Vitreoretinal surgery in Grodno

Vitreoretinal surgery

Vitreoretinal surgery includes a number of operations that are performed on the deep structures of the eye for certain diseases of the vitreous body, retina, including the central zone - the macula. Modern vitrectomy began in 1970, when it was first possible to gain access to the posterior segment of the eye while maintaining the necessary intraocular pressure. At that time, the operation was aimed at removing blood from the eye cavity, but over time and the development of instruments, devices, and improvement of surgical techniques, it became possible to carry out a wide range of low-traumatic interventions to eliminate various problems.

Pathologies

• Epyrenal membrane
• Macular hole (incomplete and complete)
• Retinal detachment (rhegmatogenous and traction)
• Proliferative vitreoretinopathy
• Hemophthalmos (hemorrhage in the vitreous)
• Various opacities in the vitreous
• Subluxation and dislocation of the lens into the vitreous

What complaints may indicate that vitreoretinal surgery is required? What should you do to see a vitreoretinal surgeon?

Indications

• decrease in visual acuity
• appearance of “lightning” and “flashes” in the eye
• appearance of floating “flies”
• spotting and/or distortion in the central zone

You must immediately contact an ophthalmologist and undergo a comprehensive examination to identify the cause that led to their appearance. If diseases of the retina and vitreous are detected that require surgical treatment, the ophthalmologist will refer you to a vitreoretinal surgeon.

Some diseases can be asymptomatic for a long time without showing themselves, so it is important to be examined by an ophthalmologist once a year to identify diseases at an early stage.

Contraindications

Currently, vitrectomy is a low-traumatic operation, which is performed through small incisions and in most cases is performed without local anesthesia, so the contraindications are:

• general serious condition of the patient,
• presence of chronic foci of infection,
• severe pathology of the blood coagulation system
• vitrectomy is contraindicated in the presence of retinoblastoma or melanoma of the ocular membranes
• severe corneal opacity

Anesthesia

Most operations are performed under local anesthesia. In some cases, general anesthesia may be required. In each specific case, this is decided individually depending on the general condition of the patient, the nature of the pathology and the required volume of surgical intervention.

How is the operation performed?

The patient is in a supine position. The head is placed under the microscope, the surgeon is at the head of the operating table.

Access to the posterior segment of the eye is through 3 small holes (hole diameter less than 0.5 mm). During the operation, the surgeon uses the most modern instruments and works on high-tech equipment in order to restore the structure of the retina. The surgeon removes part of the vitreous body, all existing pathological formations, and existing fibrosis. In some cases, a special gas or silicone oil is injected into the eye cavity to fix the structures of the posterior pole of the eye.

Often, if retinal surgery is necessary, a combined operation is performed together with lens replacement (for example, in case of severe clouding of the lens).

Depending on the disease, its stage, as well as individual characteristics, the operation can last from 30 minutes to several hours.

Observation in the postoperative period

The schedule of examinations and the period of postoperative observation are determined by the attending physician individually for each patient

Recommendations in the postoperative period

Limiting physical activity, visiting swimming pools, baths, ponds.