a diabetic tractional detachment threatening the macula cannot wait. What is common to all is that the decision needs current imaging, not an old scan or an assumption.
Vitrectomy Surgery — frequently asked questions
Is vitrectomy painful? +
Not during the operation — the eye is fully anaesthetised. Afterwards there is ache and grittiness for a few days, controlled with simple medication.
Does the vitreous gel grow back? +
No. It is replaced by the eye’s own clear fluid, which is perfectly adequate. The gel serves no essential function in an adult eye.
How strictly must I keep the face-down position? +
Very strictly if you have been asked to, especially after macular hole surgery. The bubble must press on the correct spot for the hole to close, and the position is what puts it there.
Will silicone oil be removed? +
Yes, usually at a planned second procedure a few months later, once the retina is stable.
More in Retina & Diabetic Eye Care
This page is written for general information about vitrectomy surgery and is not a substitute for examination and advice from a qualified eye doctor. Treatment recommendations depend on your individual findings.
Related treatments
Conditions and procedures often assessed alongside vitrectomy surgery.
Retinal Detachment Surgery
Retinal detachment is a sight-threatening emergency in which the retina separates from the wall of the eye, and surgery is required to reattach it before the loss of vision becomes permanent.
Learn more →
Retina Clinic & Surgery
The retina is the light-sensing layer lining the back of the eye, and retinal treatment addresses conditions such as tears, detachment, bleeding and swelling that can cause permanent vision loss if untreated.
Learn more →
Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the small blood vessels of the retina caused by long-standing high blood sugar, and it is the leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age adults.
Learn more →