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VITRECTOMY SURGERY
Vision Express have a very experienced team of optometrist to help with your pre & post Surgery Visits.
What is Vitrectomy Surgery?
A vitrectomy is a type of eye surgery to treat various problems with the retina and vitreous. During the surgery, the surgeon removes the vitreous and replaces it with another solution. The vitreous is a gel like substance that fills the middle portion of your eye.
Why might I need a vitrectomy?
You may need vitrectomy surgery is you have one of the following issues:
- Infection inside your eye
- Vitreous hemorrhage
- A hole in the central part of your retina (macula)
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Retinal detachment
- A wrinkle in the central part of your retina
- Certain problems after cataract surgery
- Severe eye injury
What happens during a vitrectomy Surgery?
- You may be awake during the surgery.
- You will receive medicine to help you relax.
- The doctor may use anesthetic eye drops and injections to make sure you don’t feel anything.
- In some cases, you may have anesthesia to put you to sleep. If this is the case, you will sleep deeply through the surgery.
- The doctor will expose your eye, making an incision in the outer layer of your eye.
- The doctor will make a small cut in the sclera, the white part of your eye.
- The doctor will remove the vitreous and any scar tissue or foreign material.
- The doctor will do other repairs to your eye as needed.
- The doctor will replace the vitreous with another fluid
- The doctor may close your surgical incisions with stitches, but stitches are often unnecessary.
- An antibiotic ointment will be placed on your eye to help prevent infection.
- Your eye will be covered with a patch.
What happens after a vitrectomy?
- The doctor will explain to you what to expect after your surgery. You will be able to go home the same day. Please make sure you have someone to assist you and drive you home after the surgery.
- Be sure to follow the doctor’s instructions about eye care. You may need to take eye drops with antibiotics to help prevent infection. You may need to wear an eye patch for a day or so.
- If you had a gas bubble placed in your eye during your vitrectomy, you will need to follow specific instructions about positioning after the surgery. To avoid complications, you will also need to avoid air travel for a period after the procedure.
- You may have a scheduled appointment the day after the procedure
What are some Retina Issues?
When the retina at the back of the eye is damaged it is necessary for the Retinal Eye Doctor to repair this damage in a surgery procedure.
The Retina can be damaged resulting in a Retinal Tear or Hole. Retinal tears develop when the vitreous pulls on the retina, while retinal holes develop due to progressive thinning of the retina. This can be due to a thinner retina , or normal aging , or a family trait or a Macular Hole. This is a small gap that opens at the centre of the retina, in an area called the macula. Sometime a normal aging condition , sometime caused by an accident or a Detached Retina.
The Retina can be damaged resulting in a Retinal Tear or Hole. Retinal tears develop when the vitreous pulls on the retina, while retinal holes develop due to progressive thinning of the retina. This can be due to a thinner retina , or normal aging , or a family trait or a Macular Hole. This is a small gap that opens at the centre of the retina, in an area called the macula. Sometime a normal aging condition , sometime caused by an accident or a Detached Retina.
Retinal Detachment
When a retinal detachment occurs, vision can be severely impaired or even lost if left untreated
Even though the retina detaches, the condition actually isn’t painful. The most common symptoms of a retinal detachment are:
Blurred vision
Seeing flashes of light in one or both eyes
Seeing floaters, which appear as small flecks or threads in a patient’s field of vision
Reduced peripheral vision
If you have been diagnosed with any of the above retinal problems , after careful diagnosis using Optical Coherence Tomography and the Fundus Camera , the Team at Vision Express Medical will decide the best surgery procedure
For retinal tears it is someone easier to use a Scleral patch and Freezing probe (cryopexy ) to repair
But for more serious retinal tears and detachments virectomy surgery will be necessary
MORE INFORMATION ON THE SERVICES AT VISION EXPRESS MEDICAL
ORANGE GROVE PLAZA ST. LUCIA
Testimonials
"I got my cataract surgery at VE Medical in Saint Lucia. The team took great care of me from start to finish. Very lovely people."
Mr. Fics
Business Man
Ms Caroline Casimir was successfully with cataract and retinal surgery in both eyes."The team at Vision Express are very caring and capable of doing what they do."
Ms. Caroline Casimir
Ms Dorothy Henry has undergone CATARACT SURGERY in both eyes. She was delighted with the service and was very thankful of the team of nurses and doctors.
Ms Dorothy Henry