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Vitrectomy: procedure of manipulation or extraction of the vitreous

Vitrectomy: procedure of manipulation or extraction of the vitreous

Edited by: TOP DOCTORS® at 10/10/2023

Vitrectomy is a surgery that can be performed in conjunction with other procedures. The main reasons for doing so are diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment.

Dr. José Dalma Weiszhausz

vitreous liquid In Ophthalmology it is known that, anatomically, the eye is a hollow sphere filled, partly by vitreous humor. It is a gelatinous, transparent material that plays an important role in the formation of the eyeball and remains as a transparent filling that allows the eye to transmit light and maintain a certain structure, and also has some role in the nutrition of the lens.

Vitreous wear

There are certain diseases where the vitreous humor plays an important role. The vitreous tends to lose its consistency with the passage of time and it is common that in old age loses its capacity to retain water. This process eventually leads the vitreous to detach from the inner wall of the eye, the retina. In most people this does not cause any problem except occasionally see "floating bodies" or "flies" that refer to small moving spots that seem to fly in front of our view. This vitreous humor may be firmly attached to the retina, in which case it may cause the retina to rupture causing a retinal tear. This injury can trigger a retinal detachment.

In people with diabetic retinopathy new small blood vessels are formed that can bleed easily and opacify the vitreous humor. In addition, this vitreous can function as a scaffold and supports these new vessels, generating scars that can also lead to retinal detachments.

Sometimes it is necessary to remove this gelatin to treat this type of diseases. This surgery is called a vitrectomy. Vitrectomy consists of the removal of this gelatin through 3 small holes less than 1 mm above the sclera (the white part of the eye). Through these small incisions instruments can be placed inside the eye to perform the necessary maneuvers observing through the pupil. This surgery is also performed for other types of diseases such as macular holes and epiretinal membranes. For certain problems can be combined with other surgeries such as cataract removal or the placement of a belt (cerclage) around the eye. Depending on the indication, the maneuvers that are planned and the duration of the maneuvers, this surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia. It is usually ambulatory even though rest is frequently recommended after it. The recovery takes from 4 to 6 weeks, although the rest is variable according to the reason for the surgery and the evolution.

Risks and advantages of vitrectomy

All surgeries involve some risk, very rare but very serious risks, can be a bleeding or infection inside the eye. Until the formation of a cataract, especially in older patients. There may also be high eye pressure, usually temporary. There is also some risk of having a retinal detachment. In general these problems are manageable even when, at times, additional surgery is required.

Today vitrectomy is a surgery that has evolved in great strides and can achieve significant benefits in conditions that were practically incurable 35 years ago.

Ophthalmology in Miguel Hidalgo