With an experience of more than 16 years, Ophthalmologist Dr. Deependra V Singh is taking care of people’s eyes and vision. During this period, he has executed more than 5000 vitreous surgeries. He has been bestowed with the Special Social service Award, DOS Teacher’s Award, and Best Resident Award. Dr. Singh is an esteemed member of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), All India Ophthalmological Society, Delhi Ophthalmological Society (DOS) and Delhi Medical Council, and Vitreo Retina Society of India (VRSI). More than 50 publications with 25 indexed in leading international journals are under his credit. In leading books on Recital diseases, he has contributed more than 14 chapters. He is associated with Eye Q Hospital, Gurgaon.
Vitrectomy and its purpose
It is a surgery that’s done to get rid of or replace the fluid, referred to as vitreous humor or simply vitreous, inside your eyeball. Vitreous humor is a gel-like substance consisting of 98 percent water. Our eye is round in shape due to the vitreous cavity. It is done as a part of other surgeries.
They are many reasons because of which vitreous may be removed. It’s most ordinarily done so a surgeon can access your retina. It is a layer of tissue at the back of your eye that’s connected to your optic nerve. The retina is responsible for sending signals to your brain so that you can see. Vitrectomy is also done when the vitreous gets infected, inflamed, filled with blood or bits of tissue that are known as floaters. Few conditions that can affect the retina or eyeball are:
- Eye infections
- Cataracts
- Wrinkle, tears, or injury in the retina
- Detached retina
- Trauma or injury in the eye
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular hole
Procedure of Vitrectomy
Before you go to a hospital or clinic to have this procedure done, you will have to make arrangements at home for your household chores. You will be asked not to eat or drink anything eight hours before the surgery.
Once admitted and prepped for surgery, you’ll be given mild anesthesia to numb your eye. You can also opt for general anesthesia to remain unconscious throughout the procedure. General anesthesia has a risk factor and side effects, so ophthalmologists may not recommend using it unless you have anxiety about the surgery.
During the procedure, your surgeon will:
- Keep your eyelids fully opened with the help of an eyelid speculum.
- An incision or a cut in the first layer of your eye tissue will be made.
- Then puts a cut into the white tissue of your eye, known as the sclera.
- Through one cut he will insert cutters, scissors, and forceps.
- Fiber-optic light will be inserted into one of the other cuts to see the eye.
- He then removes the vitreous and other necessary tissues through one of the cuts using a vitrector or vitrectomy probe.
- The vitreous is then replaced with another substance, such as gas, air, or a saline solution. Gradually this substance will be replaced by a fluid that the eye creates naturally.
- At the end, the surgeon performs other surgeries to repair the retina or remove damaged tissue from the eye, such as using a laser to fix any issues with your retina.
- Removes the tools and lights and stitches up the openings in the eye. In many cases, there is no need for stitches.
Recovery after Vitrectomy
For timely recovery, lie face down or turn your head to one side for an extended period as your doctor suggests. If your eye was crammed with gas or another substance, this helps maintain pressure in your eye. You will have to use eye drops and medicines that your doctor prescribes. Driving should be avoided unless your doctor confirms that you have returned to normal vision. Avoid airways or traveling to high altitudes for some time. Do not lift heavyweight and avoid strenuous physical activity. Within a couple of days, you'll be ready to return to your normal activities.
Take away
Vitrectomy is a low-risk procedure and has a high chance of success that can treat many eye conditions. If any substance or blood clot was causing cloudy or blurry vision, it will improve after this. Talk to you about your vision issues and what you expect.
Send Enquiry